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Name: Steven M. Borders
Title: Technical director
Department: Koger Center for the Arts
Background: Grew up in an Air Force family; lived in Ohio, Canada, Massachusetts, and South Carolina before graduating from Brooklyn-Cayce High School in Columbia; received bachelor’s degree in media arts with specialization in audio technology from USC in 1987; joined the Koger Center in 1988 as an original employee and sound technician for events; over time, assumed the position of technical director; supervises the public address system at Williams-Brice Stadium during football games; adjunct professor in the Department of Media Arts; father of an 11-year-old daughter.
Tell us about your job. My first work at the Koger Center was with the construction crews to help finish the building. When the center opened, my duties moved to working on the sound systems for various events. Now as technical director, I basically take care of the needs of everybody, from making sure that we have the right number of people to work as ushers, to monitoring back-stage crew members needed for a show or working with caterers. I basically assemble a list of what’s needed for each event and then assign tasks to the various departments in the center.
What’s the best part of your job? Seeing the various artistic acts that have performed here from around the world that represent a broad spectrum of the arts world. I’ve seen performances of renowned orchestras, dance companies, and other acts from the Far East to eastern Europe.
What is the most challenging part of the job? Handling the large number of events at the Koger Center, many of which the general public isn’t aware of. A lot of people don’t realize how busy the Koger Center’s schedule is. We do ballet and orchestras and other performing acts, but we also do a lot of other things, like graduations, convocations, School of Music events, and freshmen orientation. Even though we might not be in a performance night, we still might be here working, either for rehearsals or setting up for an event. We can work as many as 15 days in a row for 12 to 16 hours a day without a day off, depending on what’s scheduled.
What’s the most interesting show you’ve ever worked on? Wow, there’s just been so many. I’d have to break it down into categories: the Kodo Drummers from Japan who brought all those percussion instruments with them; the Shanghai Acrobats, who put on amazing feats; Les Miserables, which was the largest show we’ve done in the Koger Center and one of the most technologically involved; and the London Philharmonic, which was noteworthy because its performance was held in honor of the center’s opening night when we were still kicking carpet out in the lobby two hours before the doors opened.
Do you like the work? I love it. I don’t think I could do anything else. I love seeing the audiences’ reactions, knowing that I may have spent up to 16 hours helping to set up a show and then seeing everybody when they’re coming out of with smiles. I also like working on kids’ shows, aware that we’re providing them with the basis to continue with art in their lives and reinforcing the importance of art.
What do you do to re-charge your batteries? I like to take short trips, because it’s hard for me to get away for longer periods of time; go for rides on my motorcycle; or play video games.
9/05
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