College Entertainment: Our Top 5 Ideas for Student Activities Boards
At ArtistHub, we talk to a lot of student activities board members. We know how hard the job can be, especially when you’re trying to balance your responsibilities there with classes, other organizations, and a social life. Just taking a full course load can feel like a full time job, and trying to keep up with the demands of being an activities board member can be a real challenge.
One of the biggest complaints we hear from members of campus activities boards is surprisingly obvious: they’re overloaded with school as it is, and they don’t know where to turn for new college entertainment ideas. They feel like they’ve pretty much exhausted every available option, and they’re drawing a blank when it comes to organizing new events for the following semester. They don’t want to just repeat activities from the year before, and they feel like they’re stuck in a bit of a rut. What they need are some fresh ideas when it comes to college entertainment.
We get it: it’s easy to find yourself wanting to host the same kinds of activities over and over, and planning a wide array of fun, new, exciting events throughout the year is tough. That’s why we here at ArtistHub have put together this list of our top 5 favorite college entertainment ideas for student activities boards. Coming up with new campus activities ideas doesn’t have to be impossible! Keep reading for some inspiration.
- Create a Fall Festival
If you ask us, fall is the best season of the year. Awesome weather, changing leaves, a mid-semester break, the promise of the holidays (and an even longer break from classes) -- you can’t beat fall, right? So, why not celebrate the changing of the seasons with a fall festival? The options here are endless: think live music, hot chocolate, and all things pumpkin spice. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and outdoor festivals in the fall are always a hit with students.
- Host a TEDx Talk
TED talks are all the rage these days, and rightfully so. They’re fun, informative, and always full of surprises. The first TEDx talk was hosted at the University of Southern California in 2009, and since then the idea has exploded all across the world. In fact, TED now openly encourages colleges to host their own TEDx events. Consider reaching out to college speakers ahead of time -- and don’t forget about the highly qualified and knowledgeable professors already available on campus!
- Host a “Meet the Graduates” Session
As an undergraduate student, one question tends to crop up over and over: what are things going to be like after college? You’re likely wondering where you’ll work, what your job will be like, and how you’ll navigate the post-college world. These concerns are incredibly common amongst college students. With this in mind, consider hosting a “meet the graduates” session on campus. Reach out to some of the most interesting graduates who have come out of your university over the past five or so years, and invite them back to campus for a question and answer event with current students. Don’t just limit yourself to the obvious choices, such as biology students who have finished med school or pre-law students who just passed the bar exam. Graduates who have launched startups, lived abroad, or gotten a job at a nonprofit can provide valuable insight and an interesting perspective for undergraduates.
- Campus Short Film Festival
Years ago, making a movie was expensive and time consuming. Now, anyone with a smartphone can shoot fairly high quality video. Invite students to create short films -- you can set a time limit, such as 15 minutes -- and organize a student short film festival. Bring everyone together on the quad with a big outdoor screen, and make it an all night (or even multi-night) event.
- Book Entertainment with ArtistHub
There’s no doubt about it: top quality college entertainment is one of your best options when it comes to creating fun, memorable, and engaging campus events. Traditionally, though, booking college entertainment has been a complicated and expensive process. But thanks to ArtistHub, finding the right speaker, musician, or even an awesome magician for an upcoming event has never been easier! As a student activities board member, you can browse our database of entertainers, send them a message, and book them with ease. Sign up for a free ArtistHub account today to get started!