Full Sail Stories

This information may be outdated. Visit go.fullsail.edu/coronavirus for Full Sail's current COVID-19 policies and responses.

COVID-19 hit the live events industry hard, but Full Sail's Show Production program found ways to safely prepare students for the return of concerts, conventions, and live sports during the pandemic. Virtual course offerings coupled with optional, socially-distanced campus classes helped students continue their education without compromising their safety.

Safety First

Show Production students follow Full Sail's rules and current production industry protocols regarding masks, social distancing, and temperature checks when they're on campus. The degree program is reliant on many pieces of shared equipment, but instructors have an unwavering commitment to keeping it clean.

"We provide an alcohol solution to disinfect the gear. The processes are regularly incorporated both before and after campus activities," says Program Director Mark Johnson. "We also provide additional PPE such as headphone earmuff covers and face shields… In situations where physical distancing presents a challenge, we have utilized Plexiglass shields to separate the production areas."

A student wearing PPE works on sanitized production equipment.

Campus Labs

The Show Production program shifted to an effective remote learning model as soon as COVID-19 restrictions were put in place, but Mark started looking for ways to safely accommodate students on campus as soon as it was feasible. On-campus attendance isn't mandatory, but there are a variety of courses and labs for students who wish to return.

"The current on-campus activities are labs, adaptations of labs, or essentially 'open labs' where the students can get hands-on experience with the equipment and have an instructor nearby to answer any questions or give one-on-one guidance," Mark says.

A Show Production student works during an optional on-campus lab.

Student Work

Students can complete any course assignments on campus, but they're also going above and beyond by working live events both on campus and around Orlando.

"We have held a couple of productions in Full Sail Live 1, as well as some off-campus productions," says Mark. "We have provided production support for a few events at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts."

Students prepare sound equipment for a campus production.

Incoming students with questions about the safety protocols for their degree program should contact their Admissions Representative at 800.226.7625 for information and guidance.

Current students should consult Full Sail One for information about their upcoming lab schedules and can contact Full Sail Support with any questions or concerns about their on-campus experience.