Behind the Scenes with the Technical Director

Adam Reeves
Technical Director
seetechnical@umd.edu

Think of the last concert you went to. Rocking out to your favorite musician and laughing at an awesome comedian is a lot of fun, but most people don’t think about everything that goes into giving you the entertainment experience. Imagine how different the experience would be without a big sound system, cool moving lights or a raised stage.  The talent would be standing on the floor simply playing his instrument acoustically.  The job of the SEE Technical Team is to make sure you get the best experience at SEE’s events.

I first joined SEE three and a half years ago, as a freshman, when I became a member of the Technical and Security teams. For two years now, I’ve been the Technical Director and Technical Team leader. Before the show, we work with the performers and production companies to build stages, hook up speakers and sound systems, hang lights and set up instruments. During the show, we run spotlights and help set up the stage between performers. After the show, we clean up and take everything down as if the show never happened. Basically, we work to ensure that the audience can see, hear and enjoy seeing their favorite band, comedian or unique act on campus. Oh, and we get paid to do this.

The great thing about the Technical Team is that there is no commitment. You can work as many or as little shows as you want. I’ll simply send out an email when I need the help of the Technical Team and the members email me back with the times they want to work; I let the members choose their own hours. Each person has a different experience on the team; it is what you make of it. Some members join because they are interested in what goes behind the scenes at a concert. Others join because they need some extra cash. Some students join because they have friends on the team and have fun working. Even better is when people join because they want to get involved more in SEE and what we do.

Like other directors have mentioned previously, joining SEE has definitely been the best decision I’ve made during my time here at the university. Not only have I learned so much about event planning and the hard work that goes into campus programming but I have met so many of my friends through SEE. Working with SEE directors, other students and university staff has been a great experience that is unlike any other. SEE is an organization that is so different from other student groups and you really have to be a part of it to see that.

If you are interested in joining the Technical Team or the other two student teams (Security or Marketing), please email me at seetechnical@umd.edu and I’ll get you all the information you need to join.  I can also answer any questions about the Technical Team or SEE in general. I hope to work with (or at least see) lots of you at our many awesome events this semester.

Please note, because being a member of the Technical Team and Security Team is a paid position, you must be on the university payroll. To do this you may attend the payroll meeting at 2 p.m., Friday, February 24, in Terrapin Room B and C in The Stamp or turn in the payroll paperwork by Monday, February 27. 

SEE Security: My Best College Decision

Ayelet Kravitz
Security Director
seesecurity@umd.edu

One of the many ways to be involved with SEE is being on the Security Team.  The Security Team works during SEE events to secure the venue and ensure the safety of both audience and talent alike.  Typically during an event, the Security Team will check tickets, give out wristbands, guard green rooms and make sure people are coming in and going out the appropriate entrances and exits in an organized manner, while also making sure that the artist’s security and privacy is not compromised.

I joined the Security Team my first semester of my freshman year – I went to the SEE General Interest Meeting in the Baltimore Room in the Stamp Student Union and like most freshmen, my new college environment overwhelmed me.  I had no idea what SEE was, I was just there because one of my new friends convinced me to go because it sounded “cool.”  Honestly, I could hardly hear anything that was said during the meeting, except at the end when I heard “and you get paid!”  Paid?  Alright, sign me up!

Joining the Security Team (or just SEE in general) was one of the best decisions I ever made.  In addition to meeting new people, I had a priceless and unique college experience that only about 150 students on this campus will have each year.  Then, in the spring semester of sophomore year, I became the incoming Security Director on the SEE Executive Board. This was the second best decision I ever made.  As the Security Director, I was asked “What is your vision for the Security Team?  What are your goals as Security Director?”  I thought about my year on the Security Team, what I didn’t like and what I wanted to improve.  The answer was clear – personalize, socialize, and improve the overall experience for the members of the Security Team.

In the past year and a half as the Security Director, I have worked hard to fulfill my goals and make my vision for the Security Team come true.  My first step was creating a Facebook group just for the Security Team members to enable them to reach out and friend each other, keep in touch and create a social aspect to being on the Security Team.  Next, I began to introduce name games before working events so that everyone would know each other and be able to make some sort of connection with each other outside of SEE.  I could slowly see the transformation of my team, from being shy and quiet to always talking and leaving with a friend or two to walk back home after an event.

My most recent step toward accomplishing my goal was ordering t-shirts that SEE Security Team members could keep and wear proudly.  I made sure to ask the Security Team (via the Facebook group) what they wanted the shirts to look like.  Once the design was decided on, we ordered the t-shirts from ooShirts at  www.ooshirts.com, and began distributing them to anyone on the team who had worked two or more events during the 2011-2012 school year.

I do my best to make the experience of being on the Security Team feel more like being part of a club, rather than a job.  I want it to be rewarding, memorable and most of all, fun.  I want to make joining the Security Team everyone’s best decision, like it was for me.

If this sounds like something you would like to get involved with, don’t hesitate to email me at seesecurity@umd.edu with any questions you might have.  If you’re still not convinced, maybe this video will help!