This article is from page 33 of the 2008-04-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
GIRLS from Scoil Mhuire in En- nistymon have taken their first steps into the exciting world of the music industry by setting up music promo- tion company Bannerbeats, and win- ning their way through to the nation- al finals of the Coca Cola Blastbeat competition.
The competition, which is aimed at Transition Year students, encourages young people to set up a multi-media music management company. Each company then picks a local band to promote, with the group being pitted against each other in a battle of the bands style contest.
The girls in Bannerbeats organised a local battle of the band competition
last December, with Ennis band Mar- blechips beating off stiff competition from the likes of Robot Pirates, A Star Called Henry, Septica and Chav to become the chosen group.
Last week Marblechips won the right to represent Bannerbeats at the National Final of the Blastbeat com- petition which takes place in Dub- lin’s Tripod on May 17.
Marblechips consist of five 1’7-year- olds; David O’Sullivan on drums, Eoghan McMahen on guitar, Tim Bergain on bass, singer Mathew Ca- sey and Ivan Welaratne on guitar and synthesizer.
In order to promote the band, the transition year students first sold pro- motional CD’s to raise share capital and hosted the successful battle of
the bands in Ennistymon’s Teach Ceoil in December.
The company drew on their col- lective business social networking, teamwork, conflict management, sales and marketing skills to make the project a success.
They successfully completed tasks such as submitting a business plan and learned the ropes of event man- agement through hiring a venue, bouncers, organising sound and light equipment and selecting judges for HN eae
If successful, the band could will win a record deal plus a chance to represent Ireland at the World Wide Finals later this year. The winning promotional company will also re- ceive a cash prize worth €5,000.
Marblechips came second in the regional finals in Galway on Satur- day April 12. The national finals take place in Dublin’s Tripod on May 17.