Being backstage

I must have said this a hundred times over the past week — that and “are the dancers ready?” During that time I learned that being backstage was a lot more difficult than I originally anticipated, lost my voice and messed up — a lot. But I wouldn’t change it for the world — being the sound manager for the Naacho show this past weekend was probably one of the most instructive experiences I have had at Princeton to date.

Before the Naacho show, I had never been near a soundboard and didn’t even know that Frist had a fourth floor. If you had asked me what an equalizer was, I probably would have responded with something along the lines of, “that’s a music thing, right?” So when my friend asked me if I wanted to do the sound for the Naacho show, I casually agreed, ignorant of what the position exactly entailed.

My nervousness only increased when I was given a tour of the sound booth and instructed how to operate the system. Seeing through what I thought was a carefully constructed veneer of coolness, the Frist production manager gave me his card and told me to call him if I had any questions — any problems at all. Spoilers: There were a few questions and more than a few problems — I had to call him more than once.

It’s difficult to say how I ended up backstage at the Naacho show. I absolutely cannot dance ... or do theater ... or sing ... or really anything that involves a stage, actually. However, I have always admired those who seem to own the stage with their various talents. Growing up with a mom who was an opera singer might have been a part of the reason I have such respect for dancers, singers and thespians. That admiration has only increased since attending Princeton. There are so many incredibly talented performers on our campus. From watching Triangle’s fall show to supporting my friends in the Shakespeare Company’s “Macbeth,” I have been unduly impressed with the multitude and quality of performances at Princeton. It seems every week that Theatre Intime is putting on a new show or PUP is performing a new musical. Most impressively, many of these shows are either choreographed or written by Princeton students themselves.

Though these performance groups are incredibly impressive, there is the accompanying reality that most people who did not dance, sing or act before coming to Princeton but have an interest in learning do not have a suitable outlet. Now, I am not complaining — attending a school in which the students can teach masterclasseses in dance, theater and music is one of the things I love most about Princeton. Yet, at the same time, it is unfortunate that students do not often join groups with which they have no prior connection. College, as the cliche goes, is supposed to be a time in which students try new things. Yet, from clubs to classes, because Princeton students are so passionate and experienced in their respective talents, students end up participating in activities similar to what they did in high school.

The Princeton community itself is not the only factor that, in a way, discourages students from trying new things. Princeton students are so accustomed to pushing themselves to their fullest potential that the prospect of failure is incredibly intimidating. As columnist Susannah Sharpless so aptly described earlier this year, “As people accustomed to being pretty close to perfect, Princeton students are often reluctant to admit any failures on an emotional level.” It’s easier to do the things that we did in high school because we know we’re good at it, that we’ll get recognition for it and that we’ll, to some degree, shine.

I think this explains why I initially was afraid to become the sound manager for the Naacho show. Stepping completely out of my comfort zone at Princeton was challenging enough — playing a role (tangential, of course) in a dance show of Naacho’s quality seemed impossible. But I could not be happier that I did it. Not only did I take part in a performance activity at Princeton and (after a while) learn how to operate the sound system, but I also met some really amazing individuals whom I probably would not have known otherwise. I can also say I partly understand the hilarity and particular uniqueness of Bollywood performances. Running the show during the infamous Saturday night performance was one of the most ridiculous but fun experiences I have had at Princeton, and seeing how “involved” the alumni still were in the group was actually inspiring. In fact, when I met the sound manager who had run the Naacho show the previous three years, he said that he started in a similar way that I did — at the request of a friend. “And you stuck with it?” I asked. “Yep ... and now I’m here,” he smiled.

For those of you wanting to get involved somehow with performance groups on campus, there are plenty of opportunities for you to participate. Doing something for the first time, especially at Princeton, can be a daunting experience, but definitely a rewarding one. Take a chance; go backstage. You’ll never know where you’ll end up.