Daily Sundial

Student Productions and Campus Entertainment hold Big Show 6 this semester with a smaller budget, said the executive director of Student Productions and Campus Entertainments.

Last year, with a budget of $120,000, SPACE was able to hire Indie rock group Jimmy Eat World for the Big Show – a large-scale, free concert for CSUN students sponsored by SPACE, a division of Associated Students.

SPACE received about $70,000 from the A.S. Senate for that show.

SPACE leaders have been forced to put on a smaller production because of the smaller budget allocated to them by the A.S. Senate, said Jennifer Santos, executive director of SPACE.

In December 2005, the A.S. Senate allocated $25,000 to SPACE for Big Show 6.

SPACE will spend some of its budget of about $80,000 on the show, but the amount has not been determined partly because a band has not been found yet, Santos said.

For the Big Show 6, SPACE is a seeking band that is in the hip-hop genre, she said.

Santos said the Big Show is schedule for May 3, and that students should check the SPACE website frequently for updates. The time is tentative but it may start in the afternoon, Santos said.

So far, SPACE has budgeted between $20,000 and $30,000 for the headliner band at the Big Show, Santos said.

Even with the smaller budget, SPACE does not expect to go over its budget.

A.S. President Chad Charton said SPACE will not be asking the senate for more money for the Big Show.

One reason for the smaller budget given by the senate was the need to allocate funds to other groups.

“The reality is that the (senate) has to decide how do we adequately support everyone in every group, ” Charton said.

Although, SPACE will produce a smaller concert compared to last year, Santos wants students to know that, “SPACE isn’t just about the Big Show. There will be more activities throughout the semester.”

According to Santos, SPACE scheduled actress-comedian Margaret Cho to appear on campus in March as part of their plan to bring different types of entertainment at CSUN.

“We want this to be a great place, we want to give something back to them (students),” Santos said.

And because some of the money allocated to SPACE by the senate comes from students fees, an estimated $70 per student.

“It’s like you’re getting your money’s worth,” Santos said.

“I look forward to the Big Show 6,” said Nina Dethrasavong, senior arts major. “It’ll be fun. It’s a free concert, and it’ll be a much appreciated treat before finals.”

SPACE is also responsible from promoting the event, Santos said.

The event more “low-key,” adding that the show will take place in the smaller concert area of the University Student Union, Santos said, adding that the area will hold about 1,500 people.

Even though the Big Show 6 has been scaled down to what Santos has dubbed, “The little Big Show,” it is not the size that matters, she said.