From comedy to concerts: theEnd's role in shaping TCU's weekend culture

From its origins as a student-driven initiative to its evolution into a cornerstone of TCU culture, theEnd continues to leave a lasting mark on the Horned Frog experience.

By Analise Wachtel

The Driver Era performing at TCU for theEnd’s welcome back concert on August 22. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

The Brown-Lupton University Union is alive with energy.

Students line the walls and stairs of its two levels. Their excited chatter echoes throughout the building.

When the doors finally swing open, a wave of students rushes into the dimly lit room, scrambling to grab the best seats closest to the stage.

A light turns on and the words “theEnd” shine brightly on the curtains behind the stage. The talent walks on stage, and the comedy club is in full swing.

What is theEnd?

This event, like many others, is organized and presented by “theEnd,” TCU’s weekend on campus programming organization. They bring musicians, comedians, actors and other performers to entertain the students.

The organization consists of both students and faculty, with Kelly Lee at the head of the operation. Lee, director of student affairs, has played a pivotal role in the success of theEnd. Established in 2014, theEnd is celebrating its 10th-year anniversary this year.

During its founding, Lee was a student at TCU and served as the inaugural student director, laying the foundation for its continued achievements. She was also the director of another organization, the Crew.

Throughout theEnd's entire journey, Lee has been involved, contributing to its growth and success from the very beginning.

The Brown Lupton University Union ballroom filled with students before Jimmy Tatro took the stage in February 2016. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

Tan France and Antoni Porowski perform at a theEnd event on Friday, March 22, 2019. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

Dacre Montgomery holds up a go frogs at a theEnd event on 31 August 2022. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

Hannah Berner performs a comedy set on September 2, 2023. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

The beginning of theEnd

The original mission of theEnd was to reshape TCU's weekend party culture. In 2012, TCU was ranked the ninth top party school in the country by Playboy magazine, and Alcohol Violations, AV’s, were at an all-time high.

Lee said Chancellor Victor Boschini tasked theEnd with finding ways to keep students on campus later at night. Their initial strategy was to attract students' attention by hosting free live entertainment. Fridays featured comedy acts and musical performances, while Saturdays offered exclusive pre-screenings of movies yet to be released in theaters.

Essentially, Fridays became live talent nights, and Saturdays were dedicated to movie screenings.

Trevor Wallace waves goodbye to the crowd after performing at TCU on September 2, 2023. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

Comedian Marcello Hernandez dancing on stage on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)
Comedian Marcello Hernandez dancing on stage on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

TheEnd today

Today, most events are held on Fridays, with the occasional Saturday event, primarily to avoid conflicts with weekend sporting events like football games. These free events, often featuring big-name acts like Pete Davidson and Dylan Sprouse, consistently sell out.

According to TCU360, the September comedy night with SNL star Marcello Hernandez was no exception, with eager students lining up for hours.

Senior English major Colleen Wyrick, a seasoned attendee, arrived at 4:30 p.m, for a 9 p.m. show, highlighting the intense student demand for TheEnd's exciting programming.

How theEnd selects talent

Kelly Lee oversees the talent booking process for theEnd, but the organization is primarily student-driven. Currently, it consists of three student directors and 20 to 30 general members.

Each semester, the team dedicates a meeting to brainstorming potential talent, during which students create a wishlist of performers and acts they would like to see.

Lee then leverages her connections with booking agencies to refine the list, which she presents back to the students for final selection.

To ensure broad appeal, theEnd also seeks input beyond its members. Lee said that they use Instagram to gather feedback from the wider student body. This collaborative approach helps theEnd curate a diverse lineup that caters to various interests — whether in music, comedy or film.

Lee emphasizes intentionality in selecting talent to ensure there’s something for everyone, recognizing that the TCU community values a range of experiences.

Booking the talent

Kelly Lee said there are two primary ways to book talent for college campuses. One method involves booking agents reaching out to colleges to promote their talent, often looking to perform at colleges or embark on a college tour.

The more common approach is when a college’s booking agent, like Lee, contacts talent agents to inquire about performers available for campus events.

Occasionally, agencies will also reach out when they have signed new talent interested in performing for college audiences.

A unique aspect of TCU’s approach, particularly for music acts, is their timing. TCU’s fall concert, typically held in mid-September, often coincides with artists preparing to go on tour.

While unintentional, this timing has proven advantageous for booking talent. Performers use the TCU concert as a rehearsal for their upcoming tour, and in return, TCU benefits from lower booking fees.

Notable examples include Kelsea Ballerini, who performed at TCU in 2023, and the Driver Era, who kicked off their college tour at TCU in 2024.

Ken Jeong telling a joke during his comedy set at theEnd's comedy night on January 26, 2019. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)
Ken Jeong telling a joke during his comedy set at theEnd's comedy night on January 26, 2019. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

T-Pain sings in the BLUU ballroom on March 25, 2017. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)
T-Pain sings in the BLUU ballroom on March 25, 2017. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

Adam Devine points across the stage while telling a story in the BLUU ballroom on Friday, April 13, 2018. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)
Adam Devine points across the stage while telling a story in the BLUU ballroom on Friday, April 13, 2018. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

TheEnd’s response to COVID-19

TheEnd did not stop providing entertainment for students during COVID-19. According to Lee, theEnd did an entire semester’s worth of events on zoom.

They hosted virtual concerts and shows with Jonathan Grodd, AJR, Jason Derulo , Tiffany Haddish, Christopher Jackson and John Mulaney.

The shut-down provided schools like TCU with the opportunity to book these big names because it lowered their booking price.

TheEnd’s budget and lasting impact

According to TCU360, there was a significant decline in alcohol-related incidents on campus from 2014 to 2015. During this period, residence hall damages dropped by 22%, incident reports decreased by 61% compared to the previous semester, alcohol violations fell by 20%, and cases of alcohol poisoning were cut in half.

This remarkable decline was largely attributed to theEnd’s events, which led to a budget increase for the organization, reaching $1 million. TCU360 published “Student Activities received an additional $500,000 internal grant for the spring semester, and Vice Chancellor Kathy Cavins-Tull incorporated it into the 2015-2016 budget.”

Lee explained that theEnd’s initial funding was directly tied to its success in reducing alcohol violations. This is no longer the case. Since 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, theEnd has experienced a decrease in its budget.

Despite these changes, the program has demonstrated its lasting impact on TCU’s campus life and has become a vital part of the university's culture. As a result, its funding is now a fixed budget-line item for the university, maintaining consistency from year to year.

Curbing binge drinking with theEnd

Addi Carothers, a junior psychology major, said she thinks theEnd is a great program but it hasn’t completely changed party culture.

“It’s awesome that it gives students something else to do, but honestly, I know some people still pre-game before going to the events and go in under the influence,” she said.

Kelly Lee said TCU and theEnd acknowledge they cannot prevent students from pregaming events; however, the purpose of these events is to provide a space for students to enjoy without the influence of alcohol.

Even if students do pregame, they typically spend two hours at the event, which means they are unlikely to consume enough alcohol prior to the event to remain intoxicated throughout.

This approach helps reduce binge drinking on campus and lowers the risk of alcohol-related incidents.

DNCE performs at TCU on Sept. 29, 2017. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

Anjelah Johnson performs at a comedy night for theEnd on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)
Anjelah Johnson performs at a comedy night for theEnd on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. (Photo courtesy of theEnd)

The future of theEnd at TCU

Lee said she wants “to continue to create or help our students create and establish events that provide something for the community.” She said she wants students to be able to say they attended at least one of theEnd’s events within their first year at TCU.

She also emphasized the importance of bringing leaders to campus to inspire students. For example, when Dylan Sprouse spoke at a theEnd event in November, he spoke about his experience as a business owner and comic book author.

Lee’s goal is to continue to challenge theEnd to make events that are relevant and important.

She said, “theEnd hopes to create a space where people can come together and enjoy a common interest and feel connected to their fellow Horned Frogs.”