Meg Harrison - FCPL

1. Checklist for Staging a Teen Music Event
2 Months Out
Decide whether you want this event to be a competition or a showcase.
Decide how many bands you want to play. (I typically have between 2-4.)
Decide if you want to limit the kind of music (rock, alternative, emo, acoustic, hip hop?) or not.
Decide on your venue (inside or outside).
Decide on how long each group should play.
Figure out if your system has AV equipment the bands can use.
Can you afford to pay your bands even a nominal fee if it’s a showcase?
If it’s a competition, what’s your prize? Can you get it donated?
Call/email/visit local high school band, chorus, and orchestra teachers. Also, get in touch with local
music store owners. Describe your event to them and ask if they know any kids who have their own
bands. Also, talk to your own teens who come in. If they don’t have a band, I’ll bet they have a buddy
who does.
Decide if you’ll have food and/or beverage available.
1 Month Out
Begin signups if you haven’t already. Post to your website and your facebook page that you’re looking
for a few bands to come play.
If at all possible, have the bands send you some kind of demo. Most of them will have an amateur video
up on youtube or an audio file from a practice.
Make it clear to the bands if you need them to avoid songs with cursing.
Along the same lines, make up a half sheet stating what you expect from each band to hand out to them
when they sign up. Remind them to talk the event up to their friends and fans.
Plan out what you’ll do while the bands are changing out. Play music?
3 Weeks Out
Design and distribute a flyer advertising event to schools, music stores, underage clubs, and, of course,
your library and any branches in your system.
Post the event to facebook and/or website. Make sure you get a mention in your library’s newsletter.
Recruit a volunteer (or two or three) to help you with crowd management, refreshment distribution, and
vote counting on the day of.
Day Before
Set up your line up.
Call all of your bands and remind them of the event and when to show up.
Make up voting strips and find containers to vote into if you’re having a competition style event.
Day Of
Start setting up the room at least a half hour before bands are due to arrive.
Help them set up and connect to your AV equipment if providing. Make sure they’re aware of the order
of bands. Remind the bands that they are responsible for their own equipment and to keep and eye on it.
Prepare to rock out! ;)
Other things to prepare for…
Someone will be late or not show at all
You will have parents/grandparents wanting to tape the event.