Catching up with Star Course

This week I was able sit down with Jessica Banovz, one of the two Senior Managers of Star Course that help lead the RSO, to learn more about Star Course's history, operation, and plans for the future.Star Course is a student-run RSO at the University of Illinois and by far the oldest, dating all the way back to the year 1892.  Initially the organization was put in place to stage and promote campus entertainment with the first orchestra they put on production back in 1912.  While they have a primary focus on live concerts, over the past century they had expanded their scope to acts from comedy and rock n’ roll to jazz and R&B.  This tradition continues onto today as Star Course continues to promote and provide entertainment of all types to the C-U and University communities.Star Course is run by students while under the supervision of State Farm.  At the beginning of each year the RSO elects 16 staff members; 2 Senior Managers and 14 Junior Managers.  On average, the Senior Managers contract around 3 or 4 shows a semester, while the Junior Mangers direct other staff members during the various phases of show preparation.Staff committees are divided into two categories: Day of show, and non-day of show.  Day of show committees involve such things as Business Management, Tickets, and Stage & Production to name just a few.  The non-day of show committees are divided into three cooperatives: Advertising, External and Internal Relations that work with and support each other.  As Jessica pointed out to me, each of the Junior Managers head up one of these committees to keep them on track.In recent years Star Course has seen more than its fair share of troubled times.  In pasts years, the most they’ve been able to put out is one or two shows a year.  Jessica Banovz attributed this to the ever changing music industry.  “The music industry has changed so much within the past 10 years, within the past 5 years by the way of how booking artists go,” Jessica spoke when asked about Star Course’s struggles in recent years, “Star Course was set up for 60’s, 70’s, 80’s [style of contact and booking]… Star Course has seen a lag in catching up with the music industry and is finally catching up.”For this semester Star Course has several shows booked.  This Thursday at Foellinger Auditorium is Casey James, the first country singer in a long while that Star Course has put on stage.  Coming this October on the 21^st is Baauer, an electronic music producer currently on tour, along with recently announced Grouplove with special guests The Knocks and Saints of Valory on November 1^st.  The RSO has one last show planned that Jessica says will likely be announced within the next two weeks.For those interested in learning more about Star Course should visit their website at star-course.com.  And if you are interested in joining Star Course then shoot them an email at starcoursepersonnel@gmail.com.