Music in the Streets - An Adventure Series with a Happy Ending

There’s always SOMETHING with this project. It’s always an adventure, but only behind the scenes. Come the day of the event, everything is absolutely fabulous. But there’s always SOMETHING.

2015 - first ever Music in the Streets in Baia Mare. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know if there were any problems that year.

2016 - my first MitS - everything was acoustic and unplugged. We didn’t even have mics. But for me, that was the moment I finally let go of my ‘stage’ fright (street = no stage = no stage fright ;) ) and then I joined DEIS. Back then, I was just a participant, a beneficiary, not one of the direct organisers.

2017 - due to a delicate situation, the boys were temporarily kicked out of DEIS and I was left in charge of the entire event - find musicians, rehearse songs with them, convince Diana to bring the boys back. That was when I started working with Jeanine. Also the power went down for a few minutes mid-show.

2018 - Baia Mare was the Romanian Youth Capital and we had zero budget. We found some sponsors and collaborators, and we pulled it through.

2019 - bad timing, we barely had any audience (except for the final show when we managed to gather a handful of people).

2020 - nothing. Covid.

2021 - first London edition - zero budget, Tom had Covid so J and I had to improvise the workshops, some of the artists couldn’t attend the final show, so the day before J and I were desperately messaging people.

2022 - first ever indoor edition. It was the first time when the forecast scared us properly. Plus… let me tell you a story.

In May we applied for funding from the Arts Council. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful. Their feedback was that although they loved our project, the application was too focused on the workshops and it didn’t have enough detail about the public events and engagement (which is, really, what they’re interested in as funders). Fair enough, we’ll know better next time. PONT Group & András Farkas to the rescue (we can’t thank you enough!). Show must go on.

About a month ago, J and I started the proper planning process. Budgeting, creating marketing materials, organising the event with artFix. Can we do it in front of artFix? Yes. We can even do it in the actual Market! More space, more people, more promo, more visibility. Excellent. Let’s get the marketing going. Last week we got a message - we can’t do it in front of artFix or inside the Market because there’s another event happening with live music so the sound would clash. I will not get into detail about this, but I will say that a group of young people is more organised than the management of a (I’d say) prestigious location… No problem, we can try the Cutty Sark area… but we can’t because another event is happening there (that didn’t actually happen) so we can’t get a licence for it. Well, thanks to artFix and Eduardo, we improvised and did it indoors. With the door wide open and 30 people listening from the street outside + 20 people inside. Show did go on.

All of this was happening behind the scenes. If I weren’t myself with my passion to share all of my experiences, you wouldn’t have known it. DEIS’s motto is KEEP ON GOING and that’s what we do. The sky would have to crumble for us to cancel an event. If there’s a will, there’s a way. Every problem has a solution. And somehow, on the day of the event, everything just works amazingly.

When you see these young musicians performing - some for the 100th time, others for the first time ever - you know that it was all worth it. Those smiles. Those honest thank-you-s. That emotion. I don’t even care that my stomach was upside down for a couple of days or that I lost sleep due to stress. It was all worth it especially because I know what it’s like being in the participants’ shoes. Been there, done that and I’m all about creating that opportunity for others. That’s why DEIS UK exists. That’s why I’m a youth worker. My mission is to pass on what I learn, understand, and do.

While there was Music in the Streets of London, in Baia Mare there was Sounds Like Summer with over 400 people gathered in front of the Youth Centre for a day of games and concerts. It wasn’t planned that way - we chose our days separately and then laughed when we realised what was happening. DEIS is in sync all over the world, apparently.

I don’t think that too many adults understand how important these events are for young people. Yesterday someone felt the satisfaction of being part of a successful event for the first time. Yesterday someone got up on the stage for the first time. Those are two of the most beautiful feelings I’ve ever experienced. At the end of the first Sounds Like Summer, in 2018, I realised that I want to take DEIS with me wherever I go. It’s there, in my article. These are moments that help young people find their way. Nothing compares to experiential learning and discovery. Unfortunately, there are not enough opportunities and not enough funding to create them. But, you know, if there’s a will, there’s a way and all of that. We’ll Keep On Going.

All in all, yesterday was an absolute success. At peak, we probably had over 50 people inside and outside. The musicians loved every moment of it. I’ve got to say a massive THANK YOU to Jeanine and Tom for being amazing and making this event super professional. Gotta say I’m really excited for the future.