UF’s Big Orange Festival draws hundreds to Reitz Union

Throngs of UF students were given vastly different options for entertainment Friday night.

At 9 p.m. inside the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom, a clean-cut standup comedian told jokes about swatting mosquitoes, his peanut allergy and turning 40.

Two hours later, inside a slightly smoky Reitz Rion Ballroom, a raunchy 25-year-old rapper recited bass-heavy ballads, mostly about money and women, as some students appeared to smoke marijuana.

The performances, by Demetri Martin and Young Thug, respectively, were a part of the fourth annual Big Orange Festival, hosted by Reitz Union Board Entertainment.

Martin, who visited UF for the second time, was paid $30,000, and Thug, making his first appearance, was paid $68,000, according to Alligator archives.

Although Martin told the crowd of about 800 students that his wife was a UF alumna, and that she loved Krishna lunch, he sarcastically thanked the university for hosting him. At one point, he stomped on the stage and complained about its lack of curtains, before asking what students even used the ballroom for.

Then came the signature one-liners and self-deprecating humor audiences knew him for during his time on TV and at comedy clubs throughout the country.

“I think Jesus was probably one of the first scarecrows,” he said, reading from a book of “facts” he brought on stage.

In a navy sweatshirt, jeans and grey New Balances, the comedian told the crowd he has always been just a bit too awkward.

“I’m not a person who exercises unless I’m being chased,” the 43-year-old said.

AJ Ariondo, 21, sat on the edge of his seat in the front row of Martin’s show. He said seeing Martin live was on his bucket list after watching his standup since 2004.

“His dry humor is incredible,” the UF history junior said.

As Martin’s show wrapped up, students a floor above snaked through hallways in the Reitz waiting for Young Thug’s performance. When the doors opened, students raced toward the barricade, and the room hit capacity at about 700 students.

Rapper Young Thug performs in the Reitz Union Rion Ballroom on Friday evening. The crowd was energized as he bounced around on stage.

Thug came on at about 11:20 p.m. with tied-back red-purple hair and a shimmering microphone.

Puffs of smoke floated above the crowd as students sang the chorus of his expletive-laden songs.

Arren Richter, a 19-year-old UF economics sophomore, said while he was squished in the densely packed crowd, it was worth it to see one of his favorite rappers for the first time.

“I like the way he raps,” he said. “He has his own unique, mumbling sound.”

Contact Paige Fry at pfry@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @paigexfry

Comedian Demetri Martin performs in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom on Friday evening during the Big Orange Festival. Martin's performance featured a wide array of jokes, which were enhanced by his use of music and drawings.