STRAY KIDS [GOVBALL] 2026
June 6, 2026
STRAY KIDS [GOV BALL]
Backstage Manager
Stray Kids Everywhere All Around the World
(Even in a Tornado Watch)
My first festival. My first time as a backstage manager. And apparently, my first tornado watch.
The load-in for The Governors Ball started Friday night at 11 PM, which meant Saturday morning came and went before any of us really slept. We were running on caffeine, adrenaline, and the mutual understanding that sleep was more of a rumor.
By Saturday afternoon, we finally had a short break after finishing most of the load-in and setup. Everything felt like it was in place, and for a moment, it almost felt like we could breathe.
Then the weather said, “That’s cute.”
A tornado watch came through, and Stray Kids’ set was suddenly pushed up by two hours. Just like that, whatever breathing room we had disappeared, and everything went into scramble mode.
Crew and dancers were trying to get on site through some of the worst traffic, radios wouldn’t stop going off, and everyone suddenly needed something at the exact same time. It turned into that familiar kind of chaos where nothing is technically wrong, but everything is urgent.
I spent most of it running around backstage making sure water, coolers, hangers, clothing racks, and everything in between were where they needed to be. Time felt strange that day. It was moving fast, but also incredibly slow at the same time.
And then somehow, the show started.
Watching from backstage, I remember seeing traditional Korean elements woven into the performance: gat (갓), the traditional horsehair hat, dopo (도포), the long flowing robes, and buchae (부채), the folding fans used in choreography and staging. Seeing those cultural pieces on a stage like Governors Ball felt really special in a quiet way, especially in the middle of all the chaos.
At some point, I heard “MIROH,” and everything paused for a second.
It’s my favorite Stray Kids song, and it immediately took me back to the dominATE tour last year, when everything in this freelance chapter first started. There’s a lyric that goes, “힘들지 않아 거친 정글 속에 뛰어든 건 나니까,” which translates to, “It’s not hard, because I jumped into this rough jungle, I’m okay.”
And I remember thinking, very honestly in that moment: 아니요, 힘들어요 ㅠㅠ “No… THIS IS HARD😭”
I stepped out for maybe ten seconds to watch from the front.
The crowd was completely alive. Fireworks were going off, fans were screaming every lyric, and it felt like one of those moments where you just take it all in without really thinking.
Then I went right back to work.
And just like that, the show was over, and the rain started almost immediately after.
Not light rain either. It turned into a full downpour.
We rushed everyone back into the trailers and waited out the storm and the remaining tornado watch. By that point, everyone was exhausted, soaked, and definitely running on empty.
Eventually, we all ended up sitting together eating after-show pizza.
It was cold, soggy, and honestly looked like it had also had a very long day. (like my shoes)
But it was probably the best pizza I’ve ever had.
Maybe it was hunger. Maybe it was relief. Or maybe it was just the fact that we had somehow made it through the whole day.
Either way, it hit differently.
So here’s to my first festival. To tornado watches, caffeine, chaos, and 10 second moments that somehow stay with you.
Stray Kids Everywhere All Around the World (even in a tornado watch) You Make Stray Kids STAY!!!
