What happens at an INTRA gig?
INTRA events feature live music played by young musicians connected to Camden. Our events are very community orientated and we welcome and encourage friends and family to come and support.
At open mics, showcase and festivals, many bands perform - usually one or two songs. At residency gigs bands have the opportunity to perform longer sets and at jam sessions, the house band will perform first and then invite audience members to join them on stage.
Whilst we work with professional sound engineers, the music may be loud. Earplugs will be available for anybody who would like them. We use stage lighting which may contain flashing lights and different colours. As with most band events, there will be very little seating and audience members stand to watch the performances
How do I sign up if I want to play?
For each event INTRA sends out an email to the parents/guardians representing all registered bands asking if the group would like to play. Parents/guardians need to respond to let us know that the band they are representing would like to play so the band can be added to the line up. All events have a limited number of slots and we generally work on a first come, first served basis. Follwoing this, all parents/guardians of participating perfomers will be sent a request to fill out our Event Permission form.
If you are new to INTRA events, all members of the group will need to sign up to INTRA first. Once everybody is registered, the band will be included in the invitation to play emails.
The forms to sign up and give permission can be found on our sign up page.
How do I know if I'm on the bill for an event?
We want all musicians who play INTRA events to have a great time and our event experiences are tiered ranging from acoustic jams and sharing sessions to open mics and showcase events. In advance of our events we send out comms to parents and guardians and also publish flyers on our online accounts. Our open mic events are open to all musicians in or connected to Camden and slots are granted on a first come basis. Showcase events are curated and spaces are usually offered to groups who have tried out material in our open mics and are ready for bigger stages.
For all performance events, permission will be required from parents or guardians and correspondence will be sent confirming participation
I'm playing, how do I know what is going on?
For each event we prepare an information document. This includes all timings, event information and more and is sent out to the parent/guardian signing up in advance of the event and is listed next to the event on our dates page
Performers do not need tickets as they sign up separately (visit the sign up page here). All parents, guardians and other audience members do need tickets
The ticket link can be found via our site here
Do I need to have a parent or guardian with me?
All under 18s, including performers, must be accompanied by a responsible adult (see below) at all times including soundcheck (a responsible adult can be responsible for up to 8 under 18s and does not have to be the parent of the young person). For a band to perform, all members must be signed up in advance by the parent or guardian of the performer via our sign up form
What does responsible adult mean?
A responsible adult must be a parent or guardian (not someone who has just turned 18). You will be responsible and the point of contact for anybody you have signed in for the duration of the event. This includes medical problems or issues with behaviour.
After sign in, you will need to remain at the venue and be available until all the U18s you have elected to be responsible for have left. If, for any reason, you need to leave, another responsible adult will need to be found to take over your role.
Will there be anybody there to help me?
Yes. The INTRA team and volunteers will be on hand to help you be ready to go on stage and can help with tuning, plugging in and any equipment adjustments
Do I need to bring my own instrument?
INTRA will generally supply a full backline and instruments. This includes a drum kit (including breakables), two guitar amps, bass amp, keyboard, two electric guitars, one acoustic guitar, a bass guitar, PA at the venue and assorted microphones.
If you would prefer to play your own guitar this is fine and you can bring this with you
What is a soundcheck and do I need to be there for it?
Soundcheck is a time for the sound engineer to check that the equipment is set up properly and test each instrument. In soundcheck a band can set up levels for their performance and work with the sound engineer to get a great sound. It is not a time to rehearse.
At an open mic or multi band event, it will not be possible to soundcheck every band. In advance of the event, we will invite one or two bands to soundcheck. The bands chosen will generally be the ones with the most instruments as this is most useful for the engineer to check everything. All other bands will have a brief line check before performing to check everything is working
When do I need to get to the gig?
All timings for INTRA events will be sent out in advance to the parent or guardian who signed up. We publish a 'doors' time and this is when the event will be open to the public. Please do not turn up before this time unless you are involved in the running of the event or have been invited to soundcheck
Do I have to stay for the whole event?
How long you stay is entirely up to you however we encourage all our bands to support each other. If a fellow performer cheers you on from the audience, please return the gesture. It's fun!
Can I bring food and drink into the venue?
Please do not bring food or drinks into the venues we work with. Both will be available at the bar and we can support our venues by buying food and drink from them. Bags will be checked on entry.
You may bring a water bottle
Where do I leave my stuff?
We have an area to the side of the stage where guitars can be unpacked and put in the rack ready for the performance. For bigger events, we may be able to offer a cloak room service.
All attendees are responsible for their belongings
Can I take photos and videos?
We understand that you may want to film or photograph your child’s or friend's performance. Please seek permission from the parents or guardians of other performers in the group before you do. Photographs and footage must not be shared on social media without consent. If you are unhappy or worried about someone taking a picture without consent, please alert a member of the INTRA team as soon as possible at the event
Photographs and footage will be taken throughout the event by INTRA volunteers and representatives. These may be used by INTRA for marketing and publicity on our website, on social media and for grant applications. For all other questions about photos and videos, please refer to the relevant INTRA Policies
We strive to make all our events inclusive for all performers and audience members. This includes considerations around access to the building, quiet areas and access to seating as standard. We work in a wide range of venues and unfortunately, due to the nature of some spaces, this is not always possible. If you would like to know more about a specific venue and the venue does not list information on their website, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing info@intramusic.org
