There’s more to being in a garage band than just wailing on an instrument and bugging your parents.

Getting up in front of an audience, subjecting yourself to criticism, and coming out okay in the end, is a lifelong, valuable lesson.

For those looking at a career in the music industry, it’s one of those major hurdles to cross.

And it’s one that musician Jeff Bonner wants to make easier for local young musicians. So, he has eagerly offered the services of his multi-media studio, Tractorgrease, to the long-running Garage Bands Unite.

For the past few years, Jennifer Boldt and others have been helping out young rock musicians by creating a safe venue for them to perform in.

And for only $2, other music loving youth can come and enjoy the live music show. The shows take place about every four to six weeks, at the Lions Club Hall on Spadina.

Bands like Scantilly Clad and Odds Turned Against regularly take the stage. But between now and October, they’ll all be competing in Battle of the Bands.

Each GBU night there is a battle winner. And in November, those winners will battle it out one more time. The winner of that final night will win the opportunity to record a video, for free, at Tractorgrease.

“An electronic press kit is one of the first things a booking agent will ask for now,” Bonner says.

But putting together a professional video is beyond the reach of most young artists.

“The expense of it keep it away for most of them,” Bonner says.

The musicians will also get the experience of using a studio, working with other creative people and completing a project together.

“This would normally cost them thousands of dollars,” Bonner says. “Plus, it gives them something good to talk about.”

Videos are key now, as booking agents are looking to see the personality and style of a band, rather than reading through biographies and photographs.

Battle of the Bands is open to young bands, and anyone interested can call Jennifer Boldt at 604-792-9285.