The Lee Grand Dining Room was packed full of students ready to play bingo and hoping to win some big prizes, but there was a problem. They had run out of supplies, and there were still students lining up to get in.
“Welcome Back Bingo” has been put on by Lancer Productions for the past three years and has become a favorite among the student body. According to Jessica Hamilton, president of Lancer Productions, anywhere from 150-200 students normally attend it. But on August 28, she estimated about 350 students managed to squeeze inside the Grand.
“It was a great feeling to have a sold-out crowd, but I have to admit it was terrifying at the same time,” said Hamilton, “We wanted to make sure every student was satisfied and had an enjoyable time, but after the first wave of students we realized we were running low on Bingo cards.”
Despite the growing panic during the situation, Lancer Productions managed to pull through. They were able to stall for time with impromptu dance competitions by audience members, with the winners winning complimentary swag bags, while the crew printed off more bingo cards.
“It was an amazing feeling to see so many interested students… Although, it was nerve racking, the crowd kept Lancer Productions going.” added Hamilton.
When asked what the reason for the growth of turnout, Hamilton credits the hard work of their marketing team.
“Hieu Nguyen, Lancer Production’s VP of Marketing, along with our marketing team has revamped our program, and we used various sources to get the word out. We used Facebook, Twitter, and flyers to encourage students interested in winning $1,000 worth of prizes.” states Hamilton.
Prizes ranged from the necessary, like toilet paper and laundry supplies, to the extravagant, like a pair of Beasts by Dre and an HP laptop.
Lancer Productions tried their best to get everyone seated and enjoy the evening, but there was at least one person who wasn’t able to get in.
Kiersten Freedman, a freshman, said that by the time she and her friends arrived at the Grand, there was no room left.
“When my friends and I arrived at bingo, there were a few groups of people outside D-Hall and they informed us that there was neither room in the Dining Room nor enough cards for everyone to play.” said Freedman.
“A lot of people were surprised that bingo was so popular, and I was disappointed because I had been looking forward for bingo all day.”
Hamilton says that this recent fiasco has impacted their future planning on events. They hope to get a bigger budget in order to get a larger amount of prizes and better prizes and are considering hosting future bingos in Blackwell Hall.
Lancer Productions hopes to receive an even bigger turn out at their next event, Epic Rap Battles, which will be in Jarman Auditorium on September 15th.Panic
