As the fall semester gets underway, University student concert planners are busy placing bids for performers. But they’re hindered by a smaller budget than they’ve had in previous years because of debt incurred by some recent less-than-sellout performances.

According to Sandra Dube, the Student Association’s vice president for University programming, the reduced budget is forcing her to look for “less risky and more promising” acts to ensure a healthy profit.

Last year’s acts, brought to campus by then-VPUP Pat Craig, include two concerts that sold less than half the available tickets.

Although she chose not to give the exact amount, Dube said that the debt had been amassed by more than just one year’s worth of concerts.

Richard Marmolejos, the SA’s financial vice president, would not disclose the figure either.

The majority of UPB’s budget comes directly from the mandatory student activity fee of $84.50 per student per semester.

Dube added that nondisclosure clauses in prospective band contracts prevented her from saying exactly how much her office had offered, her first choice — the Red Hot Chili Peppers — was too expensive to book. The popular California-based band will, however, be performing at Albany’s Pepsi Arena Oct. 21.

“I want to have as many [performances] as possible,” Dube said. “And I want to have more diversity than last year.”