It is common camel knowledge that Barn Shows are among the biggest highlights of student life at Conn. So naturally the student body was disappointed when, after just the first barn night of the semester, news spread that the space would be shut down indefinitely for matters of structural safety. This is not a new issue, but rather an ongoing struggle with the history of the barn itself. As a retired squash court, the space was designed to have a somewhat bouncy floor and was certainly not intended to support crowds of excited young people dancing and jumping up and down. Thus, over the years, the floorboards have been worn down enough to cause concern for the structural integrity of the Barn and in turn, the safety of the students utilizing and enjoying the space.
However, hope is far from lost for the Barn, MOBROC (or Musicians Organized for Bands Rights on Campus), and their numerous fans. The club’s executive board has been working closely with the Office of Student Engagement to ensure that the situation with the Barn is addressed and that bands have access to rehearsal and performance spaces in the meantime. The Office of Student Engagement is currently waiting for the College’s hired structural engineer, who was unfortunately injured on another job, to recover so that the barn’s floor can be assessed and hopefully ultimately adjusted to continue serving its new purpose as a bustling concert space.
Not only is the situation being dealt with in a positive manner between the students and administration, but MOBROC co-chair Jack Pacilio’20 claims that, in fact, “whenever we have the Barn shut down is when we have to think creatively.” Rather than being discouraged by the temporary loss of their home-base, the club is pushed to adapt and respond in innovative ways. Grace Amato’21, lead singer of femme punk band Sorry Mom, also noted that having to perform in venues other than the barn can improve the shows’ accessibility to the student body, as the spaces’ capacities will be less limited. Pacilio wants fans of MOBROC to feel assured that the bands “are still going to play shows” and that, while it will take some time, “the Barn is coming back.”
Fortunately, in spite of the Barn shutting down, bands have not been left without a reliable space dedicated to their practice and growth. On Tuesday, October 1st, the Office of Student Engagement provided MOBROC with a moving van in order to transport the club’s equipment to 33 Gallows Lane, off of Williams Street, where bands can rehearse until the barn is reinstated. While this is clearly a big positive, Amato commented on the inconvenience of this location. It is relatively far from campus and the building needs to be unlocked by a Campus Safety officer whenever bands want to rehearse. Amato also pointed out the lack of inspiring atmosphere in the old Gallows conference room as compared to the exuberant graffitied walls of the barn. She argues that “there’s something really important about being able to personalize the music space that you’re in … you need to be able to be creative, and if you’re not having that opportunity, you feel stifled in that space.”
According to Pacilio, we can still expect performances in the near future “wherever [they] can drag the equipment…” Since the closing of the Barn, there have already been Boatweiler concerts sponsored by MOBROC at Abbey House and the Larrabee House common room. Student groups, including Sorry Mom and a new first-year band, The Couch, have also had the opportunity to perform out in the open at the annual Arbofest held October 19th.
Whether it be inside Cro, Unity House, or even just outside, MOBROC intends to work with the Student Activities Council and Student Government Association to improve the production quality of shows on campus. So not only can we expect plenty of upcoming shows, but we can expect them to be even better than they already have been.
Pacilio notes that correspondence between MOBROC and the college administration has remained positive and supportive in light of the situation with the Barn. The Office of Student Engagement is committed to getting the Barn back and up to standard. He points out that investing in MOBROC may be a wise long-term budget strategy for the Office of Student Engagement and SAC, as more, higher-quality student bands can replace DJs and other performers hired by the College.
In spite of the Barn being shut down early on and preventing MOBROC from being as productive as it potentially could be, this semester has still proven to be a good one for the club. According to Amato, MOBROC has become bigger, more open, and overall more of a community. The new academic year has brought a lot of new talent and interest. This is especially important right now, in the midst of what Pacilio compares to a “changing of the guard,” as many members of current bands will soon graduate. Pacilio emphasized the importance that the space (the Barn, when possible) be kept active and the scene alive, even after the familiar faces of MOBROC have moved on. He affirms that we can expect as many as “four new bands on the scene within the month.” It would be inaccurate to say that no challenges or delays have come for MOBROC with the closing of the Barn. However, rather than forming a barricade, this obstacle has proven to be a mere bump in the road that has helped reignite the creative spirit of the group and its members. •
