Mayer concert plays big at RSEC
By KRISTIN TAYLOR
Staff Writer
When Jason Pittman walked into the Regional Special Events Center on Friday night, he forgot for just a moment that he was in Murray. The lights, the sounds and the crowd took him away from the moment.
But Pittman, who manages the RSEC, was in Murray - as was pop star John Mayer.
“I walked into the arena and thought that it did not feel like I was in Murray,” Pittman said. “It was surreal.”
Mayer took the stage Friday night after opening act Mat Kearney, who had plenty of his own fans. With Mayer backstage was his famous girlfriend Jessica Simpson. The couple was spotted dining the previous night at The Palm in Nashville, according to The Tennessean.
But they certainly didn't travel alone.
“Everything went phenomenal. The crew that came in, I'd venture to say, was the nicest crew we've ever worked with,” Pittman said. “They were very accommodating and nice to work with.”
The music tour came in six trucks and six buses, enough room to bring along a chef.
“That was quite a treat,” said Pittman, who sampled some of the food that started with breakfast Friday morning. “He was a heck of a chef.”
Plus 30 student workers were hired to help bring everything in while 36 students loaded everything out. Still, from an equipment standpoint, Disney on Ice was a bigger show, requiring 15 trucks.
Among those workers was Student Government Association President Scott Ellison. He worked back stage to make sure people didn't go back there if they weren't supposed to.
“We were complimented by all the people who were involved with the show about how professional and nice we were,” Ellison said. “By having everything go smoothly, it gives our school a good reputation, thus leading to more show opportunities.
“SGA made sure that we were well prepared and that we accommodated all their needs to give them a comfortable experience here.”
Ellison dubbed SGA adviser Jeanie Morgan and Campus Activities Board concert chair Whitney Bush the “hardest workers and the two that deserve the most credit for this show's success.”
And the fans came. Pittman said making hotel reservations for some of the out-of-town crew was a project. In addition to the concert, the Bull Blowout occupied Murray State's Expo Center.
With a concert seating capacity right at 7,000, Pittman said more than 6,000 tickets were sold. The lower level was packed with the limited vacancies in the upper sections.
But Mayer's biggest fan had a special seat. Simpson - his fellow pop star and more - stayed backstage. Pittman said the RSEC crew pretty much let them keep to themselves after tightening security a bit once learning the day before the show that Simpson would accompany Mayer.
“She took part in Murray State's ‘Best Seats in the House,'” Pittman said, referring to the recliners used as a promotion to upgrades fans' seats during basketball games. “We can thank Woodcrafters for that.”
Story created Feb 21, 2007 - 11:25:25 EST.
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