from YAPRap January 2004
by Al Bingham, YAPRap Feature Writer
Young bands looking for a head start with their career are facing limited options these days. They can try to battle the pokies for punters' attention. They can take a financial risk by putting on their own all-ages event. Or, they can get in touch with YOYOs in Warringah, on the Northern Beaches, and play at one of their popular bands nights.
YOYOs has a long and successful history of running band nights. So much so that they often find themselves approached by tour managers and booking agents for new bands, who recognise their expertise in promoting and supporting local talent.
YOYOs is the youth centre run by Warringah Council. It's name is an acronym for "You're Only Young Once", which was suggested by a local young person. It constantly attracts up to 350 young people to each of its band nights. Usually ten of these nights are run each year.
"YOYOs is becoming a live entertainment venue for young people," Justin Burke explains. Justin is the Youth Development Officer at Warringah Council. He is responsible for organising the band nights along with the Warringah Youth Advisory Committee of local young people.
It is this Committee which has ensured the success of the band nights through suggesting good local bands to perform, and advertising upcoming events through strong word-of-mouth networks.
YOYOs is doing so well in promoting new talent that it has been receiving enquiries from bands from as far away as Wollongong and Newcastle, who want to play at one of their gigs. It is also able to provide assistance to people who want to run events from the Youth Centre, by explaining how to effectively implement the NSW Government Dance Party Guidelines, and giving other advice on how to make an event work well.
Warringah Council has been assisting local young bands in other ways, besides running band nights. In 2003 they received Artstart funding to run workshops for forty local young people on such subjects as song writing, the recording process, PA production and how to run a successful gig. Out of these workshops a CD was produced by six young bands from the Northern Beaches, and distributed through local record shops. The CD is called Northern Composure , and copies are still available from Justin at Warringah Council Youth Services.
After noticing that most of the bands being attracted to YOYOs were made up of young men, the Warringah Council Youth Development Officer decided to apply for Indent funding to run a project aimed at developing and mentoring young female musicians.
This project will begin in 2004 and will aim to have a female headline band perform and be a mentor for local acts that are composed predominantly of young women. It will be the first time a band project is aimed squarely at female performers, an interesting direction in youth service delivery. The goal is to see young women up on stage, not just in the audience.
Warringah Council Youth Services have also involved the wider community in supporting young local bands. Warringah Mall shopping centre held the final of the 2003 annual band competition on their centre stage on a Thursday night, attracting the attention of many shoppers and young people. The launch of the Northern Composure CD also took place at Warringah Mall. Parents of local bands are welcome to attend the all-ages gigs at YOYOs. Youth Week also saw the Cromer Community Centre used to increase the audience of young punters to a massive 500.
Headline bands are used as a tool by YOYOs to attract large crowds of young people. Such bands as Skulker, Tweak, Best Kept Secret, For Amusement Only and Antiskeptic have headlined over the past couple of years. Overall the objective of YOYOs bands nights is "giving young local bands the opportunity to perform with high profile bands and providing a safe environment for young people," says Justin Burke. "This is further enhanced by our strong working relationship with the Northern Beaches Police". In these ways support for local talent is increased and safe events are promoted.
Themes are sometimes used, to create interest in band night events. A recent Halloween night was called "Punk 'n' Pie", and other themes have included a ska night, a rock night and a metal night. Each of these themes is suggested by the Warringah Youth Advisory Committee.
Like most band nights in other areas of NSW, YOYOs events don't make money. However, this isn't their aim. Rather, their objective is supporting the local music scene and providing young people on the Northern Beaches with quality, affordable and safe entertainment. Through innovative initiatives, and the dedication of young people on the Warringah Youth Advisory Committee, they successfully achieve this goal.
snapshot
Target: Young People in the Northern Beaches area.
Players: Warringah Youth Advisory Committee, Justin Burke, Youth Development Officer (Warringah Council), Rob van den Blink, Youth and Recreation Co-ordinator (Warringah Council).
Adaptation: Warringah Council has a substantial budget and venue to run band nights. For services that don't, band nights could be run less frequently, using some of the promotional ideas outlined above.
more information
Justin Burke, Warringah Council
02 9942 2401
burkej@warringah.nsw.gov.au
Northern Composure CD is available by contacting Justin.
