Exeter's Got Talent

While spring showers rained upon campus this past Saturday evening, a mass of Exonians flocked to Agora for the popular Student Open Mic Night. Acts ranged from opera singing and quick-witted rap to the clever quips of stand up comedy.The event, which occurs once a year as an outlet for student creativity and talent, was planned by the Recreation Committee of Student Council. The occasion featured not only a splendid diversity of performance, but also an impressive crowd.“Compared to previous years, this open mic night was more successful,” upper and Head of Recreation Committee Ardit Kukaj said. “There seemed to be more students who came to the event and more students definitely stayed until the end of the night.”Although the turnout of Exonians was great, the acts made the night even more special.“The performers this year were spectacular as well,” Kukaj said. “The variety of acts was what made it especially enjoyable. From stand up comedy to opera singing, I think all students and faculty who came to the event enjoyed the show without getting bored.”Upper Josh Martinez commented in particular on unusual acts such as the stand-up comedy and said that those additions made this year’s event more special.“I was happy to see [upper] Karl Hahn up there trying out his stand-up routine; I've yet to see anyone do that here in three years. It takes a lot of courage to do that,” he said.Lower Jeff Mellen, who performed for the event, added, “Usually, the events I perform at are EAR concerts, which are exclusively musicians and usually mostly the same group of people, but this was different in that it wasn't limited to music only and I got to see a lot of people perform who I haven't seen before, which was great.”Although there were many reasons, members of the Recreation Committee attributed some of the event’s success to the effective advertising campaign.“We put up posters, made a Facebook event and simply talked to people and spread the word, but at the same time it was really nice to see that everyone was supporting each other and classmates,” lower and member of the Rec. Committee Jacob Pressman said. “I think that is what made the event so great and successful.”Although the advertisement campaign successfully amassed a sizeable audience, there were problems that arose during the event, such as the noise level of the crowd. “I wish more was done about how noisy the crowd was. At times it was downright disrespectful to the acts on stage,” Martinez said.Despite the noise that arose during the event, Open Mic Night was a success overall, and the Recreation Committee members are hoping to make this a regular event with a growing crowd. After all, gatherings like these help relax stressed Exonians and provide a fun past time for weekend nights, so the more attendees the merrier!“The turnout was great, and a lot of people were there to support their friends, dorm mates and sports teammates, so it created a great environment that was extremely supportive,” Pressman said.“Open mic night is not only a source of entertainment, but also a good way to get to know other people on campus,” Kukaj said. “Students should come to open mic night more, because you can socialize with your friends, laugh over a joke and listen to good music. It is just a perfect occasion to relax and have fun.”