The APOGEE English Press sat down with Rishab Chetal, the Coordinator of the Department of Informal Events (Informalz), to gain insight into their work for the 44th edition of APOGEE.
Rishab explained that Informalz was conceived with the idea of organising small, non-revenue-generating events so that people could have fun without making a dent in their pockets. While the department has since moved on to organising revenue-generating events as well, he remarked, the fundamental principle behind its activities remains the same.
When asked about their plans for APOGEE 2026, Rishab said that they would be organising their marquee event, Casino Nite, alongside the Brainrot Quiz and Moot Court. Citing a shortage of workforce within the department, he added that Casino Nite would be organised jointly with RadioAktiv Club this year due to its size and nature of work. He further stated that Speed Dating, an event that the department debuted last APOGEE, would be omitted this time. Treasure Hunt, another “legacy” event that didn’t make the cut this year, was left out due to several similar events being concurrently organised by a number of different clubs and associations. Moot Court, he continued, would give participants the feeling of being in a real courtroom and provide them a ‘proper platform for pointless arguments’, while leaving out the technicalities and complications of a structured debate.
Rishab stated that Casino Nite would primarily involve transactions with outside vendors a few weeks before the event to obtain professional poker tables, chips and the like. Most of the remaining setup would be done six to seven hours before Casino Nite is scheduled to begin. As for events like Moot Court and Brainrot Quiz, motions and questions respectively were slated for preparation a day or two before the actual events.
When questioned on the hurdles faced along the way, Rishab remarked that Casino Nite required a significant amount of money, and while it had historically been a profit-making event, it was difficult to predict actual footfall on the day of the event and, consequently, profit margins.
On his experience as a coordinator, Rishab conveyed that it had been tedious and involved a lot of behind-the-scenes work that most people usually overlooked. Whatever work he was doing, he continued, was solely because he wanted his juniors in the department to have a fun and enjoyable experience in the fest. On a parting note, he urged the readers to check out Informalz’s events and hoped that they proved to be a fun experience.