The Final Outcome

It can be very difficult to work with people, especially if they are intentionally uncooperative.  One of my previous entries mentions my biggest management problem this semester, which is to successfully carry out my scene in the BASU fashion show.  My original team members bailed on me by just not answering my messages; my next set of team members (which were the replacements I mentioned in my previous entry, "In a quandary") had busy schedules so they couldn't really assist me either; my final team was the actual two producers of the entire fashion show.  At first, I was glad to work directly with the producers, but things kind of went south still.

I wasn't sure if I was overreacting, but I felt as if they didn't want my scene to go well.  The producers told me not to come to any of the model practices until the last 2 dress rehearsals, which I personally thought was incredibly weird because they kept saying how they wanted my scene to be the biggest scene of this year's show.  Why would you not rehearse the biggest scene until the very last minute???  Maybe they didn't want my face to be shown??  I was at the first model practice; they just skipped my turn to introduce myself to the models as a choreographer for one of the scenes.  Perhaps it was because I wasn't a sister of their sorority anymore and they always spoke of wanting the choreographers to be exclusively from their organization.  

Communication with the producers was kept limited.  It was as if I was supposed to be intentionally left in the dark about things... Money - I had to constantly bug them about getting money for the scene.  I wasn't really given any except for $550 to pick up 14 traditional East Asian garments for my scene.  Now, to get authentic ones, it definitely requires more money, but that was all I had, so I made it work somehow.  2 people also generously lent some of their cultural garments for the show.  Props - ummm well, I wasn't going to get any more money so I had to lay out everything myself and get reimbursed later.  I got help from my brother to mix the music.

Dress rehearsal wasn't really utilized effectively.  I came late to the first one because I had to lug my 8 by 4 ft scenery by foot and up 29 flights of stairs to my apartment with my brother (since it didn't fit in my elevator).  Now, I had informed the producers I'd be late, but I guess they forgot to tell my models this.  When I finally arrived, I got to practice my scene a little bit.  The next rehearsal never happened because the models assumed I'd be late again I suppose and didn't come until later probably, and I had to leave because I had to go and buy paint for my scenery.

When it came time for the absolute last chance for rehearsal right before the show, one of the producers then told me there'd be no rehearsal for my scene.  I got so frantic.  How can that be?  The choreography was never finalized and the models don't know what to wear or what order to go in.

All or nothing?  The scene happened.  5 models were still in makeup, and the producers decided to go on without them.  Models were directed as they went out onstage by one of the producers.  Then, after the clothes were modeled, there were drummers and a lion dance performance.  Even though the producers almost entirely disregarded my layout for the scene and did not let me use my other props except for the background I painted (drawn by a friend), it went okay.  The models did a great job, and I heard some good feedback from the audience.  (There's probably some bad too, but I cover my ears for that.)

After reviewing the whole experience, I'm glad I went through it.  It could have been better if I got some more help preparing for the scene and actually was given the chance to rehearse it during the regular model practices during club hours, but the producers somehow made it work last minute.