On Apr. 12, 2013, Plymouth State University hosted its second annual, PSU’s Got Talent show. Premiering last Spring, inspired by Plymouth State professor Terri Dautcher’s Event Marketing class, this year’s event consisted of 13 acts from singers, harmonists, dancers and other musical artists alike, and all proceeds from the event were donated to The Bridgehouse Shelter here in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
Upon entering the Hartman Union Building, the edifice of which the talent show took place, one easily questioned capacity, as the gymnasium was filled to the brim with Plymouth State faculty and staff, students, and supporting friends and family.
Audience members in one of the front sections were attempting to toss balloons around amongst the crowd, as feel good music from musicians such as Foster The People, Phoenix, and Passion Pit blasted from the speakers. Supporters shouted the names of performers as they passed by to go backstage and prepare for their acts. If the energy of the crowd was any indicator of how the performances would carry out, then it was suspected that the assemblage was in for a treat.
From the Plymouth State University’s Dance Team’s perfectly choreographed dance to Rihanna’s latest hit, “Right Now,” to guitarist Eric Soboczinski’s self-written solo which consisted of Spanish prose, it was apparent that the word “talent” was an understatement.
Student saxophonist Matt Dolliver performed multiple acts; one within his band, Elephant, which consisted of him playing the saxophone, two guitarists, a drummer, and a keyboardist, and once again when he played American rapper Macklemore’s 2012 hit, “Thrift shop” on both the keyboard and the saxophone.
The talent show consisted of three judges: Pemi the Panther, the Plymouth State Mascot, Lisa Lovett, a Plymouth State alumni, and Jay Maskowitz, an adjunct professor within the Art department. At the end of the show, the three judges chose the top three performers, and then subsequently allowed the audience to select the winner based upon crowd applause. Though each participant possessed great amount of talent, the crowd eventually selected Matt Dolliver as the winner of the 2013 PSU’s Got talent.
The beauty of the entire event was not solely the musical acts, but rather, the aftermath. Ethan Batten, both a guitarist and singer who performed in the talent show demonstrated nothing short of Panther pride, regardless of his placement within the contest.
“I think Plymouth State is full of talented and creative people,” Ethan began. “Events like PSU’s Got Talent help market these individuals.”
While its musicians are something that needs to be marketed, it seems there is another facet of the Plymouth Community that doesn’t receive as much recognition, and that is, its benevolence. It is common knowledge that college students are not particularly the wealthiest of the many demographics, nonetheless, every member of the audience – majority of them beings students- purchased a ticket individually to donate to The Bridgehouse Shelter which gives shelter, food, education and occupation support to veterans, families, and individuals within the greater Plymouth, NH region experiencing homelessness.
When asked to provide a verbal reaction to the talent show, Brianna Gualco, Plymouth State University sophomore and Vice President of the Nicaragua Club, a group that performs service projects for the destitute abroad stated that the talent show “demonstrated not only that there is a strong sense of community here in the University, but it shows that the reverence is spreading.”
The mere willingness of students to either perform or purchase a ticket, exhibits that Plymouth State has most certainly got talent–in more ways than one.