General Information:

Wilson Hall Auditorium is a large, proscenium-style venue that contains 1,233 seats, divided between the Orchestra (850 total seats), the Mezzanine (114 total seats) and the Balcony (269 total seats). Within the last decade, JMU has upgraded the venue to exceptional standards, including comfortable seating, professional sound, lighting and video capabilities and boasts a tem of seasoned professionals to see events through to a successful conclusion. A detailed seating map can be provided upon request.

• NO Food, drink, gum  or glitter are allowed in the Auditorium including rehearsals and performances. The only exception is for bottled water on stage for performers. Green Room facilities are available beneath the stage where catering can be arranged through Aramark Catering. There are also dressing rooms and a private bathroom available.
• Standing on, climbing over or damaging seats will incur damage fees.
• The venue will be unlocked and available to the presenting organization at a time agreed to by both parties during the contracting process. A meeting with the Technical & Operations Manager is required at least four weeks prior to scheduled event time. At that meeting, load-in and load-out schedules, usage guidelines and technical needs and capabilities will also be discussed.
• All presenting organizations are required to use Wilson Hall Auditorium audio, lighting and video systems. The venue boasts professional level equipment and a detailed outline of these systems are available upon request. If additional equipment is needed, it must be provided by an approved JMU vendor.
• Wilson Hall Auditorium is surrounded by classrooms and offices, so no loud audio is allowed before 5pm on weekdays.

Internal JMU Student/Faculty/Administrative Events Information:

• Facility Rental Fees may apply if admission is charged.
• The Auditorium is generally not ideal for events of less than 250 people. Use of the space for smaller events is purely at the discretion of the Technical & Operations Manager.
• Wilson Hall Auditorium is a learning venue so mandatory student labor is required for all events. Labor costs are hourly and based on the current minimum wage in the state of Virginia, plus applicable taxes. There will be an assigned student House Manager to assist in the lobby who will be hired at the same rate.
• Any event that takes place outside of the standard weekday schedule will require a housekeeping employee to be present to maintain cleanliness and to monitor all available restrooms. This cost is $50.
• A flat fee of $25 is charged to all events to cover expendable costs (tape, batteries, etc.).
• There is no additional charge for equipment that is standard in the venue. Presenter will be required to cover the costs of any additional equipment that is rented from an approved JMU vendor. Standard equipment includes:
  • Professional sound system adequate for public address, small to medium vocal or dance performances and full-scale bands and orchestras.
  • Professional lighting system capable of providing various looks and moods based on the presenter's needs. Only static spotlights are available. We do not have follow spots.
  • Professional projector & screen combination capable of projecting presentations, videos and still pictures. A Teaching Station PC is available on site and is already dialed into the system, but we are able to accommodate personal computers provided to us.

**NOTE** Events exceeding 1000 people are subject to the Event Management Fire Safety and Emergency Planning Requirements in accordance with the JMU Office of Risk Management.

Off-Campus Users Event/Performance Rental Information:

Standard Facilities Rental Fee (mandatory) - $3,000 (6 hour minimum) + $225 per hour for every hour after 6 hours. This fee is based on when the local production team arrives on site and ends when they are released for the day/night.

Technical & Operations Manager Fee (mandatory) - $600 (6 hour minimum). The T&O Manager will coordinate with outside production and university labor to make sure all systems are operational and the production schedule is adhered to.

Sound Engineer - $350 (6 hour minimum). Manadatory unless presenter provides their own FOH engineer.

Production Labor - Determined when technical rider is submitted to T&O Manager. Labor slots will be filled first with JMU student labor and second by an approved outside labor vendor.

Front of House Manager Fee - $180 (6 hour minimum).

Box Office Staff Fee - $225 (6 hour minimum). Mandatory only if event is a ticketed performance. Tickets will be handled by Forbes Center Staff.

Equipment Use & Expendables - Costs based on technical rider specifications. Auditorium sound, lighting and video systems do not incur additional costs. Outside equipment rental costs are to be borne by the outside organization and must be provided by an approved JMU vendor.

Housekeeping Fee - $50 (3 hour minimum).

Ushers - All outside rentals require ushers. Ushers are provided by RMC. The number of ushers needed is dependent on the number of patrons.

Aramark Catering - The Auditorium Green Room has a limited kitchen/service area and any catering must be handled by Aramark, who will be paid directly by the presenting organization. A limited amount of personal beverages or snacks are allowed. Alcohol is strictly prohibited.

JMU Security/Police Department - The number of officers required is based on the size of the crowd. However, a minimum of one officer is needed at $125 for a three hour shift.

Ticketing/Sales - Events can be sold on a General Admission or Reserved seating basis. Sales will be managed by Forbes Center staff through the Choice ticketing system. Each advertised ticket price will include a $4 service fee and will be retained by the Forbes Center. Outside ticket agencies are prohibited. The Forbes Center will manage the sale of tickets, processing internet tickets, mailing out tickets to patrons that have selected that choice and will-call pickup on the night of the show.

The Presenting Organization will approve all ticket language and the Forbes Center will remit all ticket revenue payable to the Presenting Organization, minus the $4.00 per ticket service fee. In addition, staff charges and any incidental costs agreed to prior to the event will come out of ticket revenue. The Forbes Center will provide a detailed accounting of all sales at agreed to intervals to the Presenting Organization.

Merchandise - Presenting Organization is responsible for all merchandise sales and will provide sales tools, the cash bank and all merchandise staff. Wilson Hall staff will set up tables and drop power as needed. The venue does not require any percentage of merchandise sales.

Parking - Tour Bus or van parking for the Artist will be provided behind Wilson Hall by permit. Patrons may park free of charge in the Warsaw deck behind the Forbes Center. Handicapped-Accessible parking is provided next to Wilson Hall and requires a DMV tag. Violators will be ticketed or towed.

Bus Transportation - If an event wishes to hire university bus transportation from Warsaw Deck to Wilson Hall, a separate fee will be charged. Advance reservations for any bus transport must be made at least 30 days prior to the event date. There is no guarantee of bus availability.