Grant Gilbert‘s Bold Flyer: High School Student Antes up $8, 000 for April 30 Concert
While many area high school seniors were basking in the southern sun during Spring Break, one senior, Traverse City Central High School’s Grant Gilbert, was at home busy keeping tabs on his $8,000 investment.See, Gilbert has a vision that the community will embrace regular entertainment events for high school students and he is willing to put his money where his mouth is.
On April 30, Gilbert is putting on “Spring Fever 2004,” a dance at the Grand Traverse Civic Center for area high school students, featuring Portland, Oregon progressive but unclassifiable rockers The Plant The and DJ Madman Mike from Detroit to mix the latest dance grooves.
While his peers are spending their money on cars and clothes, why did Gilbert -- who drives what might be classified as a beater -- decide to put $8,000 he has worked hard to save on the line for area students?
FRUSTRATIONS
“A few years ago when I turned 16, I started driving around town looking for things that my friends and I could do,” said Gilbert. “What I found was there was little for us to do except to hang out downtown or go to house parties.”
Both options proved frustrating for Gilbert and his friends. They were looking for places to dance and engage in stimulating conversation, essentially the opportunity to make the transition from adolescents to young adulthood. So Gilbert decided to do something about it.
“A couple of years ago I started thinking we needed entertainment options, I saw what they were doing at Jacobs Well and thought something on a larger scale would work. So last year in my economics class I developed a business plan for an all area high school dance. My teacher said it was a well thought out plan so I decided to implement it. However, I didn’t have enough time to launch it last year so I waited for my senior year.”
Gilbert isn’t your average teenager.
In addition to his senior classes, he is dual enrolled at Northwestern Michigan College in the M-TEC Aviation Program. In two weeks he will have his private pilot‘s license. After graduation he plans to continue in flight school in hopes of pursuing a career as a commercial pilot.
Before becoming a commercial pilot Gilbert has big plans. While his buddies will be driving their dates to prom dinners in the area, Gilbert will be flying his date to Mackinac Island for dinner before flying back in time to make the dance.
But before prom, Gilbert has a bigger dance to conquer. He expects to attract 1,500 area 15-to-19 year olds. He also expects to make his money back and maybe a little extra to put on additional events.
ON THE LINE
It must be a little scary?
“Sure it is; first of all it is costing a lot more money than I expected,” said Gilbert. “But I am learning a lot in the process. There is a lot more to this then I originally thought. It is nerve-racking at times, but I am having fun with it. Probably what I have learned the most is that it is all about contacts. Fortunately, I have made a lot of good contacts that have led to other contacts.”
It is remarkable that Gilbert finds the time for this. In addition to his studies and flight lessons he works about 30 hours a week as an intern for The Copper Press, an international music and art publication that focuses on musicians under the radar. His work for The Copper Press varies from scanning negatives, to assisting with layout, research and other administrative duties. He also receives classroom credit for his internship.
If that was not enough he is also a lifeguard at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center Pool. It was there that he hatched the idea for his dance with County Parks Director Tim Schreiner.
“Mr. Schreiner has been supportive of this concept from the beginning,” said Gilbert.
Gilbert has been finding support everywhere he has turned. Area principals and superintendents have rallied to his aid and endorsed his project.
“Every administrator I have met with has been cooperative and supportive,” said Gilbert. “That has been another learning part of the process: communication and public speaking skills were two things that I have learned a lot about during the past year. I found out both are a necessity if you want to organize a major event. I had to sell the principals on the this, the chief of police, the fire marshall, and several others to make this happen.”
Gilbert also believes that he is proving that when teenagers are entrusted with responsibilities they are capable of delivering.
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
“I am under a lot of microscopes promoting this event, from teachers, administrators to local governmental officials, not to mention students,” said Gilbert. “I hope that my success will lead to additional opportunities for student organized events in the community.”
But all that is in the future, what can participants expect at Spring Fever 2004?
“First of all it will be well supervised, I have several adult volunteers and I have hired a professional security company. Plus I have hired some police officers from the Traverse City Police Department. It is important to me that we have a safe event that is free from drugs and alcohol,” said Gilbert. “We are going to have some great music, between the band, the DJ and the light company I have hired it is going to be an unbelievable night of entertainment. We are going to have a dance contest with some pretty cool prizes.”
In addition to music and dancing there will be plenty of food and beverages. Festivities begin at 8 pm and wrap up at midnight. Tickets are available in advance for $9 via the website Gilbert created for the event at www.dwp1.com
Gilbert is also offering a special VIP pass for $15.
“These passes will allow access through a special entrance, plus pass holder will get a private backstage room to hangout and free food and pop with their VIP pass,” said Gilbert. “These passes are limited and are going quickly.”
With innovative, bright young adults like Grant Gilbert paving the way, Traverse City is destined to become one of those “Cool Cities,” the Governor keeps talking about.
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