The Basics So, you want to make like Ronnie, Claude, and Fleur and throw your own "Blackwell Live" concert, but you don't know where to start? We've got some of the basics down to help you get organized, get it by your parents, and hopefully save you a few headaches. Pick a Location Decide where you'd like to have your concert. Some good places to start are your backyard, your school, a local park or a local hall (Elks, VFW, etc.). If you decide to do it in your backyard, check with your parents, or if you want have the concert at another location, check with the person in charge there. The best advice is to follow Claude from LBD's lead and get all your information in order first: what time would the show be, how long would it last, how many people you expect. Also, scary though it might be, you should call your local police station and ask about any local noise ordinances and permits you might need. You wouldn't want the police shutting down your show half-way through. Pick the Bands You may already have friends in bands or groups, or you may want to hold auditions like the LBD girls, but decide beforehand how many bands you want to play, and if they should provide their own PA systems. A PA (public address) system is basically the speakers the bands would play through. Most clubs provide some of this for concerts, but since you're doing it yourself, make sure at least one band has speakers they don't mind everyone using. You can also rent these systems from some music shops, but it can be expensive. Promote Your Show You've got to let people know about your big event, but how? We've created a flyer you can download, add your information to, and post at your school, the mall and local CD stores. You can also call local radio stations and newspapers and let them know about your show, as well as posting about it on local oriented websites. Downloads