The Convocation Center is working to bring in hot performers for NIU students, Convo Center director John Gordon said.

He said the wants of students are a deciding factor for which performances are brought to campus.

“Student interests weigh in a lot in our decision,” he said. “It’s the first thing we look at in making our decision.”

Last spring, the arena posted a survey on its Web site (www.convocenter.niu.edu). The survey contained around 40 different choices of performances that students could select as acts they may want to see, Gordon said.

Gordon added that the survey also offered respondents the option to write in acts they would like to see, and with around 1,500 students responding, the results varied greatly.

“Aerosmith came back strong,” Gordon said. “I remember John Mellencamp came back strong.”

The arena, and which performances it can host, greatly is determined by cost.

A large act was planned for this fall, but it had to be dropped because the asking price from the artist was raised, Gordon said.

A big concern with concerts is breaking even, said Joe Coots, marketing manager of the Convo Center. This is done by balancing the cost of performers with how much will be earned in ticket sales, he added.

“I’d love to do Dave Matthews Band,” Gordon said. “But unfortunately, Dave Matthews Band would cost over a half a million dollars. … We’re sometimes held within the confines of what we can do based on price.”

Another concern is the fluctuation of students’ musical tastes, Gordon said. There’s really no way of knowing what will be the next hot act.

There are no plans to bring in anymore acts other than what’s already scheduled for this fall, but he and Coots are looking for options, Gordon said.

“Right now, unfortunately, there are no acts out there our size,” he said, referring to the center’s 5,000- to 8,000-seat bracket. “Spring is starting to look pretty good for concerts.”

Some students have ideas for how the center should be used.

Sophomore biology major Angie Gale said she would like to see Martina McBride perform.

“I’d like to see more events,” she added. “It’s good that we have the building here on campus, but I think it should be used more.”

Freshman English major Jessica Powell said she enjoyed Bill Cosby’s August performance and thinks the center is doing a good job in getting started on bringing in bigger acts.

“I would love if the Goo Goo Dolls or somebody else would come in,” she said.

Senior psychology major Steve Chambers said he would like to see more big acts and would enjoy a concert with hard rock band Tool.

Gordon and Coots both said they think the Convocation Center will be able to bring in many popular acts.

“[The center] will not only fulfill its intended purpose,” Coots said. “But it’ll go above and beyond its intended purpose.”