The Beelzebubs have resolved the issues holding up their pending appearance on the NBC reality television show "The Sing-Off."
Whether the Tufts singing group would appear on the program, which pits eight a capella troupes from around the country against each other, remained undecided last week after administrators expressed concern over how much school the students would have to miss and whether they would be able to make up the work, which will include final examinations.
But the administration's worries have been allayed. The singers contacted each of their professors last week and talked to them personally about the show, according to sophomore Conor Flynn, public relations director for the Bubs.
"As far as what we have to do on our end, we are ready to go," Flynn said.
The Bubs are the only collegiate a capella group slated to appear on the program.
While the Bubs are prepared to fly to Burbank, Calif. on Nov. 28 to begin taping, they are still awaiting confirmation from NBC that there are no other problems holding up their participation.
Flynn said the amount of school the group's members will miss depends on how well they do in the competition.
"Assuming [NBC] does say OK … we could be there all the way until the live finale on the 21st of December," Flynn said. "How well we do will determine how long we are out there."
Bubs President Eli Seidman, a junior, is confident that the group has what it takes to compete on the show and win the grand prize — a Sony recording contract — though he admitted that the Bubs have a challenge ahead of them, as most of their competitors are professional a capella groups.
"In terms of vocal talent, I don't know if we can beat them. But in terms of our whole package — our energy, our enthusiasm and group unity — I think we can," Seidman said. "We have to present it in terms of how much we enjoy doing what we do, the history of the Bubs, the alums we represent … I think all of that will be part of our story and what we bring to the competition."
Flynn is also looking forward to the group's time in the limelight.
"We went into this with a pretty open attitude," he said. "We didn't expect a lot from the audition when it happened but now that things are turning out the way they are, I think it reinforces our belief in our brand of how we present music. It's a testament to the hard work that we have to put in everyday on stage," he said.
