Some of GIST’s leading performance clubs, such as “Dodohan Jjujjuba”, “Gidaero”, “Hyugang Express” and “MACMOO”, have recently taken the stage! Consequently, GIST News has met with the students behind this incredible showcase and asked them three key questions.
“What inspired you to plan this performance?”
Each club’s show was more than just a simple stage act. Behind every production process and curtain call lay its own mix of motivation, passion, and distinct goals.
“Dodohan Jjujjuba” pointed out that “almost everyone who enters college has a band-club dream.” They emphasized that gathering diverse students to rehearse and plan a concert together is an excellent chance to relieve stress and experience collaboration. In the case of “Gidaero”, they began with the aim of creating “a play that the actors enjoy just as much as the audience.” Rather than merely producing a script, they centered the production on their own unique interpretations and direction. Additionally, as “Hyugang Express” prepared their performance, they wished to “help both the audience and performers alleviate stress amid their busy campus life with upbeat music.” They had hoped to insert a musical pause into the busy rhythm of academic life. Lastly, “MACMOO” called its regular concert “the club’s biggest event”, as it offered the new members their first stage experience while truly showing guests what MACMOO stands for. Especially, their set list of roughly 15 songs, which spanned in various genres and concepts, was designed to highlight each member’s unique charm.
“How did you feel after the show?”
When the spectacular lights went down, students walked away with comments of pride, regret, and determination for what comes next.
Shared across the board, most of the club members admitted that “in addition to difficulties in production, there were plenty of twists, turns, and rookie mistakes.” Yet they unanimously felt “tremendous reward in finishing the job alongside fellow alumni and upper/lower classmen.” “Dodohan Jjujjuba” noted that as it was their first time planning a concert with the new members, it sparked some clashes but also provided a rich learning experience; “Although it is a shame that we could have done even better, it truly makes us excited for future shows.” Additionally, the director of “Gidaero” shared that “although taking on my first directing role was scary and overwhelming, with the help of the upper classmens’ advice and the team’s overall trust, we were thrilled to pour our youth onto the stage.” In the case of “Hyugang Express”, they hoped that the shared struggles in the early stages of production would become “a treasured memory for everyone in the club.” Finally, although “MACMOO” juggled not only rehearsals but also burdensome scheduling and vendor work, they confessed that “when the performance ended, relief and heartfelt emotions flooded into us all at once.”
“How did you choose the performance titles?”
A performance title is more than just a label; it is a symbol of the club’s identity and the mood they wish to share. Consequently, each club carefully chose a title that reflected their own mood and ideal, weaving in the heartfelt intent they had hoped to share with the audience.
“Dodohan Jjujjuba” named its concert “Blueness : Summer,” as they hoped to evoke the coolness and freedom of the season, where in accordance to the title, they utilized azure lighting and upbeat tunes. Not only that, “Gidaero” chose “Robot Girl”, borrowing the original work’s title to explore a protagonist who straddles between the boundaries of human and machine while reflecting on concepts like technology, emotion, and existence in their own way. For “Hyugang Express”, they had gone with “Daydream”, taken from a song covered by the first-year members. They had felt that the image of “a midday dream” perfectly matched the show’s tone and hoped it would also be memorable to the audience. On the other hand, “MACMOO” opted for the straightforward “The 9th MACMOO Regular Concert”, honoring the lineage of regular shows since the club’s founding in 2010 and showcasing pride ahead of next year’s tenth installment.
In conclusion, this year’s performances were indeed no child’s play. It was a collective memory in which students expressed themselves, trusted one another, and achieved something truly great alongside each other. Because it was their first attempt, the shows did have their share of rough edges. Yet, this “rawness” only made the stage burn even hotter with determination and courage. Building on this memorable experience, the clubs are now determined to raise the bar even higher for their future shows.
translated by Yoonseo Huh