Who claps? We play for snaps

Jordan Aman

Senior Sammy Qabazard plays John Mayer's "Who Says" at the Filament's coffeehouse. Qabazard also played with his band, Light Request.

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Jordan Aman, Arts Editor
March 24, 2010
Filed under Arts

The lights were dim in Clausen Hall and the audience members were settled in their chairs, waiting eagerly for the Filament literary arts magazine’s semi annual coffeehouse to begin on March 17.

The coffeehouse, a student-run showcase of literary and musical talent, is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the publication.

The event was put together as a medium for performing students and at $4 a ticket, it was a lucrative funding idea.

“This show is our budget. The proceeds we make from this show go on to directly fund the production of this magazine,” junior Louise Manahl said.

Manahl also said that they “hoped to raise upwards of $350,” from this single event.

“Realistically speaking, we will probably only raise around $300, because there is not a huge turnout,” Manahl said.

The coffeehouse had around a 60 person turn out, not including the 22 performers. The show lasted for around two hours, including 18 acts and a short intermission.

“I was a little disappointed that we didn’t have the turn out we had last time,” senior Brandon Mitchner said.

Throughout the show, there were multiple musical performances from piano to bass guitar to full ensembles, including a rendition of the Eagle’s “Hotel California” by the band Light Request, which is comprised of senior Sammy Qabazard, junior Jeff Bynum, senior Will Allison and senior Miguel Sitoe.

Poetry and short stories were read by other students, throughout the performance. Senior Abby Cummins shared her own short story, earning herself a nice round of snaps from the audience.

There was a short intermission after about seven acts and then a short “open mic,” in which a monologue from the Broadway musical, RENT, given by sophomore Paulina Stehr, got the crowd laughing with her perfect interpretation of Over the Moon.

Other performers, like Will Allison, set the mood with his jazz slap bass.

“The Coffeehouse provides a great venue for artistic students to showcase their amazing skills,” said English teacher and advisor Kathleen Dion. “It is never solely about the money and it’s a lot of fun,” Dion said.

The Filament staff members were scattered about the lecture hall, watching the performances and selling baked goods at the concessions table.

The performances went quickly and the light atmosphere helped to keep the audience in a snapping mood.

There was a plentiful amount of homemade goods, like brownies and even an army cake from junior Anna Smith.

Beanetics, an independently owned coffee shop located on Columbia Pike in Annandale, sponsored the event with their generous donation of unlimited coffee.

Overall, though it was not as successful as previous coffeehouses, the show ran smooothly and audience members were left eager for the next coffeehouse.