For the last ten years,
BOBfest has been an annual event for teens in Spokane, Wash., that highlights their creative skills in a Battle of the Bands. Garage bands from around the region
audition to have a part in the all day Saturday event, which this year
will be held on June 16, 2007 in downtown Riverfront Park.
In January, demo tapes are due to the Chase Youth Commission and its Teen Advisory Council, which then listens and rates all the
contestants, choosing 12 total to compete at BOBfest. Those 12 bands
are then supported by community partners such as Hoffman Music Company, which
runs a special clinic for these youth to learn more about how to perform well
onstage. The Hoffman staff provide instruction to the band members about instrumental
and vocal techniques as well as how to best use the high quality sound
equipment provided them.
Then, College
Road Recording Studio gives each band two hours of free
recording time and offers each member their own CD from the recording
session. Because of their preparation at Hoffman's, the youth are more
prepared and better able to take full advantage of this unique recording
opportunity. Each song recorded is compiled into a BOBfest CD, which is
sold to the crowd during the BOBfest competition.
Community volunteers serve as judges at the
event, with the top band receiving a free, full record recording
session. Other prizes include paid “gigs” at major community events
throughout the year. There is also a
People's Choice Award, selected through a vote of the audience.
The Chase Youth Commission
has been able to use BOFfest as a fundraiser, selling BOBfest t-shirts and
special CDs featuring one track from each of the 12 final bands under
competition. They also run games for the youth who attend between
the set changes, such as organizing limbo contests and offering
give-aways for the youth in attendance. This innovative annual event
draws about 100-200 youth and supports youth in the arts, as well as the Chase
Youth Commission itself.
For more information on Spokane's youth commission, visit http://www.chaseyouth.org
YouthScape is seeking more youth councils and commissions for its spotlight! If you think your local youth council should be featured, email information about your group's background and recent work to fellow@nlc.org.
More Youth Council Spotlights