Summer Nights at Full Sail Kicks Off

Students, staff, and guests explored campus culture through music, community, and creativity during the first of these limited Behind the Scenes events.

An attendee wearing Summer Nights merch looks toward a Full Sail outdoor stage, surrounded by tents and a lively crowd.

Full Sail’s campus was buzzing on Saturday, June 8, as the first Summer Nights Creative Experience kicked off with food, music, community, and creative energy. Designed as a lead-in to Full Sail’s monthly Behind the Scenes tour, Summer Nights gave prospective students and their families a glimpse of Full Sail’s culture ahead of a deeper dive into campus facilities and degree programs during Sunday’s Behind the Scenes tour.

The aroma of food truck favorites greeted guests near the outdoor stage, where live karaoke saw students, families, and even a few brave staff members take turns performing with a full band. From soulful ballads to high-energy rock, the evening was full of pure creative joy.

Crowds of attendees line up at food trucks on a blacktop with blue skies above and a stage in the distance.

Guests line up at the food trucks for a taste of Central Florida’s favorite eats.

“Summer Nights focuses on the culture of the university and the people that make it a special place,” shares Andrew Mund, Full Sail’s Director of Touring & Support. “It reflects the community and culture that prospective students could become a part of. They’re surrounded by other creatives, at different stages of their journey, who want to shape the future in their own unique way.”

One of the evening’s biggest highlights was The Feedback Loop — a live music critique session hosted by Full Sail University Hall of Fame inductees Leslie Brathwaite (Outkast, Pharrell Williams, Cardi B) and Tremaine Williams (Mariah Carey, Bruno Mars). Attendees had the rare chance to submit their own original tracks for review, with Leslie and Tremaine offering real-time feedback.

Guests attend a live panel during Full Sail’s Summer Nights event, featuring “The Feedback Loop” on stage under vibrant lights.

An audience member gets feedback from Tremaine and Leslie during ’The Feedback Loop.’

“The Feedback Loop came directly from the students,” says Leslie. “They were always asking, ‘Can you listen to my song? What do I need to do? Give me some feedback.’ So we built something around that.”

With major industry credits and a deep connection to the school, the two grads have done several Feedback Loop sessions during Full Sail's annual Hall of Fame Week celebrations, so it was a natural fit for Summer Nights, so aspiring students could get a taste of the mentorship and collaboration Full Sail is known for.

“It’s giving them a mini preview of what's to come. That would make me want to show up to this school every day knowing that during Hall of Fame, we’re about to do this on steroids,” jokes Tremaine.

“I think this event helps incoming students understand that we are a community, that we care about each other, that the grads and the Hall of Famers will come back and do things like this,” adds Leslie. “For a new student or prospective student coming in, seeing that, they have to be excited.”

Groups of attendees standing on a blacktop beside orange tents, a garage door on the wall reads ‘Soundstage 1C.’

Visitors congregate near student club tents during Full Sail’s Summer Nights.

Guests also explored the Full Sail Hangr pop-up shop, checked out student club booths, and experienced the school’s production capabilities in the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress and on the outdoor stage. For many in attendance, it wasn’t just a glimpse of what it’s like to be a Full Sail student; it was a genuine welcome into the creative community that makes it all possible.

Missed it? Don’t worry—there’s still time to experience it for yourself.

Upcoming Events:

  • Saturday, July 12, 2025
  • Saturday, August 9, 2025

Click here to register for the next Summer Nights Creative Experience.