For the Programming and Activities Board production crew, events start long before the doors open.
Over 12 hours before students flooded the space for this year's Homecoming Comedy Show, the PAB production crew was working to ensure lighting and all technological aspects were in tip-top shape.
Members of PAB work to put on many of the largest events on campus including Homecoming, Devilpalooza and Devils on Mill.
Helping to produce these well-known events is the organization's production team.
The production team, formerly known as Student Creative Services, morphed into what is now PAB production beginning in the 2017-2018 school year.
Each of ASU's four campuses has their own branch of PAB, but Meredith Grula, mechanical engineering junior and PAB director of production, said the team works exclusively with the Tempe campus.
From live entertainment to finance, each of the 11 departments within PAB concentrates on a specific event or facet of the club. The production team works closely with the departments to help bring events to life.
Tyler Brown, a junior majoring in accounting and sports business, is the chief of staff for PAB.
Brown said he focuses on staff recruitment and overall morale for the 40 to 50 general staff members who work for PAB.
“They are our base,” he said. “We can’t do anything without them.”
Brown said the addition of the production team completely changed the look of the events developed by the staff.
"If you look at some of our events from last year compared to this year, the look of our events are just to another level," he said.
Grula said the production crew consists of 10 student associates who all concentrate on specialized areas, such as lighting or sound.
The production crew can be rented out by any individual or group on campus with a labor fee determined by details outlined in a request form which must be submitted four weeks prior to the event.
Grula said the production crew offers technological support for PAB along with efforts to enhance the ambiance and add special effects to events or shows.
Recently, PAB hosted the event Wonderland, an event inspired by the movie "Alice in Wonderland," for student to feel like "they fell down the rabbit hole."
“Imagine the difference between being in a room with a bunch of fluorescent lights compared to a room with a haze, lights and lasers going everywhere. We really took that event to the next level, I’m really proud of that one,” Grula said.
Zia Potter, a senior majoring in business law, is the director of pavilion for PAB. Potter said as the director she puts on events which take place in the Student Pavilion.
Potter said she and her crew aims to bring new, engaging events to campus.
“We put a lot of thought into making sure that everything we do will have a far reach, we want everyone to feel involved in our events,” she said. “Even if you come alone, we want you to leave with friends.”
Potter said production helps add extra elements to events and helps PAB serve students to its full potential.
“We are an organization that is 100 percent for the students," Potter said. "Everything that we do is to benefit the ASU community."
Reach the reporter at eborst@asu.edu and follow @ellieeborstt on Twitter.
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Ellie Borst is the executive editor of The State Press, overseeing the publication and its four departments: online, magazine, multimedia and engagement. She plans to graduate in May 2022 with her master's in legal studies and got her bachelor's in journalism in 2021. Previous roles she has held since joining SP in 2018 include digital managing editor, magazine managing editor, community and culture desk editor, and arts and culture reporter.
