School Band Clubs Live Gig - Information | Future Yard School Band Clubs Live Gig - Information | Future Yard

School Band Clubs Live Gig – Information

We’re really looking forward to welcoming you to the Band Club Gig on Wednesday 2nd December!This is a great opportunity for the children to experience performing as part of a real live gig, and we want the evening to feel exciting, supportive and well organised for everyone involved.Please read the information below carefully so that both performers and parents know what to expect.
Arrival 4:45pmAll performers need to arrive at FY by 5:00pm.Please make every effort to arrive on time. The first part of the evening will include Sound Check and a full group performer briefing, and it is important that every child is there for this.On arrival, performers will go into the Live Room, where they will remain as a group for Sound Check and the briefing.During this time, the Band Coach and team will take everyone through:

  • The running order for the evening
  • When each band will be performing
  • Where performers need to be before their performance
  • How each band will be called to the stage
  • How to get on and off stage safely
  • How the changeovers between bands will work
  • Where performers should go after they have played
  • How to use and look after microphones, instruments and other stage equipment
  • Behaviour and safety expectations in the Live Room and around the stage
  • The importance of supporting the other bands throughout the evening

This is an important part of the event and will help everyone understand exactly how the gig will work before the audience comes into the Live Room.What should parents do during Sound Check?During Sound Check and the performer briefing, we ask parents and carers to wait in the bar area rather than coming into the Live Room.This gives the children space to focus, hear all of the instructions clearly and get comfortable with the room and stage before the performances begin.Once Sound Check and the briefing are complete, we’ll let everyone know when the Live Room is ready for the audience.Evening timingsThe evening will run approximately as follows:4:45pm – Performers arrive5:00pm onwards – Sound Check and performer briefing6:00pm– Live performances begin6:50pm – Interval7:10pm – Performances resume8:15pm– Approximate finishPlease note that live events can sometimes run slightly ahead of or behind schedule, so timings are approximate.Please stay and support all of the bandsWe really hope that families will stay for the whole event.Band Clubs is not only about getting on stage and performing your own songs. It is also about being part of a music scene, watching other musicians, encouraging one another and learning how a real gig works.It makes a huge difference to the children performing later in the evening if they still have a full and supportive audience.We therefore ask performers and families to stay, watch and support the other bands rather than leaving immediately after their own performance.If you genuinely need to leave before the end of the event, please let a member of the team know.

There is also a guest headliner on the night, which we can all look forward to! What should performers wear?This is a gig, so we’d love the children to wear something they feel comfortable and confident performing in.There is absolutely no need to buy anything special.If a band has discussed a particular style, colour or theme together, they are welcome to follow that, but otherwise performers should simply wear something that feels appropriate for being on stage.Please make sure clothing and footwear are comfortable and safe for moving around the stage and playing instruments.We recommend avoiding anything overly restrictive, very loose accessories, unsuitable footwear or anything that could get caught on equipment.Behaviour and expectationsWe want the evening to feel fun and relaxed, but the Live Room is also a professional performance space with instruments, cables, microphones and electrical equipment.We therefore ask all performers to:

  • Listen carefully to instructions from the Band Coach and venue team
  • Treat other performers, staff and audience members with respect
  • Behave sensibly around the stage and equipment
  • Walk rather than run in the Live Room and stage areas
  • Only use instruments or equipment they have been asked to use
  • Avoid touching or moving other performers’ instruments
  • Keep food and drinks away from instruments and stage equipment
  • Be ready when their band is called
  • Support and encourage the other bands
  • Remain respectful while other performers are on stage
  • Not bring toys or games that could distract from the event, and keep mobile phones and devices away during the event with exception of taking photographs of their friends performing if they wish.

Essentially, the type of approach for a real gig! The children will be reminded of all of this during their group briefing.Backstage and stage areasThe Live Room and stage can become busy during band changeovers, so we ask parents and carers not to come onto the stage or into performer-only areas unless invited by a member of the team.The children will be shown exactly where they need to wait and how they will get on and off stage.Keeping these areas clear will help us make the transitions between bands as smooth and safe as possible. All journeys to and from these areas will be chaperoned by one of our team. SupervisionParents and carers remain responsible for their children throughout the evening.During Sound Check, the performer briefing and the periods immediately around each band’s performance, the children will be following instructions from the Band Clubs team.At other times, children should remain with or return to their parent or carer unless specifically told otherwise by the team.Children should not leave the venue without their parent or carer.If you need to leave before your child has performed, please speak to a member of the team first.Food and drinksFood and drinks will be available to purchase at FY during the evening.You can view the full menu here:
If you are planning to eat, please consider the timing of your child’s performance when ordering.
The kitchen is open from 4pm for any pre-show food, and pre-orders can be made on the bar for the interval, as well as for the end of the show which is served to you in takeout boxes to take after the gig.

We also ask performers not to take food or drinks onto the stage or near musical equipment.Water will of course be important, particularly for singers, but bottles should be kept safely away from electrical equipment.Instruments and equipmentPlease make sure your child brings anything they have specifically been asked to bring for their performance.FY will provide the equipment that has been arranged for the gig, but children should bring any personal instruments or accessories they have been told they need.Please label personal belongings and instruments wherever possible.We recommend that children avoid bringing unnecessary valuables into the Live Room.Phones, photos and filmingWe know families will want to capture the moment, and photography and filming of your own child is welcome, subject to our usual safeguarding and photography arrangements.Please be mindful that other children may appear in photographs or videos, particularly during group performances.

Please also avoid standing in front of other audience members or blocking walkways while filming.Audience expectationsWe’d love the event to have the atmosphere of a proper live gig, so cheering, clapping and encouraging the performers is very welcome.At the same time, please help us make sure every band gets the attention they deserve by keeping conversations to a minimum while performances are taking place.Please also avoid moving in and out of the Live Room unnecessarily during songs where possible.Sound levelsAs with any live music event, the volume in the Live Room may be louder than children are used to.It will be a sensible volume, rather than that of our usual live gigs, but if this is still too much, we provide ear defenders for sensitive ears! Additional needsIf your child has any additional needs that may affect their experience of Sound Check, waiting to perform, being in a busy environment or going on stage, please let us know in advance if there is anything we can do to help.If you are running late or cannot attendPlease let us know as soon as possible if your child is going to be late or is unexpectedly unable to attend.Each performer is part of a band, so an absence can affect the other children and may mean we need to adjust arrangements.Contact on the day:
Jess – 07778061286Venue informationFuture Yard75 Argyle Street, Birkenhead CH41 6AB
We don’t currently have designated parking at the venue, but there are car parks nearby on Hinson Street/Henry Street and on-street parking on Argyle Street which charge a fee. Train and bus stations within short walking distance. Finally…The aim of the evening is for the children to experience what it feels like to be part of a real gig: arriving together, taking part in Sound Check, getting a stage briefing, preparing with their band, performing in front of an audience and then supporting the other musicians.There may naturally be some nerves, especially for children performing on stage for the first time. The Band Coach and team will be there to guide them through the process and help make the experience as positive as possible.Please help us create a supportive atmosphere for every performer and every band, from the first act of the evening to the last.We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone there.Performers: please arrive promptly at 4:45pm.Best wishes,The Band Clubs Team