Community center helps promote local bands

By Michael Picarella pic@theacorn.com

Not all teenagers are hanging out on the streets—some are promoting their music or supporting local youth bands at the Teen Rock Shows presented from 7 to 10:30 p.m. two or three times a month on Fridays at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center.

Several famous bands, including Incubus, Hoobastank and Linkin Park, have roots in the Agoura Hills/Calabasas area and the Teen Rock Shows provide a great venue for them, according to Brandon Ferguson of the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center.

"We’ve been doing this for about two years now and we’ve had probably about 40 shows," Ferguson said. "Every band that comes in to play, they need to sign a band application, and I have a binder here of about 150 different bands that have come through here."

Each show features about five different bands that play mostly rock, punk or other music that’s popular among young people. Not all of the bands are made up of only teenagers. Some band members are in their 20s, Ferguson said. Nevertheless, all the bands are up-and-coming groups, he said.

Ferguson, who’s also a musician, helped start the Teen Rock Shows at the community center because he knows the importance of a place to play for new groups, he said.

It’s grown quickly from the very beginning, Ferguson said. "Bands have such a network. They know so many different bands, and those bands know bands, and those bands know bands and before you know it, you have 200 bands that want to play."

Ferguson said that the venue is already booked through May and part of June.

"We’re compared a lot to the Cobalt Cafe in Canoga Park," Ferguson said. Both sites are for diverse age groups. "I think we’re two of the only places that are all-ages venues in the area," Ferguson added.

An average of 100 to 200 youngsters attend the Teen Rock Shows, Ferguson said. The size of the audience often depends on the fan base of the bands, he said. The number of guests also depends on whether the bands are local or from out of town.

"At first there were a lot of local bands that were playing here, but now we’re reaching out to other bands," Ferguson said. Unfortunately, bands from other areas don’t bring as many fans, he said. Bands can set up merchandise tables to promote themselves.

"They have shirts, CDs, buttons and mailing lists, and that’s how they make a lot of their money," Ferguson said. "They also make money from us because we pay the bands when they come to play. For the first 50 people that come to watch (a particular band), the band gets a dollar a head. And then for the next 50 people, the band will get $2 a head. We also have a record (for the band that attracts the most guests)—a top 10 list. If you break the record, you get a $150 bonus. Some bands have walked out with $300 to $400."

Ferguson said that the Teen Rock Shows have repeatedly proven that performing at the community center is a win-win-win situation.

"The bands love it because they’re playing for their fans, having a good time, they’re getting better and they get paid," Ferguson said. "The fans love it because they get to see their friends on stage. We love it because the shows are supervised and the kids are off the streets and aren’t out drinking."

The cost to see the shows is $6. Proceeds go toward the community center’s after-school program for middle school students. About 60 to 75 kids participate in the program every weekday after school, according to Ferguson.

Bands can also rent the Teen Rock Show venue to put on their own shows, Ferguson said. Call the community center for more information.