O.A.R. backs out of contract expectations

By Amanda Seef
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

By Nicholas Serrata, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER O.A.R. played in Tuttle North Sunday, April 15 to a crowd of just less than 2,000 people. For the second concert O.A.R. has done at Brockport in four years, the band played for two and a half hours.

As the O.A.R. concert to be held in Tuttle North approached, the campus media mulled over questions to ask the band.  They never got a chance to ask, however, as both The Stylus and WBSU 89.1 The Point were informed a few hours prior to the event that the anticipated interviews wouldn’t be happening.

“The reason why the interview did not go through is it was not properly scheduled,” said a source close to the issue who did not wish to be named.  “It was not on the schedule.  It was a communication error that resulted into nothing connecting in the end, which affected several departments.”

The disregard for the interviews by O.A.R. management is in conflict with the Brockport Student Government contract and rider.  The contract was signed by O.A.R., and O.A.R.’s contract was signed by BSG. 

The contract clearly mentions and pinpoints the interview opportunities for student media sources:

“The sponsor expects that the ARTIST(s) will conduct an interview on the day of the performance with WBSU (campus radio station),” BSG’s contract states.  “The SPONSOR will make arrangements for both of these with specific input from the WBSU operations manager.  In addition to this interview, ARTIST(s) agrees to an interview with the campus newspaper, The Stylus, and with other local media.” 

Without an interview from the band, there will not be any backstage information granted to the campus concerning the performance. 

The April 15 performance was the second Brockport concert by O.A.R. in the past four years.  The band  has changed management since their last  performance at Brockport.

Julie DePasquale, operations manager at The Point, said they had given away O.A.R. tickets at SummerFest and had a verbal agreement with BSG President Frank Guidice to do a broadcast before the show, which did not happen.

According to DePasquale, successful interviews have taken place between The Point and every band that has played in the last four years at Brockport, all of which have been arranged by BSG. 

Something Corporate, Dashboard Confessional, Ben Folds and The Fray have granted interviews and not disregarded the contract by BSG. 

The Stylus interview with O.A.R. was originally set up through the BSG Programming Department to take place approximately four hours before the show. In the past, interviews have lasted at least five to fifteen minutes with various recording artists, comedians and other celebrities on the Brockport campus. 

“Just because the interview is written in the contract does not mean that [O.A.R.] has to give an interview,” BSG Programming Director Mike Davis said. “On the day of the show, we again asked if we could do an interview and they said they would be inaccessible for that day to do an interview.”

Davis also mentioned that the tour manager was slow to contact their venue.

“I tried, I spoke with the management and asked if they would even answer any questions.  I did not have any opportunity to speak with the band at all,” Davis concluded.  “Again, I apologize for any issue that may have come up.  I did everything that I could.”

Something Corporate, Dashboard Confessional, Ben Folds and The Fray have granted interviews and not disregarded the contract by BSG. 

The Stylus interview with O.A.R. was originally set up through the BSG Programming Department to take place on Sunday approximately four hours before the start of the show. In the past, interviews have lasted at least five to 15 minutes with various recording artists, comedians and other celebrities on Brockport campus. 

“Just because the interview is written in the contract does not mean that [O.A.R.] has to give an interview,” BSG Programming Director Mike Davis said. “On the day of the show, we again asked if we could do an interview and they said they would be inaccessible for that day to do an interview.”

Davis also mentioned that the tour manager was slow to contact their venue.

“I tried, I spoke with the management and asked if they would even answer any questions.  I did not have any opportunity to speak with the band at all,” Davis concluded.  “Again, I apologize for any issue that may have come up.  I did everything that I could.”