#insider knowledge

In order for WYB to have pulled off a performance like the one he pulled off, he would have needed to involve a very large team that began planning this at least 1-2 months in advance, especially if all the set pieces were his own. 

This team would include: 

Creative Director - This is the person who comes up with the vision for the show, often working closely with the artist on different mood boards and ideas. The CD is also usually responsible for hiring the rest of the team if there isn’t already backup dancers, a band, etc. If the CD is not a choreographer, they also hire the choreographer and work closely with them on creating the entire performance. In WYB’s case, I am going to actually assume that he has his own preferred choreographer and backup dancers (but you guys can correct me here - I’m not actually 100% sure?) 

Set Designer - Works closely with CD on realizing CD/artist’s vision for the performance. 

Lighting Director - Works closely with the CD to come up with a plan for lighting and cue sheets. Is also in charge of lighting team and special effects. (i.e. If there’s a spotlight, if there is pyro or confetti cannons or anything like that.)

Music Director - If there were a live band involved, an MD would have been necessary, but in this case, there was no band, so an MD would not have been hired for this performance.

Protools Engineer - While WYB could have used the Protools engineer that was provided to him by the station, he would have needed one to run rehearsals with. Protools Engineer is responsible for playback during a show. 

Monitor Engineer - Monitor engineers are responsible for stage monitors and in ear monitors to make sure the artist can actually hear what they are performing. WYB potentially could have used the TV station’s, but also had his own for rehearsal.

Front of House Engineer - FOH Engineer is responsible for the front of house sound board (what the audience hears.) WYB could have used the TV station’s, but also had his own for rehearsal.

Video Director - If there are any LED video screens or any video used at all during the show, a VD would have been necessary. Usually works with LD. 

Stage Manager - Manages all cue sheets and times everything down to the second, communicating with other staff - especially if a lift is used or in this case, wires. 

Stunt Coordinator - For a wire performance, there would have needed to be an SC on hand in order to help incorporate the wires. 

Production Manager - Responsible for hiring the rest of the crew, coming up with technical rider, negotiating rates for rentals, advancing the show, arranging rehearsals, managing the entire crew and the production, etc. If this were a tour, there would also be an additional Tour Manager hired on, but this is just a one-off, so a TM wouldn’t have been necessary unless WYB has a TM he really likes to work with who travels with him to every single live show.

Glam Team - Stylists, hair, and makeup 

The above are just all the management-level staff that would have been needed for this show and does not include lower-level crew such as production assistants, assistant PM/SM, and other tech crew. 

Once the crew is hired, the stage is built, equipment rented out, and a plan is in place, usually the artist and dance crew will begin rehearsals in a studio as they work out the choreo. At this stage, wires wouldn’t be involved because of the fact that a normal dance studio doesn’t have the equipment to support it. 

At least about a week before the actual show, the entire stage - all the gear, everything that would have been required for the performance - would be brought into a soundstage. An entire stage would have been built out. This is where flying rigs would actually be brought in to rehearse with. 

At most, they would have had a few days to rehearse on a soundstage, which meant any flying choreo or any choreo that would have required coordinating with stunt crew would have had to be finalized within a very short period of time. They would have also definitely run through a dress rehearsal in full costume as well - to ensure there wouldn’t be any accidental costume gaffs during the actual show. (With wires in particular, WYB would have had to be quite careful.)

I should note that all of the above would have been incredibly expensive. There is no way they wouldn’t have exceeded their technical rider budget that would have been negotiated with the TV station. This meant that Yuehua most likely invested a significant budget into any overages for crew and equipment rental. (They definitely would have had to shell out quite a lot of money just for the soundstage so that WYB would have been able to actually rehearse properly!) 

When I say “incredibly expensive,” I don’t mean in the range of $50K USD. That stage was definitely well over $150K USD, if not more. The amount of money they invested would have been very significant! 

The day of the show, they would have performed a sound check and run through the set during the time that was allotted to them. If WYB used the TV station’s crew, then they would have had to run rehearsal at least a few times. If he had his entire production crew swap out the TV production’s crew, then they would have taken over the sound/monitor boards/etc. which could have entirely been possible, given the production value of his performance. (And it would also have been the best way to avoid any terrible mistakes made by TV production sound crews such as the ones XZ had to deal with during all three of his songs.) 

A lot goes into putting together a show of that level  - far more than anyone can really imagine unless they’ve been through it professionally. Months of hard work and labor get condensed into a few moments when everyone works together as a single team to realize an incredible performance upon a live stage.