Arts/Cultural Response: Penn State’s Basketball Annual Hoops Madness

          On October 25th 2012, American artist, Big Sean, came to Penn State to perform for Penn State’s Basketball Annual Hoops Madness. This concert took place at Rec Hall and because it was free, the line was tremendously long!  An hour before the doors were opened the line was going down Burrowes road, so I can only imagine how long it was at 6:30, which was when the doors we’re scheduled to open. Thankfully my friends held me a spot in front of the line so as soon as the doors opened, we all ran inside and sat right In the front! Like most concerts, it did not start on time which made me and my friends, as well as the people who were around us, very irritated and restless. Everyone sat in there seats about an hour until the event actually started. However, once it did begin, it was great! It first started with performances done by Penn State’s Blue Band, Lionettes, and Cheerleaders, as well as dance crew Ram Squad. The Blue Band was phenomenal as always, the Lionettes and Ram Squad danced flawlessly, and the cheerleaders definitely got the crowd excited for Big Sean. After those performances, the boys and girls basketball teams were introduced. Everyone was excited when the members were coming out one by one, but I think people were more excited to catch the PSU t-shirts they were throwing at the crowd as they ran to stand next to their teammates; I actually caught one! I was very happy because I’m usually the one that doesn’t catch anything. After all the team members were introduced and coaches gave their speeches and the dunk contest was over, the boys basketball team dance for us; the crowd!! This was one of my favorite parts of the whole event because it was hilarious! Watching these giant men dance to pop music definitely made the show! It was also nice seeing the team doing something different; a few of them looked a little embarrassed and others looked like they were having so much fun. It was just overall a very impressive moment, no one was expecting it.

           Once the basketball team was done performing, a bunch of people dressed in black came out, all doing different things; some were cleaning the floor, while others were setting up speakers, and this only meant one thing, Big Sean was coming !! By then the crowd was already excited and when a video of Big Sean appeared on the flat screen TV’s people got really pumped up! I definitely was! Once the video ended, all of the lights were turned off and for no reason at all we all started cheering!!! Seconds later Big Sean appeared! It was the moment everyone had been waiting for; the whole crowd went crazy! Everyone was screaming and cheering, including me and my friends, but I couldn’t even hear myself, I only realized that I was pretty loud once I felt the pain in my throat. But it was definitely worth it. Big Sean was a great performer! He sang more songs than I expected and went all out when he did! He danced, jumped, clapped and just made the crowd enjoy the entire show. He seemed so happy to be at Penn State, performing for us, and really connected with the crowd. He didn’t give the typical motivational speech most artist do. You can tell that his came from the heart, he spoke about his life which showed that it really is possible to make your dreams come true; he also added a little comedy to his speech so there wasn’t an awkward sentimental moment like most motivational speeches tend to create.

I am really glad I went to this event, because I didn’t only get to see Big Sean but after the concert was over I was also able to meet him! As soon as the concert was over my friends and I ran out to find his tour bus. We waited in front of it for a while because according to the security guards he was inside taking pictures with those who paid for VIP passes and after a while more people kept coming so for security purposes they were holding him inside. They kept telling us that we were waiting for no reason because he wasn’t going to stop and talk to us but man were they wrong! As soon as he came out his security guards tried to rush him inside the bus but he stopped them and started signing autographs. He was really short! I actually think I’m taller than him, which makes me feel kind of good inside. He stayed for a bit allowing us to take his picture and actually giving out hugs! He is really a cool person! Although I have been to concerts before, this was the first time I actually met the artist and received a hug! In all it was an awesome and memorable experience that adds to the reasons of why I love Penn State!