Grinnell Artists: Amanda Lee

member of the band and technical team were exceedingly kind, and I still text them if I need advice about set up.”

For Suarez-Davis and Rikabi, their involvement in campus performances has been the most rewarding aspect of their college experience. Both feel that highlighting the work and personalities of the performers is their top priority. In fact, Suarez-Davis and Rikabi are content to keep themselves out of the spotlight as much as possible.

“I have really terrible social anxiety,” said Suarez-Davis. “It is remarkably difficult for me to talk to people my own age, and the nice thing about working events is that I can still participate in them while having my mind being taken off of the social aspect.”

“I think it’s nice to be unseen by the general public and seen by fellow musicians or music and tech aficionados,” said Rikabi. “It’s so much more meaningful and personal to receive positive feedback from someone who understands the work that we do.”

As Suarez-Davis and Rikabi plan for upcoming years of programming, their primary goal is to maximize the number of people they bring together.

“We see so many different types of people at our shows,” said SuarezDavis. “Grinnell concerts are special because we are in an isolated location. I really like the fact that we keep shows open to the public free of cost, and it has been an effective way to include the broader community in campus events.”

Suarez-Davis and Rikabi have also been advocates for increasing accessibility to campus events, and they are looking to continue making improvements to the way performances operate.

“We’re trying to push for more concert accessibility because we want to accommodate those with disabilities or mobility concerns,” said Rikabi. “It would also be a major step to offer sign language interpreters at our big shows.”

Although Suarez-Davis and Rikabi may ultimately avoid careers in the entertainment industry for ethical concerns, they both want to continue using their technical expertise to support artists.

“I want to keep writing music, jamming with others, setting up and mixing shows,” said Rikabi.

Suarez-Davis says that one of the main things he has learned from his experience is the amount of work that goes into every performance.

He said, “Once you start working events, it gives you a lot more appreciation for the people who work behind the scenes. Keep it in mind when you’re watching a sports broadcast, or concert or theater production. There are a lot of really awesome people putting in a lot of really awesome work to make these things happen.”