De La Salle Innersoul
Managing Members: Beyond the Spotlight
The common misconception for many performers is that they are defined by what happens on stage. It can’t be helped that many people think this way as the audience usually only focuses on the magic that happens on stage. We can’t blame them, that’s what they witness as audiences anyways. But, that on-stage magic is not possible without behind-the-scenes work. In fact, for the De La Salle Innersoul, every member, whether under the spotlight or behind the scenes, shares the weight of the work. However, as soon as the performers have accomplished their off-stages duties, who keeps them on that stage? Who keeps the work working?
The small team of managing members of the organization work closely with all internal teams year-round, giving them a unique, 360-degree view of the organization.From logistics and budgeting to marketing and artist care, such internal operations guarantee smooth execution of Innersoul’s projects. While the Culture and Arts Office also provides support through other organizations, an organization’s own managing members are more familiar with the workflow as they have been working closely with their co-members throughout the year, making them the most familiar with their own work dynamics. It is essential that such people in the organization exist as they are the bridge between the performing members and other people and groups essential to the production, such as suppliers, sponsors, and even the audience themselves.
Redirection Over Rejection
But one thing that not a lot of people may know about Innersoul’s managing members is that a lot of them were redirected after auditioning to be a performing member. Maine Corbillon, a junior managing member, shares that while this might seem like a unique silver lining, or maybe just the standard reality where most managing members actually started out as rejected auditionees, it brings a wave of mixed emotions.
“You’re left with the feeling that you’re not supposed to be there whereas everyone earned their spot within the org. Imposter syndrome hits hard when you know you were there b[ecause] you were given the ‘backburner’ option.”
Despite not being accepted as a performing member, she believes that rejection leads to redirection; you may not be the best one in the room, but at least you are in the room. In reality, no one treats anyone any differently. Co-members will seek out your help precisely because they know your managing role is of big help to the work being done in the group. She reminds herself that even on the days when you still feel a bit out of place, you have to remind yourself that you are an essential part of the process, and every success the organization achieves is yours, too. There is that unique satisfaction of watching a seamless production, knowing you contributed to its foundation.
Soul in Excellence
Ultimately, the magic that unfolds on stage is never a solo act by the performers alone; it is the collective triumph of everyone who built the foundation beneath it. While taking a redirected path as a managing member may feel like a setback, it quickly reveals itself as an essential pillar of the organization’s legacy. By embracing their crucial roles, managing members ensure that De La Salle Innersoul does not just perform, but thrives. Rejection may change the nature of your spotlight, but it never diminishes your impact, because every applause, successful production, and unforgettable moment belongs just as much to the hands working in the dark as to the voices singing in the light.