While the Tavern can get crazy in its own right, the chaos rarely breaks out into a genuine riot. On Saturday night, Greg Gillis, better known as mash-up artist Girl Talk, could be the inciting force that finally pushes the space over the edge.
The Student Union Board is bringing this highly-anticipated concert to AU despite security issues at previous university shows.
The mentality of Gillis' shows is similar to that of a house party, which can be a cause for security concerns. In an interview with The Daily Collegian Online, Pennsylvania State University's student newspaper's online presence, prior to his Dec. 11, 2008 performance at the college Gillis said that over the years he invited people on stage with him. The practice developed into a norm, and Gillis said he strives to maintain the atmosphere of a celebration or party.
"Planning on having it in the Tavern is going to be out of control," said Julia Tonkin, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Tonkin saw Girl Talk with fellow student Rebecca Stein-Lopovits, a freshman in the School of International Service, at Sonar in Baltimore.
"I got the wind knocked out of me four times," Stein-Lopovits said. She was able to get up close to Gillis but didn't stay on for long.
"Being on stage was way too intense for me," she said.
The Dec. 11 concert at Penn State drew approximately 2,000 people to a space meant to hold no more than 1,200, the Daily Collegian reported. Perhaps as a result of this crush, around $100 of damage was done to the space.
At a concert at Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 20, 2008, Harvard University Police felt Gillis' show should be cut short once the audience got out of control, The Harvard Crimson reported. Some students crawled under the stage to avoid the crowd.
It's not Gillis himself that presents the problem; it's his throngs of screaming fans.
"People were packed in like sardines," Stein-Lopovits said of the show at Sonar. "Before he even came on, people were shoving."
Despite previous crowd experiences, Student Union Board Director Josh Offsie said he believes the show will go off without a hitch.
"More than anything, I have confidence in the students at AU staying in control," he said.
Offsie said he believes many of the problems other venues have faced stem from too many people attending the concert. SUB is limiting ticket sales to 650 and individuals without tickets will be turned away. SUB is working with Public Safety and Gillis' representatives to make the show as safe as possible.
While the atmosphere at Girl Talk's shows is crowded to say the least, the group mentality proves enjoyable for most involved. Both Tonkin and Stein-Lopovits agreed the show was fun, if "insane."
"I didn't realize what it was going to be like," said Liza Kaplansky, a senior in CAS who saw Gillis at the 9:30 club. "But then I got into it. I didn't feel unsafe."
Ben Walker, a junior in SIS, said he was not surprised by previous safety issues at Girl Talk shows but acknowledged that the somewhat out-of-control mentality of the crowd is expected.
"I think people shouldn't go unless they know the way it works," he said.
Overall, SUB does not anticipate any safety concerns. Should people get out of control, SUB would be forced to shut down the show - but Offsie said he does not anticipate that happening.
"We're depending on people to be under control," he said.
You can reach this staff writer at kpowell@theeagleonline.com.
