“GV’s Got Talent,” put on by the Campus Activities Board (CAB), is an event where students can show off their talents for an opportunity to win first, second or third place, receiving cash prizes. The winner of the competition is awarded the opportunity to be the opening act for CAB’s spring concert. This year, the event was held on March 15.

“GV’s Got Talent is an opportunity for GVSU students to showcase their talents, whether it is singing, dancing, poetry, comedy, playing an instrument,” said CAB member Chad Novak. 

Novak helped to plan and set up GV’s Got Talent. He said it took CAB around a month to prepare for the talent show.

“About a month out, we host auditions and do logistical work for preparing for the talent show – reserving rooms and equipment, purchasing supplies, reaching out to judges, putting in promotions requests for graphics and photo and video coverage,” Novak said. “The day of, we start to set up five hours before the event. We set up the stage, chairs, balloon arch, decorations, etc. Three hours before the show, we have rehearsal for the performers.”

The first-place winner of GV’s Got Talent was Ignite Dance Co. The group is now the opening act for GVSU’s spring concert, the headlining performer is American rapper and producer T-Pain.

Ignite Dance Co. is a recreational commercial dance team at Grand Valley State University. Ignite specializes in Jazz Funk, Heels and Hip Hop. They are led by GVSU sophomore Andre Glover, who’s the president, head choreographer and founder of the club. 

Glover said opening for T-Pain will give Ignite Dance Co. the opportunity to gain the recognition they’ve been working towards. 

“It felt amazing to win the talent show, the whole team has been working really hard this semester and to see the hard work pay off is an undeniable feeling,” Glover said. “We are super excited to be the opener for T-Pain and we are very thankful and honored to be a part of something this huge, we will cherish this forever.”

Last year’s spring concert performer was Yung Gravy, the opening act a DJ who goes by the name Ederz. 

Ederz has been a DJ for eight years now, working many jobs at clubs as well as opening concerts. Ederz said he is thankful for the opportunity to open for a big artist at the 2022 GV spring concert as a smaller DJ.

“Finding out I was opening for Yung Gravy was unreal and amazing,” Ederz said. “An absolutely incredible experience.”

Ederz said there were many benefits for performing as the opening act at such a large campus event.

“(Opening the concert) definitely gave me a little boost on the social platforms,” Ederz said. “You build a little credit by opening for someone as big as Yung Gravy, which is awesome when you are trying to pursue more opportunities as a DJ.” 

These opportunities for GVSU students are opening up a wider path for any Lakers’ future career. 

The spring concert is coming April 1, 2023. For more information, those interested can visit the GVSU Campus Activities Board website under “Spring Concert.”