Lights, sound, action! Tech Crew and Band are both key parts of our yearly SING productions here at Tech, contributing the music for some of your favorite songs or shining a spotlight on the soloists in the hit JSV or SFV shows this year. Interviews with leadership from Tech Crew and band will offer an insight into what goes on off stage. Tech Crew has 4 departments: Lighting, Sound, Spotlighting, and Stage Ops. Each department does their part in making each SING show the magical productions they are.

On-stage lighting is integral to building the tone of the show. The manager for this wonderful department, Fairy Zhang, elaborates on this, saying that “each show has their own cues and what they want to happen on stage”, and works with actors/directors to coordinate the types of lights used during certain scenes. As an example, during JSV, the more romantic scenes are warmer, pink toned colors. In SFV, when the characters are in danger of being caught by the ghosts, red lighting is used to convey tension and fear. All in all, the shows just wouldn’t feel the same without the dynamic and lively lights.

Spotlighting manager, Oscar Jiang, talks more about how the spotlights play a role in creating a focal point on our leads and important moments throughout the show: “highlighting key moments, emphasizing lead performers, and creating dynamic lighting effects to enhance the storytelling and overall visual impact of the performance”. 

Speaking of our leads, their solo songs are some of the most challenging aspects of the Sound departments’ job during the production. Karley Ko, the Sound department manager, speaks her piece on what it’s like having to manage the solo songs and sound quality for both shows; a daunting challenge indeed. A Sound department member’s WORST fear is feedback. But, Karley is always on top of the board, making sure everyone is doing their job. She describes her job as manager being “very rewarding and a bit stressful overall”.  From an underling’s perspective, watching Karley work so hard to manage us during rehearsals, help out when we are stuck, and be passionate about working with the other managers really puts her dedication on display; and to that I say brava!

One of the departments that Sound works very closely with is Stage Ops. Stage Ops is one of the more low key departments in Tech Crew, but when handling all the mics backstage during shows, they put their all into it. Evelina Dubovski is the manager for Stage Ops this year, and runs a tight ship backstage. Her department has to deal with quick mic changes, various issues with the mics, but she handles it like a pro. Evelina thinks the hardest part of her job is “solving issues quickly under pressure”, but it’s also the “most exciting part of being in Stage Ops”. Issues will always happen during a show, but Evelina and her team are always there to do what they can! But wait— do you guys hear that droning, buzzing sound? 

Band Biz — Hey, what’s that sound?

Bzzzzzzz…hey! Welcome to SING’s band department! By lifting catchy pop tunes off the pages, the music in SING is the reason why the show feels so alive! How do the SING bands do it, though? Read and find out!

Overall, what was it like being a SING director?

One JSV band director, Katherine Zeng, stated that the experience was absolutely stressful, as the “ position of leadership forced [her] to do the above mentioned: to cram music theory (arranging) and to learn about the underclassmen in the community.” In the end, it’s really worth it to connect with new faces who are just like you.

Additionally, SFV band director, Jessy Chui, says that through doing SING band, she’s met lifelong friends and it has offered her a chance to connect with people outside of her social niche. Despite the aforementioned pressures, Jessy thinks anyone who can play an instrument should at least try out and give themselves the chance to be a part of something really fun. 

SING is a great opportunity if you want to break out of your comfort zone and explore new things for the sake of it. This whole experience is student-run, which means that it’s a unique experience from the average band class. As SFV band director Emma Kelner puts it, “[she] can’t even think of any other activity in which students can run their own show, let alone band students can choose, arrange, and conduct the music.” Thus, if you’re currently taking band, this can be a great opportunity for leadership in the future!

What kind of advice would the leadership give for upcoming SING band directors/leadership? 

Band leadership tags communication as one of the biggest challenges during SING. Everyone had to check over what they were comfortable with and what they disagreed with, including the soundtrack, plot, choreography, and effect choices. As Brandon Huang, SFV band director phrases it: “don’t be selfish.” Listen to your teammates (and emphasis on teammates!) for conflicts and suggestions. JSV band director Loen Mullai states that “communication within and between departments is the most important part of making SING work, so make sure everyone knows what's going on at all times. Talk to each other, and if people aren't telling you things without being asked, make sure you ask them.”

Well, you’ve heard it here first! If you’re part of the leadership and you want to make any last-minute changes that could be beneficial, it’s best to communicate, communicate, and communicate. You shouldn’t keep these matters confidential. It’s also important to start organizing what you want to do so your ideas get out clearly. JSV band director Ryan Lin states that it’s  okay (and crucial!) to ask for help. Being a leader can be a learning process for future juniors.

What were the biggest challenges they encountered while being a band director? 

One other problem the leadership pointed to, besides communication, was scheduling. At Tech, there are a variety of after-school activities you can choose. SING is always at the beginning of the year to avoid conflict with other activities, such as clubs (hence why a lot of clubs start after SING). However, sports usually start as soon as possible, with some tryouts even starting before the school year. In my personal experience, I didn’t have a lot of conflicts with SING. The JSV directors held polls in group chats to decide when is a good day for rehearsal. That is where communication comes in within departments, because attendance is a necessary factor in SING.

Only for the juniors: Would they do this again? Why or why not?

Being a band director carries many stressful responsibilities; however, hard work always pays off. Since there's a load of new opportunities to take on in SING, such as conducting and arranging popular songs, it’s always going to be fun. Collaboration with friends on a passion project isn’t just an experience; it’s also a good life lesson. Once a junior has finished their first year as director, they now know what to do and what not to do. Along with that, you also have new, reliable friends who could help you with future SING events! There’s a reason why there’s 4-5 band directors; they all have their thing and they work together to create a balance.

Only for the seniors: Since this is their last year of SING ever, what is their biggest takeaway from this school event? Would they come visit the school after college classes to see our shows? If they were still here, what would they change?

In 2025, we will bid farewell to our current seniors. But if they go to college and find some spare time, they can always come watch the next SING shows! They have worked with underclassmen for 2 SINGs, and it would be wonderful to see them grow and become leaders themselves. The seniors have paved a path and set an example for any aspiring SING leader.

Favorite post-SING event? (Cast parties, Elsies, dinner/lunch events) 

Lunch and dinner events are great for socializing in small circles, as I, Jacqueline, went to one of them. Sometimes, parties can be very overwhelming and loud, and it’s great to stay in your safe space if you want to hang out with friends.

Cast parties can also be fun, as they’re still on a smaller scale (only people in JSV or SFV, not both) of people. You get refreshing snacks and drinks while you party until midnight with your new and old friends. However, out of the both of these, neither of them beat the Elsies.

Elsies are awards ceremonies for SING, in which everyone of all grades can attend. Everyone gets together after a team wins (this year, it was SFV! Congratulations to them!) and reflect on the last moments of SING with awards given out to different songs, people, characters, and lines. Remember: don’t cry about the fact that it’s over. Instead, cry of happiness and smile because it happened. Besides, you have cherished memories about you and likeminded people to hold onto!