2026 CCFY - Backstage

Backstage is a workshop that exposes young adults to wisdom, knowledge, techniques, and skills that are valuable to building one’s career in the music industry. It is perfect for those who prefer to work behind the scenes as well as performers interested in learning production and booking & promotion basics. Topics covered include booking and promoting shows, knowing your sound and lighting needs, creating a stage plot, social media and marketing.

PROGRAM FOR AGES

11- 18

DATES/ TIMES: 

• Mon, Nov 23, 2026 | 11AM - 4PM

• Tues, Nov 24, 2026 | 11AM - 4PM

TEACHING ARTIST:

Arthur (Trey) Carlisle | EMCEE P.O.E.T.R.E.Y

Brianna Nicola | Bree Soul

Todd Mack

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Students are required to attend all classes in the series.

• Students will be asked to provide daily check ins/evaluations.

• Light snacks will be provided.

• Supplies will be provided.

WHAT TO BRING

• Students will need to bring a packed lunch each day to the program (Required).

• Students are also invited (but not required), to bring the following items to the program:

  • Composition notebook (for writing and drawing)

  • Writing utensils (pencils or pens)

**After Registering Parents/Guardians will be contacted via email in order to complete required paperwork and receive important updates.

ABOUT THE CLASSES / WORKSHOPS

The activities in the “Backstage” workshops are curated to help participants gain knowledge, wisdom, and skills in booking, marketing, producing, and touring shows as an artist or in the music industry.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Students will -

• Learn foundational principles and skills in booking, touring, promotion, and sound, light, and tech design for shows.

• Learn best practices when it comes to booking, marketing, and producing shows, as well as touring as an artist.

• Practice routing and managing a tour (mock simulation)

• Practice booking and marketing a show (mock simulation)

• Practice producing a show (sound, tech, and lighting) in partnership with a venue (mock simulation)

• Practice troubleshooting and problem solving for potential challenges that may arise when booking, marketing, and producing shows, as well as when touring as an artist. 

ABOUT THE TEACHING ARTIST

Music in Common (MIC), a band and nonprofit that strengthens, empowers, and connects communities through the universal language of music. For 21 years, MIC has traveled the globe curating experiences for people across social divides to find common ground through facilitated conversation and music. Grounded in two foundational principles --- it is hard to hate up close and music can change the world --- MIC programs and projects have directly served more than 100,000 people in over 400 communities worldwide.

Behind every great artist and excellent performance is a great song. This workshop teaches the basics of songwriting. Topics covered include: Song structure. Hooks, riffs, and melodies.

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Arthur (Trey) Carlisle | EMCEE P.O.E.T.R.E.Y

EMCEE P.O.E.T.R.E.Y uses the power of storytelling and song to be a voice of hope and healing for our generation. A spoken word artist, singer-songwriter, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist, Trey Carlisle aka EMCEE P.O.E.T.R.E.Y is a "Neo Griot." His calling is telling stories to help others heal, thrive, and honor our shared humanity and planet. Trey is the Program Director for Music in Common (MIC), a nonprofit that curates experiences for people across social divides to find common ground through music and facilitated conversations. He is a youth alumnus who came up through the ranks from program participant in 2016 to program director and a lead facilitator trained in MIC's unique methodology. A 2020 Fulbright Award recipient, devoted “artivist” (artist+activist), and 2020 graduate of Soka University, his widening leadership role within MIC has led to the development of new programs, including the Black Legacy Project.

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Brianna Nicola | Bree Soul

Bree Nicola is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from the Berkshires and a graduate of Rider University, where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre. Raised on the stage, Bree’s roots in musical theatre have shaped her dynamic storytelling and performance style. Since 2018, she has been an active member of Music in Common, using music as a platform to advocate for equality and social change, and is now honored to join the organization’s administration as Community Engagement Coordinator. Blending artistry with activism, Bree is dedicated to creating work that resonates beyond the stage.

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Todd Mack

For more than 40 years, singer-songwriter Todd Mack has voyaged the road less traveled. His musical endeavors have taken him all over the world, performing in some unexpected places. The famed Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club, a bomb shelter in Israel, a remote island in Fiji, an olive grove in the West Bank, and the Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan are just a few of the places Mack has made music. A classically trained musician beginning at eight years old, his life changed when he picked up his first guitar a few years later. He began writing almost immediately. His professional journey began in 1989 with his self-titled debut followed by a decade of full-time touring and six subsequent releases through 2011. 

To date, Mack has released eight albums. In 2025, he released the powerful single, “Floyd”, on the five year anniversary of George Floyd's murder and I'm Gonna Love You No Matter What, his first full length album in 14 long years. 

REGISTRATION

Guardians please note you can only sign up 1 student at a time. For those signing up for multiple students you will need to complete a separate registration/payment for each student.

**After Registering Parents/Guardians will be contacted via email in order to complete required paperwork and receive important updates.