Floors shook and speakers rattled as Ace Hood, Jéan P and UDrop performed in the Baker University Center Ballroom in front of 350 fans.
The show was a test for the venue in hopes that more musical acts will book the space. Despite lower than anticipated ticket sales, Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director of the Campus Involvement Center, said the location worked well.
“It’s a viable venue,” Holzaepfel said. “It was good for a first try. I’d still like to see a couple hundred more people out there, but it seems the artist is responding well.”
Security was increased by adding metal detectors at the front and increased personnel on the chance that the venue was at full capacity. Holzaepfel said the costs would likely fall in the normal range of $1,000 to $1,500.
Jéan P said he was impressed with the stage setup at the event and thought it was one of his best performances to date because of how the crowd members reacted and stayed on their feet.
“Ace Hood was good, he shut it down, he did his thing and I respect that,” Jéan P said. “It was a dope show.”
Students have enjoyed Ace Hood as an up-and-coming rapper in the charts, and his performance in the new venue solidified that.
“I like Ace Hood a lot. (My favorite song is) ‘Bugatti,’ everyone loves that song,” said Rashaun Brown, an Ohio University student studying sport management with a minor in psychology. “I would probably prefer (Baker Ballroom as a venue) because it’s more interactive and gets people involved.”
wh092010@ohiou.edu
