Students close JACC with live music, games and tarot cards at JACCpalooza

On Saturday night the Journalism Association of Community Colleges held the first ever JACCpalooza, an event to entertain students who attended the event.

The event was held at the Marriot Hotel in Burbank where students paid $20 to enjoy events such as jousting, tarot card reading, bungie races, blackjack and live music.

The activities were meant to be a celebration after the JACC conference where students interested in Journalism gathered from across the state.

“We didn’t initially think we were going, but we got talked into it, said Mason Masis, There’s a lot of free stuff to do here. We got tarot cards, we got some caricatures and you know I’m having a blast. I’m happy I came.”

 Masis competed in the two events including Video Journalism and Broadcast Writing, and is the online Multi-Media Editor for Southwestern College’s paper the Sun.

“We were featured for the Video Journalism, so that was exciting, said Masis, it wasn’t placed. It was just the honor of getting shown I guess.”

Attendees were also treated to live music from two bands, Avalon Landing and Culprit.

The first band Avalon Landing is made up of friends who knew each other in Buffalo, New York before going to Las Vegas.

“I moved out to Las Vegas in 2010, with family and started playing a little bit just myself around town. Those two guys were in a band back home, said Mike Vargovich, that band kind of fell apart”

“They came out (for) a couple day(s) and we played a couple shows together and we decided to form a band. In Los Vegas we found our drummer John (and) our bassist Cory. (They are) the current members of the band.”

The band was booked by Gil Riego Jr. one of the organizers of the event.

While the attendance was low for the event he was not too worried.

“Turnout was low, but I think for a first time situation like this. The overall goal was a success. said Riego.

Riego hopes to change the structure for the next JACCpalooza and help arrange the event to make it easier for attendees to enjoy all the events.