This week, justArts sat down with the events manager at Cholmondely's to get the inside scoop on the internal workings of the coffeehouse, as well as a vision of where it is headed.

Just Arts: What is your position at Chum's and what does that entail?

Josh Berman: I'm the events manager at Chum's so that means that I'm the person that looks at the space requests, and people contact me if they want to book an event at Chum's ... I make sure that the required equipment is in the space and the staff knows that the events are happening.

JA: How did you get involved at Chum's?

JB: I applied to work at Chum's my freshman year, second semester. I wanted to work there because I had a lot of good memories there throughout the year. [My friends and I would remember] the time the Antlers played-that was really cool and there were some really good dance parties there. So that's one part of it. Another part, which is actually just in the back of my head, is that my dad actually went to Brandeis and worked at Chum's and I was like "that would be cool." We have matching [Chum's] sweatshirts now.

JA: Chum's has already had a lot of concerts this year including performances by Har Mar Superstar, Dent May, Dead Gaze and Kid Mountain. Is it fair to say that Chum's has had an overall increase in concerts this semester?

JB: I think that we've had an increase in concerts but I think that we've had an overall resurgence in general. When I was a freshman we had events there but it wasn't as popular a spot as it is now because now we're having more events. We had the '90s All That Party that was really awesome. That was an event that I was involved with [along] with Ayan Sanyal '14 who was the brains behind the operation. But we were working together very closely. That was a huge success. Also people are going to hang out there ... People will go and get some ice cream or a coffee or a sandwich and it's really become a more open environment.

JA: In terms of the performances, does Chum's reach out to the performers, or do they contact you?

JB: It depends on the event. There have been events [in which] Chum's has reached out to performers. Last year we had a band called Swift Technique come and that was totally run through Chum's. Ninety-nine percent of the concerts though are done through either WBRS [or the Brandeis Associatin for Music and Concert Organization] and we work closely with them but they have the ultimate say in who comes and who doesn't. We provide the space; we help out with the sound and the lighting.

JA: Do you personally have any initiatives or things you hope to accomplish for Chum's?

JB: I have a vision. I think that Brandeis really lacks a space where you just go, plop down hang out and meet someone new, like a safe space that doesn't have many expectations. And so that's what I think the whole staff is working on in different ways is trying to engage people and make them feel like this isn't just someone serving coffee, this is a place where I can hang out and talk. And it doesn't even need to be between the customer and the worker, it can also be between customers. That's the vision that I want to accomplish.

JA: Are there any specific things that you would change in order to reach that vision?

JB: We're looking to do more advertising. It would be really nice if we were part of the points system, but I don't think that's going to happen because that's through Sodexo and we like our independence and I think people appreciate our independence a lot. So that doesn't seem like that will ever be possible. One change that I do want to make is that clubs on campus can't use [Finance Board] money to book Chum's and that's something I want to change. I find it really silly that clubs can get $1,000 to put on an event for janitorial fee and catering but they can't get $50 to book the space [at Chum's]. I think the policy is that F-Board doesn't provide money for booking [space] fees but we're not just providing money for space. We're providing workers for the space and we're also doing audio and lighting.


-Emily Wishingrad

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