Age: 21
Class: 2013
Field of Study: Advertising
HCUO: What is your ultimate Career Goal?
I’m studying advertising, but I would really like to be in TV (maybe not reality shows) as a producer or to work on show development, or for an advertising agency.
HCUO: So how much time does On the Rocks take out of your schedule?
On the Rocks is like a full time job. We rehearse three times a week for two and a half hours, and then we have a free show every Friday which we show up an hour early to. So just with rehearsals that is about twelve hours, and we usually have gigs on top of that, so it’s usually about twenty to twenty-five hours a week.
HCUO: How long have you been singing?
I have been singing since I was a little boy, very small—there are some embarrassing videos of me singing in front of the Christmas tree. But I didn’t actually start singing in choirs until fifth grade.
HCUO: Were you nervous to try out for On the Rocks?
I auditioned while I was still in high school. It was pretty intimidating because everyone seemed so old since I was still in high school and the majority of the other guys were juniors with full-on beards, and just these big burly men, next to this small little senior in high school.
HCUO: What was it like being on national television?
It was crazy. Being a part of it was a lot different than watching it since everything was pre-taped. All of fall term of sophomore year we weren’t allowed to talk about it. We called it “fake life” since we were so removed, and even lived in a hotel for thirty-two days and weren’t allowed to leave without being escorted. But then everyone on the show became really good friends. Being there with fourteen of your best friends and making thirty new ones on top of that doing something you love to do is irreplaceable. Watching it was really weird, though. It was crazy to see how TV is made start to finish, especially reality TV.
HCUO: Do you get recognized now more often?
More people definitely came to Friday shows after. We felt more recognized throughout the campus as a whole, especially after the UO put our story on their home page. And then there were the random Facebook adds, like middle-aged moms who would message me saying “I loved you on the show!”
HCUO: What do you like best about being a member of On the Rocks?
Most of all it allows me to sing and perform. I think it is really fun to make people smile. I think a capella is a really transparent art form to where you can cross so many borders brought together through one thing. All the guys in the group have great personalities; to be able to hang out with your best friends, make music, and have fun is so worth it. I can’t really come up with anything negative.
HCUO: Do you see a future in music?
I think I’ve always really enjoyed music because it hasn’t been my main focus, it hasn’t been my career. There are only four music majors in the group right now. What makes it so fun for us is that it is a hobby, it’s something you want to maintain because it makes you happy, it’s not something you have to do. I will always have music in my life, and would love to get my kids into music, maybe be in a wedding band, but it will always be in my life.
HCUO: So, are you single or taken?
I am actually single for the first time in a long time.
HCUO: Describe your perfect girl for us.
My perfect girl? Hmm…She has to be – preferably – tan, ethnic, or dark skinned, 5’6-8’’ because I’m kinda tall, and she has to be really fun and low key. She has to be down to earth and able to do her own thing, not needy. Also she has to be passionate, I don’t care about what but she has to care. On top of that I would want someone with a really cool family, because family is really important to me. If you can not only find someone that you really get along with, but you also get along with the people that made her, that’s really cool.
HCUO: If you were on a deserted island, what four items would you bring?
I would probably bring a surfboard, some sort of spear or tool for hunting, a hundred foot rope (I’m trying to build a tree fort in my mind), and then a guitar. I have to eat, exercise, and have some sort of entertainment.
HCUO: What’s something surprising about you people might not know?
I really like school. I’ve always tried to really care about what I’m studying. I usually come across as really fun and outgoing, but at the end of the day, I am a student and I have to get my work done in order to have this fun. I think On the Rocks has really helped me with this because without time management I would fail all my classes.
– – –
Rebecca Gibson is a University of Oregon junior studying photography and journalism. Her career goals include writing, design, and multimedia production for magazine. Due to growing up in the beautiful mountain town of Bend, Oregon, Rebecca values staying active and healthy and the beauty in simple things. She is addicted to online shopping, the feeling after a great workout, traveling the world, and eating delicious food. Her role models include Audrey Hepburn and Lauren Conrad, and any other woman who can be classy and maintain a healthy dose of sarcasm at the same time. She is a lover of all things original, creative, chic, and fashionable. Visit her website at http://www.wix.com/rgibso5/rebeccamgibson#!