Future of event appears to be secure

The show will go on in a new location.
By JOHN BENSON
vindicator correspondent
CLEVELAND -- With Belkin Productions' recent announcement regarding the closing of its Odeon Concert Club, many Mountain Dew MDX High School Rock Off bands and supporters are wondering what the future will hold for the popular annual event.
"We plan on continuing it," said Barry Gavel, Belkin Productions senior vice president for marketing and promotions. "It's just too cool not to do it. When we started the Rock Off we wanted to try to identify and cultivate young talent, but the intention also was to book The Odeon during a time period where it was very slow. In January, a lot of bands don't go on the road. And we still had the light bill to pay so we thought this was a great way to bring people down to The Odeon."
In addition to changing locations -- Gabel mentioned the Cleveland Agora as a possibility -- it's quite possible Belkin Productions could schedule the event later in the year. Without such Odeon budgetary constraints, Gabel hinted a late spring event, perhaps to coincide with the end of the school year and graduation time, held at Belkin's Tower City Amphitheater is receiving serious consideration.
"There's a lot of different places to do this event," Gabel said. "The bottom line is that it will continue because the demand is definitely there."
The Off began in 1997 with 32 bands -- which is the exact number of entries Belkin received -- rocking out on The Odeon Concert Club stage. During that time, more than 700 bands have performed for an estimated 70,000 audience members.
Great outlet
Early on, Gabel sensed the Rock Off would be a success.
"When you go to high school, you have the debate team, you have sports, and there are a lot of different outlets," Gabel said. " And yeah, there is the high school band, but there ain't nothing like cranking it up in the garage. But then what can you do? You can play at the high school dance or a church, but to play on stage at a place like The Odeon or to be able to win a prize where you can actually open up for a national act, there is really nothing like that locally."
It is this same sentiment that continues to make the Rock Off an eagerly anticipated event for many Northeast Ohio teens with dreams of rock'n'roll stardom.
"The best part of the Rock Off to me is it really gets these kids to think about a professional atmosphere," Gabel said. "And not necessarily making it as a rock star but what it takes to be more of a professional musician -- learning to book yourself, learning to make sure you can sell tickets, learning how to put together a press kit. Basically, it's a party and it's fun, but it really does give them that platform of getting as close to being in a professional atmosphere as you can get in high school."