Lights and Sound Crew help assemblies succeed at SJHS

Imagine if you went to a concert or play, but you couldn’t see or hear the performers.  The lights and sounds crew’s job at SJHS is to make sure this does not happen.  They are in charge of all the lights and sounds in plays, concerts and assemblies.   The seven students on the crew are directed by Mr. Shawn Hatfield, a biology teacher at SJHS.

Being on the lights and sound crew can present some challenges. According to Jonathan Luther, an eight grader on the crew, it’s really hard to memorize all the knobs, switches, sliders and buttons. You also have to be able to think fast when something goes wrong, since you can’t stop an assembly when a light won’t turn on or a microphone breaks.  Another difficultly of serving on the crew is that there are concerts, plays, and other after school programs.  Students on the crew could have to do something at almost any time of day, from five’ o clock in the morning to ten’ o clock at night.

The kids on the lights and sound crew are given a lot of responsibility, but they get a lot of privileges as well.  They get to get out of class, and sometimes they will miss a whole day of school to do a play or special assembly.  Jordan Robinson, a ninth grader on the crew, said, “I like doing lights and sound because it makes me feel like I am in control, and I get to be with some of my friends.” 

According to Jonathan, one of the most enjoyable parts of being on the crew is working with Mr. Hatfield.  He said that Mr. Hatfield is “fun to joke around with.”  According to Jordan, Mr. Hatfield is always willing to help the students on the crew with anything they need.  Mr. Hatfield said, “I enjoy seeing the success of kids in plays. Lights and sound is one of the things that makes a play a success.” He has been helping the lights and sound crew for 10 years.