The annual event features 13 high school rock bands performing at the Maryland Hall for Creative Arts. Traditionally, Guitar Center has provided back-line equipment - such as instruments and guitar amps - for the musicians , while the store's name was placed in event programs and on a banner.
But recently, Glen Burnie store manager Christopher Brush told event promoter Danny Mays that the store was unable to help out with Saturday's performance.
Mays, also a musician, was able to provide the equipment for the event, but used Facebook to express his displeasure with Guitar Center's decision, encouraging his friends to contact Brush.
"I don't really make a point about publicly dragging someone through the mud unless they really deserve it," said Mays, a former Battle of the Bands competitor who is now with MAYDAN Entertainment Inc. "I feel like, in this case, it was like, 'We don't really care.' "
When Brush was contacted about the story on Tuesday, he said this was "unbelievable" and then declined to comment.
About an hour later, Guitar Center regional manager Chris Magliocca called Battle of the Bands founder and director Nancy Almgren and offered the original deal to provide the equipment. But everything already had been set, so the store will provide gift cards for the top four bands instead.
Almgren said she is pleased with how things worked out.
"It was better for them than it was for us," Almgren said. "We were doing them a favor by using the equipment. They didn't do anything. We got people to put the equipment together."
The first Battle of the Bands was held in 1999, and was the result of Almgren's Leadership Anne Arundel project. The event gives high school musicians - who have already made it through preliminary competitions at their schools - a chance to put on a concert for their family and friends. Proceeds are returned to high school music programs.
In the first year of the event, Almgren and other organizers worked with the Towson branch of Guitar Center. Staffers there delivered the equipment, and also provided gifts for the winners. In subsequent years, the event has been able to use Guitar Center equipment, which made it possible for so many bands to perform in the allotted time period.
When Mays first contacted Brush about the event, Brush opted to provide a donation or a raffle instead of the equipment. Mays followed up two weeks later to confirm, but Brush said he needed more time and couldn't do it, according to Mays.
Magliocca said the whole thing was a miscommunication.
"Back-line is pretty difficult for us right now," said Magliocca, who had worked with Almgren in the early years of the event. But "we're going to provide gift cards for the winners and hopefully they'll have a good time, and be able to go out and shop."
Saturday's event will feature 13 bands performing from 5 to 11 p.m. at Maryland Hall. Last year's winners came from Severna Park, Southern and South River high schools, along with The Key School.
Battle of the Bands "is something you have to experience," Almgren said. "There's such an energy in the room, and in the whole building. You can't have 800 to 1,000 kids in a venue without feeling the energy. … You have to come see it."
Visit www.aabattle.org
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Thanks.. - 2012-01-28 08:33:24
I would also like to publicly thank Guitar Center for the gift cards they have donated to the winning bands this year. The musicians will enjoy them!
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danny mays - crofton, md - Karma: Neutral
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Oh Michael... - 2012-01-28 08:29:01
Please, man. I absolutely believe I was justified in bringing attention to this situation. Obviously, the press agreed since multiple outlets picked up the story after hearing about it online. Since you don't know all of the facts of the situation, nor are you familiar with the history of our "little experiment" (you know---the one that has become the biggest school system-sponsored rock show in the country, and raised almost $100k for school music programs), you should probably refrain from casting stones.
I believe what Nancy was getting at is that Guitar Center received a ton of publicity at the events, and a lot of parents and kids patronized their stores specifically because of their support of our program.
I'm done humoring you now...I've got work to do for the show tonight. You should come check it out before your next insidious comment on a newspaper article. Cheers.
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danny mays - crofton, md - Karma: Neutral
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Mays, Almgren - 2012-01-27 00:41:16
So, Mr. Mays - You think that you were justified in self-admittedly "dragging [Guitar Canter's] name through the mud because you didn't get your way?? Boo hoo...cry me a river.
And Ms. Almgren - are you serious with your statement that Guitar Center got more out of it than you did?? Sounds to me like you need a history lesson: your little experiment probably wouldn't have lasted long if GC hadn't loaned the instruments in the early years. You'd better look at your facts before you make insidious claims.
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Michael Calo - Glen Burnie, MD - Karma: Excellent
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