The Department of Live Events (DLE) is responsible for the Prof Shows that happen each fest. To learn more about the department’s plans for the fest, the APOGEE English Press sat down with Yashika Ahlawat, the APOGEE Coordinator of DLE.

Yashika shared that the same team that worked for Oasis is also working for APOGEE, and DLE is not currently associated with the Department of Professional Events (DoPE). She added that being on probation did not affect their work for APOGEE in any capacity either. For APOGEE, DLE will be organising two Prof shows that take place at South Park. They will feature artists Prabh Deep and Naalayak. 

Talking about the work, Yashika shared that after the artist is selected by the CostAA and DLE in conjunction, the department contacts them via their agencies prior to the fest. During the fest, the department has three duties. Firstly, they handle the ticketing for the prof shows, which starts a couple of days before the fest. Secondly, they are responsible for the artists’ hospitality, which includes their travel, accommodation, etc. Lastly, they also handle the production work for Prof shows, mainly comprising stage lighting, sound and effects. Yashika mentioned that the scheduling this year posed some difficulties. In the past, artists used to be finalised and publications would begin about a month before the fest. The signings followed soon after. But this year, the MoU had not been signed until the last week before the fest, which caused some delays.

‘Oasis was slightly unfair to us and despite what occurred DLE has still given successful fests,’ she shared. She remarked that her experience so far as a coordinator has been full of ups and downs. The work involved a lot of things beyond just what was mentioned in the charter, but it had been a huge learning experience for her.

She concluded by asking BITSians to treat the festival with a little more love, and reminding them that it is their fellow BITSians who organise the fest—something they put a lot of effort into doing.