WCU Last Minute Production logo. Photo from WCU Engage.
Story co-written with Nicole Ellison.
Last Minute Productions is generally an unknown organization on Western’s campus yet you may have been to one of their events. Founded in 1979, this year marks LMP’s 40th year of existence on WCU’s campus. LMP is in charge of The Drag Show, homecoming carnival, concerts on campus and many other events.
WCU students attending 2019 Homecoming carnival. Photo was taken by Hannah Fink.
“LMP’s purpose is to plan and produce unique social, cultural, and education programs for the WCU student body and surrounding community,” said Johanna Mercado, the Graduate Assistant for LMP.
These events can harbor anywhere from 30 to 3,000 participants. Smaller events such as trivia night or karaoke night may have an attendance of 30-50, while The Drag Show brought in a little more than 1,000.
The bus trips are pretty popular; the Scarowinds and Wicked bus trip sold out within two hours if not less, according to Mercado. In addition, LMP typically sponsors comedy or entertainment events the Saturday after move-in day in August, which is typically a capacity crowd event.
“This year’s Bob Ross themed painting party was a big success,” said Stephanie Sue, the Associate Director for Student Programs & Activities at LMP. “We had to turn away students.”
WCU 2019 Drag Show featuring Western student, Chris Wonder. Photo taken by Nicole Ellison.
Attendance tends to vary depending on the event LMP puts on. According to Mercado, karaoke nights, trivia nights, or a BOTW show can range between 30 – 50 people. Events like dance parties or pumpkin patches can have between 250 and 300 people. The biggest events, like the Carnival, bring in about 3,000 people.
“Regardless of turn out, part of LMP’s process is to always reflect on and evaluate each event and what its successes and shortcomings were,” said Sue. “If attendance was low, we talk about that and why we think it may have been low and how we can work on it or improve it for the next similar event.”
LMP strives to provide programs that appeal to a broad range of students, which can be a struggle. According to Sue, finding programs and activities that meet all the interests of WCU’s students can be a challenge.
“Whether it is figuring out what all those interests are, how to accurately and meaningfully present them or finding the funding to do so are all challenges in what we do,” said Sue. “Marketing can also be a challenge—making sure all students are aware of the events and activities so they can take advantage of them.”
While LMP tries to bring in diverse and large numbers of participants, the attendance numbers aren’t showing that yet. WCU announced 2019 enrollment hit 12,167 students this fall. This means less than 1 percent of the population attends smaller events such as karaoke nights and trivia nights and a little less than 2.5 percent attend the bigger events like dance parties or pumpkin patches. LMP’s most attended event is the homecoming carnival, bringing in 25 percent of the population. After surveying 29 students: 20 did not know what LMP was even though 23 of the 29 students had attended an event.
“For most events, we spend in the neighborhood of $1,500 – $3,000,” said Stephanie Sue Rowell, Associate Director for Student Programs & Activities. Rowell explains that the largest portion of the budget goes towards any artist’s fees being about $100,000. In addition, about $23,000 is set aside for movie licensing fees which would be the Friday and Saturday night movies which only bring in $5,300 in revenue.
Where this budget comes from includes an allocated budget from the Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs the revenue through weekly movie showings and charging for bus trips. “LMP also charges for the use of its equipment – clubs or departments can rent out their popcorn machine or cotton candy machine for a fee that goes back to LMP. Finally, LMP often collaborates with other departments who may assist in funding events,” says Rowell.
While LMP doesn’t typically have volunteers helping them, non-LMP members interested in helping LMP can join the DCA Street Team to help market events and volunteer at events to get a behind-the-scenes look at what LMP does. If you want to join, contact Aaron Speyer, the Marketing and Promotions Coordinator for the DCA Marketing Team.
“If anyone is interested in being a part of LMP next year, please look for applications in the Spring for the 2020-2021 school year,” said Mercado.
For more information, see the video below:
