October 20, 2022
35 for EMCC35 | Tammy Ng
In this instalment of our #35forEMCC35 series, we spotlight Tammy Ng, a current NUS undergraduate who was Vice-President (Productions) of EMCC Crew. Her term of office coincided with the gradual reopening of Singapore amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw ever-changing Safety Management Measures (SMMs). Tammy recounts those times and reminds us of the silver lining – being able to welcome live audiences back to the theatre again.
How did you first get started with EMCC?
I first got started with EMCC in 2020 (my first year of studies in NUS) when I joined EMCC Crew as a member. When the Student Life Fair was around the corner, I looked through the student groups for a backstage or production-related CCA as it’s what I’ve been doing for the entirety of my JC and secondary school years.
What role did you play in EMCC Crew?
For about a year (2021-2022), I served as the Vice-President (Productions) of EMCC Crew. Being in this role meant that I helped to coordinate most of the productions under the EMCC series, by liaising with artistes and Production Services team from NUS Centre For the Arts, booking show venues, managing the manpower on the crew side etc. I also volunteered for other roles, such as front-of-house crew, camera operator, multimedia operator and production manager.
What is the most cherished memory you have of your time with EMCC?
The most cherished memory I have of my time with EMCC is the 2021 production of ELIZA. ELIZA was an AI-themed play about a man and his robot helper staged in February of 2022, that saw the return of live audience to the theatre in the EMCC season.
I oversaw the recruitment of the cast, costume designers, production stage managers, sound designer, lighting designer, and the crew. I met individuals with varying degrees of production experience, but most of them had one thing in common – they joined purely out of passion.
It warms my heart to see my EMCC Crew family, all of whom are good at what they do, come together every show night to put together an amazing performance.
Before ELIZA, EMCC Crew busied themselves with digital productions. How did it feel to finally be able to welcome live audience in the venues?
It was exciting to be able to have a live audience at a show. Hearing the applause of the audience at the end of the show, their laughter during the performance, and watching them interact with the directors and actors during the post-show dialogue was very reminiscent of what the arts was like before the pandemic. It was also a ray of hope that yes, things will get better, and we will have more shows with live audiences.
The SMMs were constantly changing in the height of the pandemic. How did EMCC Crew navigate them?
Before each show, we would check the National Arts Council website for the latest guidelines on crew and audience size for live performances. Venue capacity was crucial to us. We didn’t want to risk oversubscription and having to turn people away. Of course, it’s better if the restrictions were eased rather than tightened. However, we would always be prepared, like having wet wipes as part of our logistics list to wipe down equipment.
What has your experience with EMCC taught you about being in the arts?
My experience in EMCC has taught me that if I want something, be it a crew role or a leadership position, I have to make the effort to strive for it.
I also learnt that in the arts, you never do anything solely for yourself. We are a team and our actions impact and benefit those we work with and work for. I joined EMCC Crew because it’s what I love doing and the EMCC Crew brings me joy and familiarity. At the same time, I am proud that I am able to contribute by serving the crew, the audience and the performers.
What hopes do you have for EMCC Crew or its programming?
I hope that the EMCC Crew will push themselves in the development of soft and hard skills needed to produce a show. At the same time, may they find things within the arts that they love and want to pursue.
I also hope that the EMCC series will continue to share the arts with audiences who may not have easy access to it, and never stop exciting people about performances, exhibitions, film screenings and the like.
About #35forEMCC35
NUS Centre For the Arts is proud to commemorate 35 years of ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) through our #35forEMCC35 series. Spotlighting 35 individuals from past and present editions of EMCC, the series showcases how EMCC has complemented these individuals’ academic and professional lives, and their hopes for EMCC in the years to come.