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FEST is finally here.

This Friday, students will be able to celebrate the school year winding down with a three-artist line up that gives DePaul their own mini-festival. This year it’s Diplo, Minus the Bear and Yelawolf that will be playing in the quad.

However while it might feel like Lupe Fiasco, last year’s headliner, just finished playing to some, members on the DePaul Activities Board (DAB) have been working all throughout the year on the actual production of the FEST. 

Even this week, there’s a lot of work that involves actually setting up the stage itself.  DAB’s behind-the-scenes mentality has one simple goal – put on the best production possible.

“This will show what DePaul is made of,” said Joe Kosin, DAB’s Fest Coordinator. “We kind of have this lack of community, lack of affinity, and a campus-wide event like FEST gives you a great opportunity to show DePaul what exactly we are in terms of  a college campus and community.”

Here’s a closer look at the work that happens leading up to May 24.

Starting from after finals last June, Kosin and DAB went to work to plan this year’s FEST. With an increase in production budget, DAB used that money to improve layouts of the actual stage.

“Whenever you set up a stage like this, safety is obviously a primary concern,” said Kosin.

Kosin referred to events in Indianapolis in 2011, when seven people were killed in a stage collapse, that made festivals and authorities rethink how to make their events safer. Kosin described volunteers that help unload audio equipment, but it’s the professionals DAB hires that are left to setting up the stage. There are also new codes in place to make sure the construction of the festivals meets regulatory guidelines.

Kosin mentioned that subtle improvements to the stage’s lights and sounds will see improvements as well. “It’s a pretty elaborate set up this year,” said Kosin. “There’s more sound and more lights. There’s more effects to go with the feel of the show.”

To set up the stage, DAB uses a middle man, Concert Ideas, to help find a private contractor who is responsible for setting up the stage. Concert Ideas, which has suggested private contractors to other college festivals, contracts with the agencies that are responsible for the artists as well.

Production companies were looked at between January and February with DAB finally deciding on which company to use in March.  This year’s production company, which remains private due to DAB policy, uses 25 to 30 people for the production of the stage.

The actual setting up the stage begins at 8 a.m. Thursday. Trucks from the production crew roll in and they get to work, laying down the foundation of the stage and setting up the lights. Typical work shifts range from 8 to 12 hours a day.

Friday around 8 a.m. the roof is raised above the stage. Two massive speakers on the left and right sides of the stage have to be set up, along with the subs underneath.  The crew also sets up “The front of house,” which is located at circles of the quad and deals with lighting and sound control. At 11 a.m., the production company begins to build the actual stage. With the concert beginning at 5 p.m., the crew just has six hours to make sure everything is up and running.

“I’m really excited,” said Kosin. “There’s a lot of things still to do, but we have a great team over here and everyone knows what needs to be done.”