A s the lights went down inside Georgia College & State University’s Centennial Center on Friday, March 8, hundreds of GCSU students gathered for the university’s annual Spring Concert.

After winning Battle of the Bobcats, the college's annual music competition, student-led band Subject to Change earned the concert’s opening spot. The Stews, an up-and-coming band that formed at Auburn University, and Quavo, one-third of Atlanta rap trio and hallmark Migos, rounded out the show’s lineup.

Subject to Change kicked off the night with a series of covers from ‘90s grunge staples including Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Deftones. Then, The Stews introduced Milledgeville to their blend of alternative and indie rock. Quavo closed out the night, delivering a mix of fan-favorite Migos songs and tracks from his two solo albums, “QUAVO HUNCHO” and “Rocket Power.”

For students, this was the culmination of weeks of Homecoming celebrations and festivities, but for the Office of Student Life, it was the result of months of work.

And Sara Goodelman, student engagement program coordinator for Georgia College, has been at the forefront. As an alumna, she has been to her fair share of Spring Concerts, but this is her first year working on one.

“We have been doing this for over seven months, preparation, with getting contracts back and forth between artists,” Goodelman said. “It’s a lot of preparation and a lot of little, tedious things, but it’s fun to learn what goes on behind the scenes.”

Student Life balances students’ tastes with a budget before whittling down a list of artists and, finally, deciding on the main act.

“In our office, we use a talent manager,” Goodelman said. “And my boss, Kristy Johnson [GCSU associate dean of students for Student Engagement], sends our budget and a list to the talent manager. He sends us back a list within the budget. She sends out the survey. We take the survey into consideration, and then the contract’s negotiated, and boom! Mr. Quavo? He’s in the building.”

As someone who has been on both sides of the concert, she says students have no idea how much time and energy goes into putting the show together.

“I was a student here,” Goodelman said. “I graduated last May, and now, I’m on the production side of everything. Students have no idea what goes on in it — because I didn’t. It’s tedious, and logistically, talking back and forth between bands and managers and touring dates, it’s tabs on tabs open. But in a way, it’s fun. It’s like a big maze, and then everything comes together for the concert.”

She says working with students to put together a concert they’d be excited for was her favorite part of her experience.

“My favorite part would definitely be listening to the students about who they want to come see, getting the students' feedback and especially when coming to pick the opener, which is The Stews this year, ” Goodelman said. “My favorite part is getting the students what they want.”

Story by Cale Strickland

Photos and Video by Peyton Miller

Photos by Liz Newlin