Drexel Late Night Series turns five
Lauren Thomas
Issue date: 2/11/11 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Five years ago, performing arts professor Nick Anselmo came to Drexel after the success of a free weekly open mic event he created at Mercer County Community College. With him, he brought the concept of how Late Night Series Philadelphia was born to Drexel. Inspired by the idea of creating an atmosphere like salons of the 1930s and 40s, Anselmo wanted Late Night Series to be a creative and nurturing environment for artists. "Composers like Irving Berlin and George Gershwin would invite their friends over for a party and play them songs they had been composing to get feedback. That is the forum I wanted Late Night Series to be for the Drexel community," Anselmo said.
In its first year, Anselmo ran LNS by himself each week and brought in additional acts from New York City and LNS Jersey. The show gained a devoted following and, after a year, Anselmo teamed up with a group of entertainment and arts management students to run and, eventually, expand LNS.
"The original set of EAM students who had helped me really get LNS off the ground were incredibly dedicated to LNS … Soon we were doing more marketing and getting more student performers. People were coming in from all over Philadelphia," Anselmo said.
Since then, Late Night Series Philadelphia has continued to grow and put on memorable shows week after week, running on what they call "rock star love:" the idea that each performer is given the utmost respect as soon as they step onto the stage
"There's a lot of anxiety that goes along with performing, and the fact that we've managed to create an environment where people feel free to express themselves as often and as freely as they choose is something magical," Post Midnight, poet and Drexel professor who hosts Late Night Series each week, said. "I'm honored and thrilled that LNS is now at its fifth anniversary here at Drexel because it means a lot to be able to provide performers a safe place to perform."
Late Night Series is also a great place for students to learn about the entertainment business by working together to run all aspects of Late Night Series. Students who volunteer are able to learn venue management, A&R, booking, marketing and web development, as well as the technical aspects of running a live performance through invaluable hands-on experience.
In its first year, Anselmo ran LNS by himself each week and brought in additional acts from New York City and LNS Jersey. The show gained a devoted following and, after a year, Anselmo teamed up with a group of entertainment and arts management students to run and, eventually, expand LNS.
"The original set of EAM students who had helped me really get LNS off the ground were incredibly dedicated to LNS … Soon we were doing more marketing and getting more student performers. People were coming in from all over Philadelphia," Anselmo said.
Since then, Late Night Series Philadelphia has continued to grow and put on memorable shows week after week, running on what they call "rock star love:" the idea that each performer is given the utmost respect as soon as they step onto the stage
"There's a lot of anxiety that goes along with performing, and the fact that we've managed to create an environment where people feel free to express themselves as often and as freely as they choose is something magical," Post Midnight, poet and Drexel professor who hosts Late Night Series each week, said. "I'm honored and thrilled that LNS is now at its fifth anniversary here at Drexel because it means a lot to be able to provide performers a safe place to perform."
Late Night Series is also a great place for students to learn about the entertainment business by working together to run all aspects of Late Night Series. Students who volunteer are able to learn venue management, A&R, booking, marketing and web development, as well as the technical aspects of running a live performance through invaluable hands-on experience.
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