They planned their entire Tiger Tunes show in one weekend. They selected their music and choreographed their dances in a matter of days. While some clubs have been preparing for months on end, they have been practicing for three weeks. Who are they? They are the brave men of the Fourth Floor.
Once they heard that a group had dropped out of Tiger Tunes, the men of the Student Village Fourth Floor took interest in participating in the show. After talking to Ouachita faculty and getting permission from the rest of the clubs, they started planning immediately.
“Nobody has ever put together a Tiger Tunes show in a five week span,” said senior Jake Sligh. “And I don’t recommend anyone doing it.”
Most of the actual Student Village Fourth Floor is participating in the show, along with some members of last year’s fourth floor in Anthony Hall. The group has 32 participants.
Although they cannot be sure this show will become a tradition, the men do hope that their show will give an opportunity for other people to participate in future Tiger Tunes shows that wouldn’t get to otherwise.
This year’s show will have a theme that will touch people’s hearts from all walks of life.
“We are security guards,” Sligh said. “It’s just about the battle between good and evil. As a security guard, every day you go to work, you put on your badge, you get your keys out, you have so many doors to unlock and so many tickets to write. You never know if people are gonna be breaking rules that you’re going to have to enforce.”
Audience members can expect to see a show that shocks, awes and surprises.
“It’s going to be a six minute party,” said senior Wes Hymer.
The men know that expectations for their show are high, but they are planning to meet those expectations.
“[You can expect] incredible dance moves,” Sligh said. “[There will be] some pyrotechnics, 6,000 gallons of water in the orchestra pit and horse divers.”
Sligh and Hymer did most of the choreography for the show, but had some outside help as well.
“The choreography has kind of been a group effort,” Sligh said. “Believe it or not, Wes and I have never choreographed anything before.”
Being in Tiger Tunes is an exciting opportunity, but there are some fears and reservations that come along with the task.
“[I have fears] every morning and every night when I lay my head down on the pillow and when I wake up again in the morning,” Hymer said. “But at the end of the day, I know we’re gonna be alright.”
Although the men of the Fourth Floor are only eligible for the People’s Choice Award, they plan on making their show the best it can be.
“You can consider us kind of like the Big Green or the Little Giants of Tiger Tunes,” Hymer said.
The men have a strong work ethic during practices in order to get all the preparation done in time for the show.
“We’ve been getting work done but [practices] have been a lot of fun too,” said senior Jeffery Harmon.
It is helpful that the entire group has a great attitude and they all want to work hard in order to make the show great, according to Sligh.
“One hundred percent effort, one hundred percent of the time,” said junior Austin Walker. “During our first practice we asked who wanted to take a break, and everyone yelled, ‘No one!’”
According to Hymer, the Fourth Floor men adhere to these motto’s during their practices: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” “There’s no I in Tunes,” “No one has ever drowned in their own sweat,” and “Sing like a champion today.”
It’s difficult to find a word that can sum up the Fourth Floor Tigers Tunes show in all its glory, but Harmon said it the best when he said “It will be swanky.”
