Diagnosis: Tech Week

Definition:  Tech week is the acquired syndrome caused by no virus, bacteria, or fungi, but merely from a week of work on a high school musical production without ceasing

Symptoms can include, but are not limited to:

• Lack of sleep
• Failure to turn in homework assignments
• Possibly drop in grades
• Offset eating schedule (specifically eating dinner at around 3:00)
• Diet consisting of only Wendy's, Subway, Giant Eagle, and Asian Star
• Remnants of mic tape on side of head and back of neck
• Loss of free time
• Loss of ability to sing unless on stage during performance

Tech week comes in annual cycles.  In addition, it is highly predictable when it will be acquired, and it is possible to make provisions ahead of time.  It is more prominent among high school than any other age group.  Normally, about 40 or 50 people will be diagnosed annually, and normally around late March or early April.

Unfortunately, Tech Week has no known cure but to let the week pass.  However, the recovery process can produce symptoms of its own, and this is commonly called Post-Musical Depression (PMD).

Symptoms of PMD can include, but are not limited to:

• Free time that you don't know what to do with
• Desire to see friends
• Desire to make jokes about a specific musical
• Overall disappointment that Tech Week is over

-NM