Newsmaker: Sarah Poage

Every week, Talon News interviews a member of the Oklahoma Christian University community, a “Newsmaker,” to answer questions about their role on campus.

On February 9, Talon News interviewed Spring Sing Executive Director, Sarah Poage.

What is a typical day in your life right now with Spring Sing? 

“Every week, we line out the tasks that need to get done. It can be anything from social media stuff to, building like, we built the stage this past weekend, or we need to order stuff for the lobby, or the order costumes for the hosts. We always start with figuring out what needs to get done for the week. Then basically every night, from 5:30 to 11:30 I’m up here.”

What advice would you give to someone looking to become the executive director of Spring Sing in the future?

“It is really great to have been a director or for example, I was also club coordinator, but you can also do it without any experience. You have to be ready to face conflict, as much as we can plan, things still go wrong, but it always comes together. So I think having a calm spirit and being willing to listen to everyone. Having so many people on your team I think it is important to learn how to like, acknowledge everyone’s talents, and be able to point that out in people. I think the second that they lose respect for you, they are not going to do as good and their role. So being able to be a people person, and be able to talk to people and encourage them and tell them they’re doing a good job and keep them on track.”

What do you plan to do that’s different from past spring sing directors? Ex: are there any new traditions you are bringing to the show? 

“The main things are pretty close to the traditions. The overall theme being, Let’s Go to the Movies is fun because we haven’t done movies in a long time, I think the last time was 2003. We’re still doing the main traditions, like our philanthropy, also, we’re still working on the Bob Lashley stage that will be dedicated at the Saturday night show. So that’s super exciting. This stage has been a big project this year, and they just painting the side walls, and it is going to look really good in four weeks.”

What surprises have you run into as Spring Sing executive director?

“All the little details that go into it. Like the program every year, someone made that. The ads, someone has to do that. The little like videos that play in between the shows before the clubs go on you know, like someone has to make that like. I always knew it was a big production and a lot of work went into it, but there’s so much behind the scenes that it would just be impossible without the team.”

How do you pick your team?

“In the past, it is word of mouth, but I wanted to make sure that everything was very diverse. There’s so much talent in this school, so I actually sent out an application through student announcements in May of last year. Some of the roles my friends have talked to me about, and I knew I wanted them on the team, but I still made them apply. There’s a lot of people on the team that I didn’t know at all before this, so it has been really fun getting to know them and watching them use their talent.”

How does your team support you and help you with decisions?

“They’re the best because I have all these ideas, but I don’t know how to execute most of them. Like the power tool, I know the stage needs to have the screws screwed in, but I don’t know how to do stage stuff. I have all these ideas like, I want this light to go this way, but how do I do that? So, I need Joe, the tech guy, to do it. They are all amazing. We have an exec meeting every Monday, it’s really for them to ask questions, but they are all very independent. They do their jobs well, so they support me by just simply doing what they’re best at. I’m able to text them and be like, “Hey, I need this graphic for the social media”, and they’re sending it to me within a few hours. With Joe, the tech team and all the people that helped build the stage like, we’re able to just put all the visions together.”

Why did you want to become the executive director of Spring Sing?

“I did show choir in high school, so I was a nerd. I also was the president of show choir, so I had done choreography stuff before, so I have always loved that kind of stuff. When I got here, I directed my freshman Spring Sing show The Crayons, best time of my life. That just sparked my love for Spring Sing. Then I was in my clubs show, then last year I was club coordinator. I just knew I wanted to be the executive director. I just think I always saw myself doing that. I’m very busy and it’s hard at times, but I honestly think being a club director is harder. I wouldn’t say it’s busier. I would say I’m busier now, but brain power and creativity I think it’s harder to be a club director. I think this role is really fun but I’m basically watching everyone else be creative and do all the hard things.”

As an executive director what are you looking forward to about Spring Sing? 

“I may be sad, I’m probably going to cry on Saturday night. I hope years from now, even if the show flops, hopefully it doesn’t, but when I come back, people just remember a show that was fun. Like I said, even if something goes wrong, or something isn’t executed perfectly I hope that the setting is set well enough that people can enjoy the show with their family and their friends and that they remember the practices and the late nights and all the little things in between. I hope the show all comes together beautifully. But it’s the little moments in between that I look forward to.”