The project in essence was conceived to be:

• a public event with c. 150 attendance (for a pilot event, rising to c.350 for three events in the 22-23 season) with a bar that compared confidently with other London music scene events;
• a mixed genre magazine event with 5 acts each performing once in two sets (a plan unconsciously similar in format to Later with Jools Holland);
• high-level professional standard for guest artists including any student performers with all contracted and paid at fair negotiated rates;
• YouTube livestream;
• novel stage and lighting scheme;
• original ‘Hex’ branding that could be applied to merchandise as well as publicity and marketing;
• a fully compliant event with thorough risk assessments, budgeting, health and safety procedures – including liaison with school staff, local authorities and the site team.

The pilot event on 13 May 2022 (doors open 7:00pm, close 7:30pm) was an unqualified success with excellent response from the target audience (local community, staff, parents, pupils), a live attendance of c.145 people and YouTube aggregated viewing time of over 4 days by the time the event closed.

The staging comprised a new hexagonal 16sqm centre structure as well as a 6m bar area, 5 separate radio-controlled sound stages, bespoke red accent lighting and a three-point livestream camera array.

The event that signalled the potential for an inclusive quality of outcome across the highly diverse school community.