Reporter Jodi Schlosberg takes a selfie with a Blue Man. Blue Man Group performed in Pueblo Sept. 18-19.

The line outside the Memorial Hall in downtown Pueblo grew larger by the minute Thursday, and it was easy to see that there was an exciting show brewing inside. The eager audience was eventually allowed into the auditorium, after waiting patiently through a “technical difficulties” delay. They put on their protective ponchos and prepared for the unusual mess the Blue Man Group was about to present.

The Blue Man Group opened the show with massive splashes of Day-Glo paint spewing from the drums they pounded on. Waves of neon pink, purple and green splashed around the stage and into the crowd. Large screens with otherworldly projections enhanced the bizarre atmosphere.  The audience could not have been more enthused, and the energy in the theatre was intense.

As chaos erupted, the Blue Man Group doused the stage in their neon paints.  Vibrant percussion music was created with everything from Captain Crunch to common household piping. The synchronized drumming of the Blue Man Group meshed perfectly with the bands that were positioned in cages high above the stage. The music was a mix of rock and techno, and an electronic stick figure taught the audience dance moves and rock rules.

The only thing the spectators may have enjoyed more than the quirky music was how interactive the show was, incorporated the audience members themselves. Parts of the crowd were displayed on the flat screen above the stage, and they got up close and personal with a few audience members.

When the Blue Man Group created their beautiful Day-Glo art onstage, they would walk through the crowd and give an audience member the painting.

They even pulled two people up on the stage to perform. One woman sat and ate Twinkies with the Blue Men, which was more entertaining than it sounds.  Another man was doused in blue paint, hung upside down from ropes, and swung swiftly into a canvas. The end result was a wacky, human-paintbrush art piece that the man got to take home.

By the end of the show, the entire audience was up out of their seats dancing. The auditorium was filled with kids, teens and adults, all laughing until they cried. White streamers flew through the air, and six giant inflatable balls soared back and forth across the crowd. Kaleidoscopic images flashed on the screens, and the stick figure instructed the audience to “shake your groove thing, don’t stop.”

The Blue Man Group is an incredible show for absolutely everyone, regardless of their taste. Techno and rock music, hilarious sketches, psychedelic paintings and surreal visuals are just some of the exciting experiences the Blue Man Group has to offer.

The citizens of Pueblo made the Blue Man Group feel right at home, as if they were on a stage in New York City. It was clear the crowd could not get enough of this incredible show, and hopefully, it won’t be long before they return to perform again in Pueblo.

September brings the beginning of colder weather for Pueblo, Colorado, which certainly makes some people blue. However, being blue couldn’t be more appropriate this week as Pueblo kicks off the beginning of fall with a two-night, all-weird performance of the Blue Man Group.

Memorial Hall in downtown Pueblo will be hosting the world renowned Blue Man Group on Sept. 18-19. Pueblo is one of the first stops on the Blue Man Group’s national tour. Greeley, Canyon City and Denver are the only other cities in Colorado where the Group will perform.

There has been some concern buzzing around Pueblo, a relatively modest town, that the superstars of the Blue Man Group will feel out of place. Since they are used to performing in big, entertainment-packed cities like Chicago and New York, Pueblo may seem a bit small.

But Blue Man Group member Adam Zuick said those fears couldn’t be further from the truth.

“We are truly excited to be performing in Pueblo. The turnout should be pretty big, but even if it’s not that doesn’t matter, we are just excited to be performing.” Zuick said.

Pueblo is providing a new, unknown territory for the Group. The outcome of the shows will be a complete mystery, and the Blue Man Group is no stranger to the mysterious. The essence of the show is all that is strange, whisking the audience away to a more curious time in their lives.

“Get ready to have a great time,” Zuick said. “There is an innocence and playfulness that you don’t see in yourself everyday within our show. We are definitely bringing that to Pueblo.”

Those who want to witness the Blue Man Group this week in Pueblo should grab their tickets now at the Pueblo Memorial Hall. It’s a rare chance to see this outstanding show right in our own backyard.

The CSU-Pueblo Men’s Club Soccer Team

CSU-Pueblo mass communication major, Tyler Shown, was inspired to start a new club soccer team  on campus, and it has been more successful than he could have imagined.

“It seemed like this club happened over night. We started talking about it in March, and by the end of March we had 13 guys getting together for a scrimmage. Even the administration was impressed with how quickly things happened,” said Shown.

Some members of the club team had opportunities to play for the university soccer team, but they decided against it. Different views and opinions kept them from joining, and instead they created their own team. There are no hard feelings toward the Thunderwolf soccer team as several members play for both the club and the actual team.

Shown said one motivation for starting the club team was the huge time commitment to the university team.

“This club team provides the same competition as other college sports with less time commitment,” he said. “We practice about two or three times a week, which is good for school. And for me, school comes first.”

Since this is CSU-Pueblo’s first club soccer team, the members are playing in a division with schools who have been playing club soccer for years. The players said they are not worried; with such a wide range of talent on the team, they expect to finish in the top three in the division.

“I feel like we have the group of guys that could win the division; it’s just a matter of getting meshed and seeing how everyone plays, and becoming a team,” Ceasar Paredas, another founding member said.

The club team played their first game against UCCS. It was a nail-biter as they went into overtime at 2-2. There are nine games left, and people are encouraged to support the team by watching the games or liking their Facebook page at “CSU-Pueblo Men’s Club Soccer” where their game schedule is posted. Practices are held Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the recreation field on campus.

Mike Marino promotes his book, “Campus-preneur.”

Although most college students seem to be living from paycheck to paycheck, barely scraping by and begging their parents for extra spending money, one student is breaking free from the typical life of a broke college student.

Senior Mass Communications major and professional keynote speaker Mike Marino believes that, even if you are in college, you don’t need to live off Ramen noodles. In his book, “Campus-preneur,” he teaches students how to become young entrepreneurs by doing simple things around their campuses.

“Most college students think that money isn’t everything, and it isn’t. However, money does allow you to have better health care, better clothes, better transportation, a better house and most importantly, it buys you choices,” he said.

In his book, Marino explains exactly how he went from feeling hopeless and even suicidal to speaking and inspiring millions of young adults across the country every day.

As student body president in high school, Marino was handed a microphone and given the responsibility of speaking to the incoming freshmen. Suddenly, he had a realization: with that microphone he could send any message he wanted to his peers, and he wanted that message to be one with value. From then on, he had a passion for helping people. His desire was to help people get to where they want to be in life.

When his freshman year of college rolled around, he realized that his friends were not handling their money wisely and were living the “broke college student” life. Determined to show people that there is a better way to get through college than by starving, he picked up a pen and began writing his book.

“College students are more financially illiterate now than ever,” said Marino. “You look at student debt and it’s at an all-time high. Students are graduating with over $100,000 in student loans. With this book I’m teaching college students how to manage their money, which colleges do not teach.”

Marino’s book is extremely helpful, not only to the broke college student, but to everyone else that needs help getting ahead. “Campus-preneur” outlines problems that all people face at some point in their lives and offers helpful, doable solutions to those problems. A high school senior or a businessman that might have graduated years ago could pick this book up and learn something valuable, which was Marino’s goal.

The 93-page book it is an easy read for just about everybody, chock-full of life lessons. There is even a bonus chapter called “21 Ways to Make Ramen and Like It.”  For the stubborn students who don’t think they would benefit from reading the book, they should try the mac-and-cheese recipe.

Mike Marino’s book, “Campus-preneur: How to Have More Fun, More Money, and Survive College Without Starving To Death” has already been successful. It has received rave reviews and is available through Frisco Publishing.