Collegiate Times

Security issues at Friday’s Super Mash Bros. concert are leading event coordinators to examine how future concerts are handled on Virginia Tech’s campus.

The Commonwealth Ballroom in Squires Student Center was filled to its 1,500 person capacity Friday night when the group showcased its signature mash-ups of popular songs. Audience members with glow sticks left the show drenched in sweat.

The anticipation of Super Mash Bros.’s set and the high volume of energetic concertgoers in the room caused several issues for concert coordinators.

“This event really kind of snowballed,” said Laura Wedin, director of alumni and student programs.

Wedin advises the class system, which sponsors and coordinates the annual free concert.

“Normally, we don’t have security issues, but there seemed to be a buzz,” Wedin said. “I think it’s the nature of this style of music.”

Sandy Bass, president of the class of 2012, said he understood the reason the dancing crowd had a rowdy attitude.

“I think it’s kind of expected,” he said.

The concert was publicized via Facebook and word of mouth.

Tech Police raised the number of officers attending the concert from two to four in the days leading up to the concert.

During the opening act, The Wave Exchange, Tech Police escorted a concert attendee from the room after the attendee launched a glow stick at the band. The glow sticks were given to audience members as they entered the Commonwealth Ballroom.

“The police did not like that we had glow sticks,” Wedin said. “We’d never had glow sticks.”

Wedin said next year, glowing necklaces may be used instead of hand-held glow sticks.

Later, when trying to transition the crowd from the opening concert to the pep rally period of the evening’s entertainment, it took between 10 and 15 minutes for the audience to comply with requests to move back and sit down.

The requests were made for audience members to sit down so student dance groups could have space to perform. Soon after the audience settled, though, “Enter Sandman” played, and many of the audience members stood up again.

“I thought it was ironic for everyone to sit, then play ‘Enter Sandman,’” Bass said.

When the house lights were brought down for Super Mash Bros.’s portion of the concert to begin, the audience rushed forward to the edge of the stage.

Tech Police, contracted security firm RMC Events, staff of the Virginia Tech Union and the SAA, which is advised by the alumni association, helped provide security and guidance for concertgoers.

In addition to six Tech Police officers, Wedin said four RMC Events staffers were present.

Wedin said a barricade, which would have kept concertgoers from rushing toward the stage, was not used because the need for it was not anticipated.

“The barricade wasn’t in our funding,” she said.

She said it would have cost about $1,300 to establish the barricade.

“In hindsight, I think we could have gotten a barricade,” Wedin said. “We have never gotten a band that has promoted this buzz.”

Though the concert did raise a few issues with crowd control, Wedin said the event went well given that staff did not expect such a large crowd.

“If we do something similar next year, we will do something to make it safe and enjoyable for everyone,” she said.

Wedin said support staff from Tech Police, RMC Events, VTU and SAA “did a good job.”

Bass said the fact that the Commonwealth Ballroom filled to capacity “was awesome.”

Wedin said barricades would be considered for future concerts. She said she is also looking at revising the schedule of the welcome back concert, potentially to put the pep rally at a different time, or to eliminate an opening band.

A version of this article appeared in the Sep 1 issue of the Collegiate Times.