Creating truly family-friendly festivals often means highlighting young talent. Many events around the world invite children’s choirs, school orchestras, and youth ensembles to perform – but all too often these acts are treated as token filler. Seasoned festival organisers know that giving youth performers the same professional treatment as any headliner is not just kind – it’s a smart investment in the festival’s future. By ensuring production parity for youth acts – from real sound checks and proper staging to thoughtful scheduling and respectful presentation – festivals can elevate the experience for both the young performers and the audience. The goal is simple: treat a children’s choir or teen band like the stars of their hour, not a sideshow.
Why Production Parity for Youth Acts Matters
Inviting youth acts isn’t only a community goodwill gesture; it’s cultivating the next generation of artists and audiences. When a festival gives a school choir or teenage rock band a proper stage experience, it sends a powerful message to everyone: these young performers matter. This confidence and respect can ignite lifelong passion. For example, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – famed for big-name artists – has long featured local high school gospel choirs in its lineup (www.africanews.com). Students describe the pride they feel showcasing their talent on a serious stage, noting how rare and special such opportunities are (www.africanews.com). By treating a youth ensemble as a real artist, festivals honor their efforts and inspire them to keep pursuing music.
There’s also a practical benefit: better performances and happier crowds. If kids and teens on stage can hear themselves and feel supported, they perform at their best. The audience, in turn, gets a quality show rather than an awkward moment to “endure.” A well-produced youth set can become a delightful highlight of a family-friendly festival, leaving attendees impressed by the young talent instead of disappointed by technical hiccups. In short, giving young acts parity in production values isn’t charity – it’s ensuring the festival delivers consistent quality at every level.
Professional Sound Checks, Monitors, and Risers
One of the biggest mistakes an event organiser can make is to short-change young performers on the technical side. Always allocate a real sound check for youth acts – not just a hurried 2-minute line check. These performers are often inexperienced with live sound, so they need time to get comfortable on stage. Schedule them a dedicated sound check slot (even if early in the morning or the day before) so they can run through a song or two, adjust monitor levels, and understand the stage setup. It might be their first time experiencing foldback monitors or in-ear monitors, and it’s crucial they learn to ask for adjustments. A rushed sound check (or none at all) will leave them struggling during the show. As one sound engineer learned after a student concert, having insufficient monitors on stage led to students complaining they “couldn’t hear themselves” only after the performance (www.prosoundweb.com) – by then it was too late. The lesson: give youth performers the same thorough monitor check you’d give a headliner.
Equip the stage properly for these acts. If it’s a children’s choir or any group with multiple rows of performers, provide risers so that every child is visible and can project. Young singers are usually shorter than adult performers; without risers, half the choir might be hidden from the audience (and microphones). Sturdy, safe choral risers or portable stage platforms work well – make sure to have guard rails if needed, and allow extra time to set these up. Put mics on adjustable stands suitable for kids’ heights, and consider using more microphones than you would for an adult choir to capture quieter voices. For youth bands, ensure the drum kit and amps are appropriate in size and volume (e.g. a smaller drum set or controlled volume for teen drummers if necessary). Safety and comfort are key: taping down cables so no one trips, providing non-slip mats if children will be moving or dancing, and having water on stage for them.
Don’t forget stage monitors for all youth acts, even choirs. Young vocalists often rely on hearing the piano or backing track clearly, and if they can’t hear themselves or the music, the performance can fall apart. Set up floor wedges or sidefills and do a monitor sound check where the kids actually say if they hear everything (they may need prompting to speak up). Sometimes children are shy to ask for changes, so have the monitor engineer or music director actively check with each section (“Can you hear the piano? Do you need more voice in the monitor?”). By delivering a balanced monitor mix, you empower them to sing confidently in tune and in time. The audience will notice the difference in quality when a choir is well-amplified and balanced, rather than barely audible or screechy from feedback due to last-minute settings.
In short, approach the technical production for a youth act exactly as you would for a professional artist. Use a proper stage plot and input list (liaise with the school’s music director beforehand to get their needs). Mic them up properly, ring out the monitors for feedback, and run a full sound rehearsal if possible. These extra efforts pay off in a smoother show. Plus, you’ll educate the young performers on how professional events run – a bonus learning experience for them. Many major festivals do this as standard when including young groups. For instance, at Lollapalooza’s Kidzapalooza stage, student bands from the School of Rock get full sets with professional backline and tech support, just like any other act. The result is teens playing rock classics on stage with confidence, rather than fumbling with gear.
Framing Youth Performers as Stars, Not Fillers
How you introduce and present young acts can make a world of difference. Train your emcees and stage hosts to frame youth ensembles as headliners of their slot – not as an intermission or a novelty act. The language and energy the MC uses will set audience expectations. Instead of a lukewarm “While we set up for the next big band, here are some kids from the local school…”, treat the moment like a highlight: for that group and their supporters, this is the main event. A great MC announcement might sound like: “Ladies and gentlemen, please give a huge welcome to the [Name of School] Youth Orchestra, bringing their amazing talent to our stage! These young stars have been practicing hard to dazzle you – let’s hear it for them!” Such an introduction primes the crowd to pay attention and cheer, rather than continue snacking or wandering around.
Brief your MC beforehand with a few noteworthy points about the group. For example, if the children’s choir won a regional competition or traveled a long way to be here, mention it to build respect. Tell the MC to lead applause for the conductor or bandleader as they come on. During the set, the host can stand sidestage and be ready to boost the audience’s energy if needed (sometimes a crowd might need encouragement to clap along or respond, especially if they’re not sure how to engage with a youth performance). And when the performance finishes, a professional outro is important too: thank the young performers enthusiastically, perhaps even mention that “we’ll be seeing some of them on our main stages in years to come, no doubt”. This underscores that the festival values their contribution.
Also, treat the billing seriously in your marketing and schedules. List the youth acts by name in the program, on the website, and on signage, just like other artists (maybe with an asterisk noting they are a school or youth act, if needed). Avoid last-minute schedule shuffles that bump the kids to an earlier slot or lesser stage without good reason – that sends a message that they’re not important. If a young ensemble is slated to play at 2 PM on the Family Stage, make sure that’s clearly communicated and honour that time. Their friends, family, and teachers will plan around that schedule. Nothing is worse than a group of proud parents arriving to find their kids went on early to fill a gap and nobody was there to watch. Respecting their slot means respecting them.
By elevating the status of youth performers, you also enrich the audience experience. Festival-goers who might otherwise dismiss a “school performance” could be pleasantly surprised when it’s promoted as a must-see event of the hour. It changes the psychology: people will come over and watch if they sense it’s special. And indeed, when treated professionally, these young acts often rise to the occasion and deliver truly engaging sets.
Smart Scheduling and Family Zones
Placing youth performances in the right context within your festival schedule makes a huge difference in turnout and atmosphere. A savvy organiser will schedule youth acts during family-friendly time slots – typically late morning or early afternoon on weekends, when parents and children are most likely to be present. Avoid very late-night slots (obviously, young kids can’t perform at midnight) and slots that conflict with headline acts on other stages. Give them a window when they can reasonably gather a crowd and not be drowned out by a massive rock band on the main stage next door.
If your festival has a designated family area or kids’ zone, consider staging the youth performances right nearby. Many large festivals do this to naturally concentrate an interested audience. For example, Lollapalooza in Chicago has the “Kidzapalooza” stage nestled in a family-friendly zone, which attracts young fans and their parents for daytime shows (chicago.suntimes.com). Within this haven, kids can enjoy interactive activities and then watch peers perform – it’s an “all ages” safe space amidst the larger event. Smaller festivals can emulate this by setting up a family lounge or picnic area adjacent to a community stage. Put out some seating, shade, or picnic tables, so families can comfortably gather. Then schedule the children’s choir or youth band set right there, perhaps sandwiched between other kid-friendly programming (like a puppet show or an all-ages dance workshop). This way, you’re essentially delivering the audience to the performers’ doorstep.
Clustering youth acts back-to-back can also help build momentum. If you have multiple school groups, a “Youth Hour” on one stage may hold the crowd better than one 15-minute slot here and another much later there. People who come to see one group will likely stay to watch the next if it’s on the same stage soon after – especially if they’re already in the family area and enjoying the vibe. This creates a mini-event within your event, which can be a selling point: advertise it as “2 PM – 4 PM: Youth Showcase” so attendees know to come support the young talent.
Also plan the logistics: ensure there’s enough turnaround time for these groups to set up and exit. Youth ensembles might take longer to get on/off stage (imagine wrangling 30 excited kids with instruments). Have extra stagehands or volunteers to help move music stands, plug in gear, etc. It’s wise to schedule a slightly longer changeover after a big youth performance to accommodate the chaos of clearing lots of people and equipment offstage and returning things to normal. This buffer keeps the festival on time and avoids putting pressure on the kids to rush.
Lastly, consider day-of communications: use your festival app or announce on PA that “the next show at the Family Stage is starting in 10 minutes” to draw folks who are nearby. Families often appreciate these reminders since they might be distracted by other attractions. By smartly scheduling and placing youth acts, you maximize their audience and impact – ensuring these young performers aren’t singing to an empty field, but to a crowd that’s eager to listen.
Logistics and Support for Young Performers
Having minors perform at your festival introduces some additional logistical considerations. It’s vital to handle these details with care – both for the children’s safety and to show professionalism towards their guardians and school leaders.
Coordinate in advance with the group’s organisers (school teachers, choir directors, or parents’ committee). Confirm how many performers and chaperones will attend, and arrange appropriate entry passes or wristbands for them. Consider offering a few extra guest passes for parents who are not official chaperones but want to watch – a family-friendly festival should welcome the families of the performers! Ensure someone meets the group at the gate when they arrive. Getting a large group of kids through security and check-in can take time; assign a volunteer or staff member to expedite this process and guide them to the backstage or waiting area.
Backstage, set up a comfortable, safe holding area for youth acts. This might be a backstage tent or a corner of a green room that’s alcohol-free and secure. Stock it with water, perhaps some light snacks, and make sure there are sufficient chairs or floor space for kids to sit while waiting. If you have multiple youth groups in succession, try to have separate spaces or schedule them so that one group is not disrupting another. Always enforce that a responsible adult (teacher or parent) is present with the minors at all times backstage – festival staff should not be solely responsible for supervising someone else’s children.
Safety is paramount. If your festival has any pyrotechnics, hazers, or other effects on stage, obviously avoid using these for youth performances unless cleared and absolutely safe. The same goes for volume levels – blasting stage sound at levels that might be fine for hardened touring musicians could overwhelm a children’s ensemble. Work with your audio team to keep monitoring levels comfortable and use hearing protection for the young performers if needed (some groups bring child-sized earplugs). Also, consider stage access: provide stable steps for kids to climb onto high stages, and have crew members assist any little ones with heavy instruments or gear.
Another consideration is photo/video permissions. Check with the school or group leader about whether all children have media release permissions. Many schools will have forms signed by parents for this sort of event. Make sure you know if there are any kids who cannot be photographed or named, and brief your festival photographer accordingly. On the flip side, if parents are in attendance, expect that they’ll want to crowd near the front to take their own photos or videos of their child’s big moment. Accommodate this kindly – perhaps reserve a small section at the front or side of the stage for “parents’ photography” and announce it, so parents don’t block the view for general attendees but still get their snapshot. These small gestures show that you respect the families and want everyone to have a positive experience.
Finally, plan the load-in and load-out for things like instruments or costumes. School groups might arrive by bus with large instrument cases, music stands, etc. Allow their bus to access a close drop-off point if possible. Arrange volunteers to help unload and carry equipment to the stage. After the performance, those same items need to get back to the bus—make a plan so it’s not chaotic (maybe the group can leave heavy gear in a secure spot during the festival and pick it up later when the crowd thins out). The smoother you make these logistics, the more likely the teachers and parents will want to return in future years.
Capturing the Moment: Audio and Photography
For many of these young performers, playing at a festival is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. By capturing high-quality recordings and photos of their performance, you provide them and their schools something to cherish – and you generate great content for your festival’s story as well.
If possible, arrange to record the audio from the mixing desk during the youth acts. Even a simple stereo board mix or a USB stick recording can do the job. The sound might not be studio-perfect, but it will be far cleaner than a cellphone video taken from the crowd. This audio can be sent to the choir director or band leader afterward. Imagine the music teacher being able to play back the festival performance for the class, or a proud parent listening at home – it’s priceless. It also shows that the festival cared enough to invest resources in the kids’ set. (Be sure to get permission if needed; usually schools and parents will be thrilled, but double-check if any licensing issues exist for songs performed, especially if you plan to share the audio publicly.)
Likewise, get professional photos of the youth performances. Brief your festival photographers to treat the school ensemble’s set with the same importance as a main stage act. They should capture a variety of shots: wide shots of the whole group on stage (especially if the festival backdrop or banner is visible – great for the school’s trophy case!), close-ups of individual kids singing or playing instruments passionately, and crowd reaction shots if the audience is engaged. After the festival, send these photos to the school or group with a nice thank-you note. Not only will the kids and parents share them all over social media (great organic promotion for your festival), but you might also get local press mileage – a local newspaper loves a feel-good story of “Town Youth Choir Shines at Major Festival” accompanied by a great photo.
Some festivals even facilitate video recordings. If you have a video crew or multi-cam setup for bigger acts, consider at least one static cam for the youth stage or a roaming camera to grab a few clips of the kids. A short highlights reel of the youth performances can be wonderful post-event content. (Again, ensure you have parental consent for any minors appearing on video that you’ll publish).
When capturing these moments, focus on positivity. Show the beaming smiles, the concentration on the young drummer’s face, the proud conductor giving a cue. These images and sounds will likely end up in school yearbooks, community newsletters, and definitely in lots of personal scrapbooks. By documenting it professionally, you elevate the whole experience from “just a school gig” to something of lasting significance. In turn, this builds goodwill – the schools will speak highly of the festival, and those kids will forever associate your event with a formative achievement.
Respect and Inspiration: Fostering Future Artists
At the heart of production parity for youth ensembles is a simple principle: respect creates future artists. Today’s timid 12-year-old who sings in the festival’s afternoon slot could be tomorrow’s chart-topping headliner – if we nurture their love for performance now. When young performers are treated with dignity and given the tools to succeed, they often respond with incredible poise and talent. They also carry with them an enduring confidence. Festivals around the world have seen this firsthand.
For instance, Lollapalooza’s Kidzapalooza program has been running for years, and in that time over 200 students from the School of Rock have performed on the kids’ stage – some of whom later returned as adult artists on Lollapalooza’s main stages (chicago.suntimes.com). That is a concrete example of a pipeline from respectful youth showcases to professional musical careers. In the jazz world, Monterey Jazz Festival’s commitment to youth education (with its Next Generation Jazz Orchestra of high school all-stars) has similarly produced alumni who go on to grace the festival as grown-up artists (montereyjazz.org). And in the UK, the prestigious BBC Proms created a Youth Choir specifically to give young singers the chance to perform at Royal Albert Hall with world-class orchestras, underscoring a “commitment to nurturing new talent” at the highest level (www.bbc.co.uk).
Even if not every child performer pursues music long-term, the respect and care you invest in them yields other benefits. You’re building enthusiastic supporters of live music. Those kids will never forget that the festival valued them – they’ll likely become loyal festival-goers, volunteers, or community ambassadors down the line. Their parents and schools become advocates for your event, noting how well-organised and positive the experience was. It’s incredible PR and deeply human outreach all in one.
On the flip side, if youth acts are treated as an afterthought – no sound check, poor sound, a disinterested intro, or a sparse audience stuck in a corner – the impact can be discouraging. Children notice when they’re not taken seriously. A bad on-stage experience might make them shy away from performing again. And parents will certainly notice a lack of professionalism and may voice that criticism locally. A festival that drops the ball here can tarnish its community-friendly image.
By ensuring production parity, you’re saying every performer matters. That ethos permeates the festival and elevates its cultural value. Audiences are touched by seeing a community children’s choir given a standing ovation at a major festival. It reminds everyone why we love live events – they bring people of all ages together in shared joy and discovery. When a youngster hits a high note and the crowd erupts in applause, you might be witnessing the birth of an artist’s dream. As an organiser, facilitating that moment is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
In summary, treat the kid performers like the stars they are – with real effort, professional support, and heartfelt respect – and you’ll not only put on a great family-friendly show, you’ll help seed the music world with empowered new talent for years to come.
Key Takeaways
- Give Youth Acts Full Production Support: Always provide proper sound checks, monitor mixes, stage risers, and pro-level equipment for children’s choirs and youth bands. They should have everything an adult act would have, tailored to their needs.
- Present Them as Stars: Train MCs to introduce and treat young performers as headliners of their time slot. Build excitement and recognition for their hard work, instead of downplaying them as “filler.”
- Strategic Scheduling: Schedule youth performances during family-friendly daytime hours and near family activity areas or lounges. This concentrates an appreciative audience and ensures kids perform to a crowd, not an empty field.
- Document the Performance: Record good audio and take professional photos of the youth acts. Share these with schools and parents – it’s a valuable keepsake for them and great promotional material for your festival’s community engagement.
- Support and Safety: Plan logistics for child performers – from easy check-in and supervised backstage areas to safe staging (no hazards) and assistance with gear. Make the experience smooth and memorable for both the kids and their chaperones.
- Respect Breeds Future Talent: Remember that treating young performers with respect and professionalism can inspire them to continue in music. Many major artists started out on small community stages. By nurturing youth now, you invest in the future of your festival and the industry.
25th August 2025