I’m involved with a community youth project that runs live music events for teenagers; typically, half a dozen teenage bands/singers (mostly rock) will each play a short set; then there’s a fifteen-minute interval while the next band sets up - each band is interviewed in ‘the green room’ and this is relayed to a big screen by the main stage. Between 250 and 300 young people are in attendance.
The event is run by a branch of the Anglican Church, but this isn’t an cycnical attempt to win converts; it’s very much an attempt to provide something meaningful and worthwhile to do for the young people of this particular area. There is a charity aspect to it and the profits are being directed (with very little lost through administrative overhead, I might add) to a number of worthy causes.
Interstingly, it’s also strongly supported (materially and fiancially) by the local police, because it has been recognised as a positive influence.
My job is to provide stimulation during the intervals; in the fullness of time, this will include stand-up comedy on the main stage, but for the next event, it’s going to be music and video.
I’ve got a good, entertaining selection of music videos that I plan to use; there will also be some powerpoint-type presentations covering the charity work (ranging from hard-hitting statistics, to success stories about what the money raised so far has been used for). I don’t intend for these to be too lengthy or preachy, or they lose their impact.
But there’s also a call (I think) for content that is just generally stimulating, thought-provoking, uplifting, inspiring - and it’s this that I could do with suggestions on. I’m thinking of things along the lines of - but obviously not the same as that ‘trust me on the sunscreen’ thing (which, although it quickly became tiresome, was pretty damn good the first time of hearing). Of course I don’t want it to be patronising either.
Any suggestions? I should probably add that, because this is a Church-sponsored initiative, traditional constraints regarding language, ethics and morality apply - I see no sense in pushing these boundaries, as it will just get me thrown off the team - I’d rather find a way to work usefully within them.