Brighton Rocks - Diamonds All

You’re regally enthroned in the Stalls of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, or chest-bumping in the mosh pit at the Roxy. Either way, you’re likely to be experiencing performances that are the end product of many years of training and honing, striving and self-sacrifice, dreams and disappointments and sweat and tears. Not to mention the sleepless nights and thankless auditions. Or the mind-bogglingly boring jobs to pay the rent and the classes. The years without holidays and tug-of-love dilemma between buying that birthday present… or eating. 

Then look a bit further. Imagine the invisible armies of teachers and mentors whose dedication and determination has moulded, inspired and brought on the talents your ticket has secured. 

And further still, at the family and friends who have supported the performers either financially or emotionally …or both.

This week I saw all this in extreme close up, when my daughter graduated from BIMM in Brighton. 

She and her cohort were going out into the world as newly-minted musicians and songwriters, singers, technicians, and event managers. As proud family and friends cheered and applauded and raised the rafters of the Dome.

The special industry guest speaker was the celebrated DJ, Producer and A&R man Mike Pickering (think Happy Mondays, James, Calvin Harris). Mike began by reminding us of just how important a part music plays, from dawn-to-dusk, in everybody’s everyday lives, and then went on to stress music’s importance to the UK economy, in terms of both its contribution to the exchequer and the tens of thousands of people employed. But he didn’t soft soap the challenges ahead. Access to the music industry is notoriously difficult. Stubbornness and self-belief (and the networks established during their studies) would be essential. I don’t think he actually used the word “bravery,” but that was foremost in my mind as the gowned and mortar-boarded young people filed up to collect their scrolls in front of their teachers, friends and families. You won’t find it actually listed in the ticket-price, but that bravery is most definitely included in the price of admission.

Respect!