Special to Atmore News
Prepare the stage floor, fog machine, laser lights and sound equipment – J. U. Blacksher High School is one week away from hosting a hair-raising concert! The 80s cover band The Velcro Pygmies perform at the school’s Dawg Jam ’18 concert on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m. in the school’s gym.
The band is a partner of Reach and Teach, a teaching curriculum that centers around the planning of a concert, allowing students to keep all earnings from the event. J. U. Blacksher’s Management Principles class, comprised of 14 seniors, spent nearly three months coordinating and raising funds for the concert.
“The development, preparation and execution of the concert helps the students learn the fundamentals of operating a business,” said Emily Smith, JUB Career Tech Teacher and FBLA Advisor. “During the last 11 weeks we’ve learned business principles like goal setting and budgeting, along with marketing and promotional design.”
The concert is open to members of the community and JUB students. Community tickets are $10 and student tickets are $5.
“The Velcro Pygmies play internationally, and their popularity speaks for itself,” JUB senior Hanna Boutwell said. “We were all really surprised when Mrs. Smith told us they agreed to play in Uriah, but when we saw the feedback from people all over the state wanting to get tickets to our concert we started to get very excited!”
Students acquired local sponsorships for the event. Sponsors include Harrigan Lumber Company, the Monroeville Area YMCA, Parmer Family Chiropractic, Lee Veterinary Clinic, Uriah Food Mart, Cherry Street Barbecue, Jeff Boone Service and Repair, Clark Personnel Service and Uriah Water System.
“The support from the community in advance of this event has been remarkable,” JUB Principal Donald Baggett said. “We welcome community participation in all our activities, and this one is no different. We are looking forward to seeing the students’ hard work pay off with a concert that will be a lot of fun for the kids.”
JUB senior Chase Boone admits that while learning, he saw first-hand how much goes into planning a community event. He said his management principles class enjoyed the process of helping organize the concert, but admitted, “I had no idea how much work it would be.”
The funds raised from the Dawg Jam ‘18 community concert help defray the costs of JUB students attending the regional Future Business Leaders of America leadership conference, as well as a FBLA field trip planned for Fall 2019 to Atlanta.
To reserve your tickets for Dawg Jam ’18, contact Emily Smith via email at emsmith@monroe.12.al.us.