Featured Programs
Orientation Kickoff with Live Band Karoake
August 20th @ 9pm
Combining the silly fun of karaoke with the energy of a live rock band, Live Band Karaoke allows anyone to fulfill their rock and roll fantasy.
Singing is only half the fun! Watching others performing their unique renditions of rock’s greatest songs also contribute to the hilarity. Some singers really belt out the tunes, while others make up for a lack of singing ability with rowdy stage presence. Either way, the irony and humor work on many levels as the band rocks out the songs true to the original recording. Band members can also contribute as back up vocalists and help out with forgotten lyrics.
Live Band Karaoke provides lyric sheets for any song on the list. The lyrics are printed in large type so they are easier to read while singing. There are tons of songs to choose from covering all areas of rock and roll providing something for everyone.
Click here for some of the samples songs: http://www.livebandkaraoke.com/songs.php
Fredrick Winters: Hypnotist
Friday, August 23rd @9pm
Frederick Winters has performed over 2,000 shows and entertained over 500,000 people!
Who best to tell you what it is all about than Frederick himself? So we asked him to give us a brief description of what he is all about.
This is what he said…
So here’s the scoop: I LOVE to “swing my watch for a good time.”
OK, I don’t actually use a watch but I sure have fun hypnotizing people. You’ll detect from the moment I’m introduced to the audience that there’s no place I’d rather be than on stage entertaining a college or corporate crowd. But, more importantly, the CROWDS have a great time too!
Thousands of people have come up to me over the years and said, “I’ve never laughed so hard in my life!” Wow… I can’t imagine being told anything better than that.
Come see the annual Hypnotist show for the first years students!
Titan Carnival
Saturday August 24th at 8pm:
The Titan Carnival concludes first year orientation and welcomes back returning students. This year’s Titan Carnival will include exciting inflatables, entertainment, and great food. The interactive components include laser tag, a rock climbing wall, mechanical bull, wrecking ball, and putt putt golf. Come get your picture taken on the biggest red chair you have ever seen or get your facepainted or get a henna tattoo. Be sure to enjoy some of the delicious carnival food and experience live fire breathers perform for you!
RSO Fair at the Quad (alternate rain location Hansen)
Thursday, August 29th 4pm-6pm
This year’s RSO Fair is going to be incredible. Center stage will be in front of the new State Farm Hall which is a great way to represent all of the new organizations that will be in attendance this year. The RSO (Registered Student Organization) growth on campus has been incredible, there have been over 30 new organization in the past year totaling over 185 RSO’s! This year we are reaching out to local business to have a "Taste of Bloomington" at the RSO Fair. This will include many different local business that will bring food for incoming students to try and get a feel for the community. We look forward to seeing you there!
Bedroc
Friday, September 6, 2013, 8p @ Hansen Student Center
It’s two weeks into the Fall Semester and the first real weekend back at IWU, so what are you going to do? From 8pm to about 10 pm on Friday, September 6th, the place to be is Hansen Student Center where OSA kicks off its fall lineup of talent with the hip hop duo known as BEDROC. These two shared a dorm room along with a love of music and a desire to chase their dreams becoming the next big thing in the world of hip hop. Founded in 2009, the duo of Mike “Brown” Brownyard and Marcel “ML” McCollough devised their plan to promote their music via social media in hopes of hitting the big time in today’s competitive music industry. With over 9,000 fans to their Facebook page and 8,000+ Twitter followers, BEDROC teamed with in-house producer and musical director, Steve Basil, who has produced the majority of BEDROC’s music as well as formed a powerful live band to back the duo’s performances.
BEDROC’s 2011 Spring tour was named after their sophomore mixtape “Bored of Education”, and the duo landed opening slots for Sean Garrett and sold out shows with Mac Miller, Sam Adams, Chiddy Bang, Mike Posner, Machine Gun Kelly and Wale. BEDROC enjoyed continued success in 2012, going national and booking shows around the country, including opening for Wiz Khalifa. The duo also released their most recent album “Dreams High”. Whether you’re a fan of hip hop or not, you won’t want to miss them live at Hansen.
Fun, Run, Walk and Roll-
Tentative date is September 14th, 2013
Come out to the Hansen Student Center as we celebrate constitution day through by Running, Walking, or Rolling down constitution. The entire course is a 5k and we do keep track of your time. Participants receive a free shirt.
Melissa Villasenor
Friday, September 20, 2013 8p @ Hansen Student Center
Check it out! Campus Activities Magazine’s 2013 Best Female Artist, Melissa Villasenor, will be performing at IWU. You will most likely recognize her from the 2011 season of America’s Got Talent. Comedian and voice impressionist Melissa Villasenor performs live at Hansen Student Center on Friday, September 20, 2013. Sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, the show starts at 8 pm.
Melissa, is best known for her incredible repertoire of impressions including Barbara Walters, Natalie Portman, Beyonce` and Christina Aguilera to name a few. She got her start in stand-up comedy when she was only 15, appearing at the Laugh Factory Comedy Camp. It was not long before she made her debut TV appearance on TBS’s Frank TV doing Ellen DeGeneres and Sarah Silverman impressions.
She frequently performs in the Los Angeles area at the Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, the Improv and Comedy & Magic Club. Melissa does voiceover work and contributes to Fox’s Family Guy as well as various voices on Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time. Follow her on twitter @melissavpees.
FAMILY WEEKEND featuring Mat Franco and Kazual
September 27 through 29 is Family Weekend at IWU. The Office of Student Activities has a great line up of exciting, fun and family friendly entertainment for you to enjoy with your families. The weekend kicks off Friday night with an appearance by Mat Franco: magician, comedian, and mind-reader.
Mat became hooked on magic at the impressionable age of fours years old and admits that he didn’t watch cartoons as a child after that, only magic tapes…over and over again. At six years old, Mat discovered the “slow motion” button on the VCR remote which began his lessons in learning the highly guarded secrets of magic. For Mat however, the real secret of magic is not so much to do with his ability to trick or fool his audiences, but rather in creating a sense of fun, camaraderie, thought provoking ideas, and relatable humor.
Come out to the Hansen Student Center on Friday, September 27th, and be entertained by the artist Campus Activities Magazine named the 2013 Best Male Performer. The show starts at 8 pm and the doors will open approximately 30 minutes prior to show time.
On Saturday, September 28th, bring your family back to Hansen Student Center to enjoy the musical stylings of the family quartet known as Kazual (pronounced Casual). Blending R&B and Hip-Hop with their intoxicating sounds, be prepared for Kazual to captivate and invigorate your rhythmic senses!
Kazual has opened up for artists such as Destiny’s Child and Nelly. Their credits include featured vocals on the GUY III album song “Tellin Me No”. They will have the audience wanting to hear more with their harmonious styles and eclectic mix of R&B, Hip-Hop, and Dirty Pop which creates a unique style of music they have dubbed DooWopHipPop.
The performance starts at 9 pm. Doors will open approximately 30 minutes prior to show time.
Nick Pike the juggler/acrobat/comedian
Friday, October 4, 2013 8pm @ Hansen Student Center
Nick Pike, British born juggler/acrobat/comedian, outperformed 70,000 people to make it into the top 48 acts in the 2010 season of America’s Got Talent. Nick survived three rounds on the show while performing before the celebrity panel: Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan. On Friday, October 4th, Nick finds his way to Hansen Student Center, in Bloomington, IL to perform for the IWU community.
Nick, who has over 21 years of experience juggling and performing for crowds all over the world, is one of the few people in the world who have a Bachelor of Arts honors degree in Contemporary Circus and Theater from the Circus Space in London. He combines highly skilled and energized juggling routines and acrobatics with fast paced comedy, hilarious volunteer interaction and dangerous stunts.
You may have seen people walk on hot coals or broken glass, on television or in live performances, but Nick Pike takes those stunts to the EXTREME! Start with a path of broken glass doused in kerosene. Next add Nick Pike juggling one ridiculously sharp knife, a 6 pound meat clever and a flaming torch, which if dropped would light the glass on fire not to mention Nick himself, and he does it all while blindfolded. Don’t miss the chance to see Nick perform live as he adds his extreme twists to otherwise ordinary juggling and acrobatic stunts, that will have you on the edge of your seats.
Homecoming Week
October 7-13
Stay tuned for more details and visit the homecoming website for the latest information.
Logan Mize
Friday, October 25, 2013 9 p @ Hansen Student Center
The doors of Hansen Student Center will open at 8:30 pm on Friday, October 25th in time for singer-songwriter Logan Mize to take the stage at 9 pm. The 26 year-old Kansas native has already shared stages with the likes of Lady Antebellum, Eric Church, The Band Perry, Billy Currington, Pat Green, Stoney LaRue and the Charlie Daniels Band.
The rapidly rising songwriter undoubtedly has succeeded. Logan’s most recent album, Nobody in Nashville, fuels both punchy country (“I Give In”) and raw rock and roll (“Ball and Chain”) with an intangible everyman appeal. Logan admits that his favorite songwriter, both melodically and lyrically is Tom Petty. While Petty’s music has a strong influence on Logan’s own songwriting style, he is very careful to not think about anybody else when he is in songwriting mode, pulling straight from his own head.
Undercover 23
Friday, November 22 at 8pm
Undercover 23 will take place in the Hansen Student Center. Several IWU student bands will come to perform on one of the two stages. Each of the bands auditions by selecting two of their favorite cover songs to perform and the top three winners receive cash prizes. We look forward to seeing you out at the Hansen Student Center on Friday, November 22nd for Undercover 23.