This Saturday, Wabash will transform the Knowling Fieldhouse into a concert venue as National Act returns. Rapper Nardo Wick is coming all the way from Florida to perform for the College. The event represents the culmination of a year-long planning process designed to unify the campus through high-energy music.
What some people may not know, however, is that the selection process for the headliner actually began almost immediately after the previous year’s show. The process comes down to balancing student desire, practical logistics and the reality that even tens of thousands of dollars is a tight budget for pulling a big name star.
The student senate’s National Act committee uses How To Concerns LLC as their agency to acquire the headlining performer.
“This was the biggest name we could get with the money that we have,” said National Act Committee Chairman Bennett Strain ’26. “We really wanted Waka Flocka, but he just released an album with Metro Boomin. Because of that, his price skyrocketed while we were still in the process of trying to book him. From there, we landed on Nardo, who we felt was also a fitting choice.”
Coordinator of Student Success Vic Lindsay, who acted as the bridge between the National Act Committee and college administration, explained that the sweet spot for Wabash is in the $30,000–$40,000 range. The two kinds of artists they target are up-and-comers who may go on to outgrow a stage like Wabash or established names who are past their prime. An ironic example of the former came when Wabash booed now-then rap superstar Jack Harlow before his career really took off.
Planning National Act only seems to be booking talent, but under the hood, much more goes on in order to make the concert a well-oiled machine. Landing on a weekend with as few scheduling conflicts as possible is another challenge. The artist’s, athletic department’s and campus’ schedules all have to align for the most part. This year’s National Act fortunately sees fewer away athletic competitions than normal. However, it falls on the same day as a volleyball match against Trine, a track and field event in Atlanta, Georgia, a baseball game in University Heights, Ohio and tennis matches in Terre Haute, Indiana.
The College has contracted with Sizzlin Sound Production LLC, a local business in Crawfordsville. Their job is to take care of all the essentials for a concert.
“We need to get everything for the stage. We also have to worry about lights, seating and sound while having it all organized,” said Lindsay. “If the event were outside, we’d also have to get portable toilets, generators and barricades. On top of that, we would need private security on hand.”
The final requirement for the event is slightly smaller. The stars often personally request items for themselves. Most of it is food, which hardly gets touched. Frequently the college denies requests for alcohol. Interestingly enough, Wick has specifically requested he be provided “Glide” floss tooth picks for the event.
Other festivities begin well before Nardo’s headliner performance at 8:00 p.m. EST. The committee has gotten My Yellow Rickshaw to open the show at 6:30 p.m. EST.
“We kept with the rap/hip-hop main artist, but we’re also providing an opener who is not really in that same genre,” said Strain. “It’s a different genre of music, which I think can tailor to people who may not be interested in a rap artist. We want the opening act to help the unifying aspect of the event.”
Additionally, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) Megagate will run from noon until 6:00 p.m. EST outside of the Allen Center, featuring a food truck and a relay race as the final event of their annual Pan-Hel.
“We’re hoping for a good day with beautiful weather and a good turnout,” said IFC President Kyle Foster ’27. “We know the National Act Committee put a lot of work into the event. We want every fraternity to show up for Megagate and also the volleyball game beforehand.”
Current RSVPs sit at roughly 1,523 with 458 of them being students. The college expects the final crowd to number between a record-setting 1,800 and 2,000 people after fraternity guests and day-of attendees are counted.
The final portion of the night will be an after party at Lambda Chi Alpha, who has hosted this for the past few years.
“Our party is one aspect of an overall great day,” said Lambda Chi Alpha President Elijah Wetzel ’27. “There’s going to be a ton for people to do, and I think our role is just being another place for people to be together and create memories.”