>>PREVIEW
ROCKER GIRL CAMP
August 1 to 5
Cliff Bungalow Mission Centre
If you turn on the television these days, it seems all you need to become a rock star is to audition for a TV show, sing someone else’s songs and voila – superstardom! But when Rachelle van Zanten explains the music business to the 10 to 17-year-olds taking part in her Rocker Girl Camp, there is a little more to it than that.
"We touch on the difference between a grassroots band that tours their butts off and works really hard and they all play instruments," explains van Zanten, "versus the Canadian Idol that gets that one hit of stardom from television. And basically, that’s like winning the jackpot."
Hard work is the main theme of the camp, which was started by Canadian musician van Zanten last year in Edmonton when she was looking to fulfil a personal challenge. For the last 11 years, van Zanten has been a guitar player and singer-songwriter, first with rock quartet the Painting Daisies and now as a solo artist. After careful budgeting, some additional funding and a successful first run in 2005, Rocker Girl Camp has grown to sessions taking place this summer in Edmonton, Victoria and Calgary.
"I decided to create this camp that would allow young women to be rock musicians for five days," says van Zanten. "For those five days they would discover what it takes to be a professional musician. They would learn about the business, song writing, purchasing gear, learn about fixing the alternator in your touring van – everything that I and my colleagues go through being musicians."
She put out a call to her musical colleagues and soon had a full roster of talent such as Shannon Boyle, Celene Yohemas and Ellen McIlwaine, to teach sessions to the girls and provide their own experiences and insight into the music industry. Each session focuses on a different aspect of the industry and the girls are encouraged to take control of their own careers. They get practical experience on everything from designing their own press kits to creating a positive self-image in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Guest speakers such as Corb Lund and his manager offered a clear view into the realistic side of the business.
"I think it was a real eye-opener for the girls to realize how much work it took for (Lund) to go from playing the Edmonton bar scene to playing international festivals and international stages," says van Zanten. "I don’t think they really had a concept of how much labour, phone calls, schmoozing and money goes into making that happen."
Van Zanten was not prepared for but was completely inspired by the level of songwriting and musical ideas that are generated in the camps. "What’s going on in their heads in the pre-teen and teenage years – it’s a pretty crazy time and it was really cool to see them use songwriting as one of their outlets. I was hooked from then on in – they’re writing my next album!"
Rocker Girl Camp Calgary takes place from August 1 to 5 at the Cliff Bungalow Mission Community Association (2201 Cliff Street S.W.). To register in advance or get more info, visit www.rockergirlcamp.com |
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