The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: News

Soulja Boy will play at Legion Field this evening. [Click to enlarge]

Soulja Boy contract

A $28,000 check isn't the only perk Soulja Boy will receive for his performance at Legion Field this evening.

He'll also get Hi-C Fruit Punch, a fruit tray and a platter of hot and mild wings - which must be served hot - according to his contract.

"I'm a little surprised by the list," said freshman Laura Claire Whatley of Decatur, who said she thought the list would have included "girls, liquor, weed and some honey buns."

Also on the list of "Dressing Room Requirements" in the 26-page contract are two cases of cold bottled water, a 12-pack of Sprite, a six-pack of cold Gatorade and four clean hand towels.

"That's pretty typical," said Liz Hansen, program adviser for student activities and organizations. "We try to be as accommodating as possible, we want them to do a good performance."



But not every artist is as easy to accommodate as Soulja Boy. When rap artist Bobby Valentino performed at the University in 2007, he requested eight dozen thornless red roses. Unable to find the roses, Hansen dethorned regular roses, which Valentino later threw to the audience.

"There can definitely be some oddball things," Hansen said. "You never know what you'll get."

At the University of Maine, where Hansen formerly worked, Gavin DeGraw performed and requested pomegranate juice, patchouli incense in his dressing room, socks and underwear.

Athens' 40 Watt Club has also had its share of unusual requests.

"Years ago for Dinosaur Jr., we had to get Flintstones vitamins," said Velena Vego, the booking agent for 40 Watt, who said she jokingly offered to remove all of the Dino-shaped vitamins from the bottle. "But most of the time it's pretty simple stuff like hummus and chips, water and beer."

There may be water and Hi-C, but there will be no beer for 18-year-old Soulja Boy for this performance.

"Usually artists will request alcohol of some sort, which we definitely cross off the list," Hansen said.

The University does not allow artists to drink alcohol during a show and especially not an underage artist, she said.

So raise your glasses - of Hi-C - and "superman dat ho" because Soulja Boy is in town.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools