Contradictions - Part 3, Showtime!

Whenever you plan something involving the cooperation of many people, shit gets complicated. for our show we had a couple dozen models, a few different performing groups, and the MCs, not to mention all the different designers and individuals loaning us clothing. We had to dismiss one of the models early on because she kept missing rehearsals.

I'm a bit of a control freak who has a hard time delegating responsibility. Somehow I imagined that Michelle and I could be everywhere, taking care of everything. Fortunately, we had the assistance of many people -- our roommates, Helen and Candice; their and Michelle's boyfriends who were also my bandmates (Geoff and Lee); a girl who magically appeared out of the woodwork to become our number two, Sarah Johnson, who now has her own jewelry line (SISU) and site for designers; and other volunteers -- Stephanie Tung, Luz Gonzalez, and Mollie Chen. Plus countless other friends and strangers who became our friends who helped in various different ways -- the experience not only helped me meet tons of wonderful people, it made me realize how many people at Harvard were just plain nice. (Or maybe they were just excited about the girls in bikinis?)

The show happened in the evening so late in the afternoon we got all the models at Pforzheimer Hall. Sarah had a couple of friends from out of school who volunteered to do our hair and makeup. We had done a rehearsal the night before during which most of the furniture had been rearranged (and during which I almost lost it, screaming and cursing -- not one of my finer moments).

There was a small space we had blocked off as our "backstage" where the models would change. At Harvard there are exclusive men's clubs known as "final clubs," Harvard's version of fraternities. Our buddies through the bathroom door were in one called the Fly and our show occurred right after new members, dubbed "neophytes" had been admitted into the club. These boys, generally sophomores, were subject to mild hazing, and were recruited to help us with setting up. Also, an hour before showtime, we had them man different entrances to the dining hall so we wouldn't have gate crashers.

The first show started at 8pm and I remember when 8 rolled around being surprised that the time had gone by so quickly. Nevertheless, we were more or less ready and I signaled to the MCs and the sound and lighting people to start the show. My parents had driven up to see the show, as well as Michelle's parents. They had brought our old video camera and one of our friends videotaped and photographed the show (although we hadn't really thought too much about documenting it so the lighting wasn't suited for photography). Everyone was a little nervous and there were a couple of outfits that never made it to the stage and some of the order was changed around when people didn't make their changes in time.

However, overall things went smoothly. Alexis, one of the MCs, and Jamin, one of the models, who were also good friends, even improvised a segment based on Zoolander, which had come out the year before. They did a "walk-off."

Jamin taking his turn.

Alexis, trying to get the audience's support.

Things were going well, that is, until our last segment, swimwear. Geoff and Lee alerted me that somehow our CD with the soundtrack had gotten stuck in the back of the player. I started freaking out. I had chosen a Caribbean steel drum track for the segment and listened as the MCs awkwardly tried to keep the audience entertained during the increasingly longer pause while the boys tried to get the CD out of the player. Alexis brought out Teddy, one of our models/his "hetero-life-partner." Then he pulled his trump card. He called up my dad to the stage. My dad, seeing his beloved daughter in trouble, told his favorite joke in his thick Korean accent. (It's pretty bad, trust me.) Embarrassment took over my anxiety but I also appreciated the effort and the audience seemed to like it, especially those who knew me personally.

Ultimately, we decided to use one of the performers' CDs as the swimwear track and the show finished without any further trouble. Geoff, who had once run long distance in high school, ran all the way back to the river (where we lived -- there's a mile or two distance separating the houses in the "Quad" and the houses by the Charles "river"), burned a new copy of the soundtrack and raced back just in time for the second show.

With one successful show under their belt, the models became more comfortable, improvising different poses and acting more playful. Both shows had sold out and many people tried to come backstage after the show to congratulate us.

finale

saying thank you

After the show, our friends helped us clean up and then of course, we went to the Fly club for the after party. It was a long night but very satisfying.