The Look
Main Characters / Extra Characters
My Classmates
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Requirements
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Requirements
You, Ezra, Payton, Julian, and Nishan pile onto couches in the Musician Hangout. Mia, Maddie, and Brandon call the band meeting to order.
Mia: Okay! Your show at the Dolphin Room is coming up, and we’ve got to drum up some publicity.
Julian: Leave it to me! Get it? Because I’m the drummer? I’ll DRUM up some publicity?
Mia: Let’s all pretend that you didn’t just say that. Moving on, the owner of the Dolphin Room, Mr. Prince, actually had a few pointers on building our public image, and Maddie and Brandon helped me come up with a plan using his suggestions. So, thank them, I guess.
Maddie: No need to thank us! It’s really our pleasure!
Brandon: Marketing campaigns are our favorite kind of campaigns.
Maddie: Except for presidential campaigns, of course!
Brandon: Naturally. And that’s why we’ve drawn on successful presidential campaigns from the past to create a three-step plan that’s sure to generate some serious buzz!
Time - 8 hours
Maddie and Brandon click through a presentation outlining their marketing campaign.
Maddie: So, you’ve got an album. Right now you’re like FDR - getting in touch with the nation through radio.
Brandon: But as we learned in the Nixon-Kennedy debates, image is everything!
Ezra: Isn’t there a way to teach this lesson with examples from music history?
Mia: Yeah, I’m just going to skip ahead to the part where the plan is actually explained. Step 1: Music video. Step 2: Promotional t-shirts. Step 3: Album release party.
Payton: No offense to Maddie and Brandon, but I think I’d better handle the party planning. You seem like unlikely candidates for the party planning commission.
Maddie: You’d be surprised, Payton! Politicians party harder than anyone! Did you know that Andrew Jackson threw a party at the White House on the night of his inauguration?
Brandon: And it was entirely open to the public! Tons of guests flooded the White House and did thousands of dollars worth of damage, smashing priceless china and dropping food everywhere!
Maddie: They say the White House smelled like cheese for months!
Julian: That. Sounds. Epic.
Mia: Well, now that we all know the plan along with some miscellaneous information that no one cares about, let’s get started! Danny, do you think you could enlist a filmmaker to help us out with the music video?
Danny: Sure!
Requirements
You find Henry in the computer lab, editing footage on three monitors.
Danny: Hey, Henry, would you perhaps be interested in--
Henry: Yes, please, anything!
Danny: ...filming a music video?
Henry: That sounds great. I’m editing a video scrapbook for my mom, and I can only spend so many hours looking at footage of her pet guinea pigs. A music video break is just what I need.
Time - 20 hours
You and Henry meet up with Mia and your bandmates in the quad.
Danny: Okay, I’ve found a director! Henry has a lot of experience and was super excited to help us with the video.
Henry: This could be the start of a director-artist relationship to rival that of Michel Gondry and Björk! I’m thinking Ezra can be like a potter shaping a ball of clay, and Payton’s face will appear on the clay singing the lyrics!
Ezra: Yeah, that’s not really the direction we’re picturing for this video... something a little less eccentric.
Mia: Actually, Mr. Prince gave us some guidelines for a video. He felt it would be best to really emphasize Ezra.
Danny: Emphasize Ezra? Why?
Mia: Because he’s got that ‘rock star look,’ apparently.
Ezra: Aw yeah! Rock star right here!
Mia: All right, calm down.
Danny: I guess Ezra is sort of the face of the band... but we should give everyone some screen time.
Henry: Great! Let’s start shooting, shall we?
Henry: Okay, let’s get some shots featuring each band member! Ezra, you go first!
Ezra: You got it!
Ezra poses for the camera, leaning against a chain link fence and tugging at his shirt collar with his teeth.
Henry: Awesome! Definitely rock star material!
Julian: Step aside, pretty boy. Let me show you how it’s done.
Julian strips his shirt off and tosses it toward the camera!
Julian: Sun’s out, guns out! Now get some shots of me playing the drums!
Henry: Perfect! Ezra’s the heartthrob, you’re like the tough guy... all we need is a hot babe!
Payton: You rang?
Payton blows kisses and bats her eyelashes!
Payton: How do I look?
Henry: Gorgeous! All right, Danny, what’s your look?
Danny: Stylish and stunning.
You toss your hair and strut like a model on a catwalk!
Henry: Tres chic!
Danny: I woke up like this.
Nishan: I’m ready for my close-up! I was thinking I could stomp around like a kaiju, and we could add in a miniature city getting destroyed by my feet during editing!
Mia: That’d be cool, but I think we’d better wrap this up! We’ve already used so much of Henry’s time...
Henry: No, I don’t mind at all! I’ve been experimenting with After Effects, and I’d love to try Nishan’s kaiju idea!
Mia: Well... I don’t know if that’d go over well with Mr. Prince. He kind of suggested that we... keep Nishan in the background.
Nishan: What? What do you mean?
Ezra: Mr. Prince has a pretty specific image in mind for our band...
Mia: And ‘sci-fi nerd’ isn’t part of that. And honestly, he’s probably right.
Ezra: Yeah, I get that. It’s just marketing, Nish. And you don’t really have... ‘the look.’
Nishan: Yeah... I guess I can see that. I don’t have much of a ‘rock star’ image.
Mia: Sorry, Nishan. Maybe there’s something else you could help out with?
Nishan: Oh, well... Maybe I can handle social media! We could generate a lot more publicity online if we promote ourselves on Reddit!
Mia: Sounds great. Let’s wrap shooting on this video, and tomorrow we can make some t- shirts!
Requirements
The next day at lunch, you and your bandmates find Autumn and Nick in the Artist Hangout doing charcoal sketches of Nalo.
Autumn: Hey, Danny! What’s up?
Danny: Hey, Autumn. We want to make some t-shirts for our band, but we don’t really know how... could the Art Club give us some tips?
Nick: We’ll do more than give you tips... we’ll help make the shirts!
Nalo: If there’s one thing I know, it’s DIY clothing. HOw do you think I stay ahead of the trends? I MAKE them.
Danny: Uh, all right then! Let’s get to work!
Time - 12 hours
You and your bandmates brainstorm t-shirt designs with the Art Club.
Julian: How about a painting of me playing the drums so fast that the sticks catch on fire?
Payton: Or we could do a pastel drawing of all of us at an ice cream parlor!
Ezra: Nah, it’s definitely best to stick to the basics - a black and white photo of us leaning against a wall in some dirty alleyway.
Payton: I’m not about to hang out in a rat-infested alleyway... not even for a photo shoot!
Nick: Such creative suggestions! I’d wear a t-shirt with ANY of these designs!
Nalo: Ironically, maybe, but is that the best we can do? What do you think, Danny?
Danny: I think our t-shirt should have watercolor fireworks.
Nick: Ooh, that’d be beautiful! Like, Monet’s fireworks or something!
Mia: Not a bad idea, Danny. Maybe we’ll go with that.
Nick and Nalo write everyone’s ideas on a whiteboard.
Autumn: Hey, Nishan, did you have a suggestion?
Nishan looks up from doodling on the back of his homework and shows his drawing.
Nishan: Yeah, I just finished it! Check it out - it’s our band as Dungeons & Dragons adventurers fighting an evil wizard and his gang of kobolds!
Mia: Umm... remember what I said about sci-fi nerd not really being a good look for our band?
Nishan: Yeah, but... this isn’t sci-fi. It’s fantasy...
Ezra: I don’t think Mr. Prince wants us to be the kind of band that knows the difference between sci-fi and fantasy...
Autumn: Nishan... is that the trigonometry assignment that you’re drawing on?
Nishan: Oh, um, yeah it is...
Autumn: The one that was due this morning?
Nishan: I... didn’t really get around to completing it.
Julian: Nishan didn’t finish his homework? Is this an alternate reality?
Nishan: I wish. I was up pretty late working on this social media stuff, and I guess trig just didn’t seem important. On the plus side, we’re getting a lot of hits on Reddit!
Payton: Whoa! I feel like I’m seeing a while new side of you, Nishan!
Nishan: That’s what my trig teacher said... I’d better go finish this. I can still turn it in for partial credit.
Julian: I still can’t believe Nishan was late on the homework... has that EVER happened in his whole life?
Payton: Come on, this is Nishan we’re talking about! He can finish his homework in, like, thirty seconds. I’m sure he’ll be fine. But it’s going to take us a lot longer to plan this release party, so let’s get started!
Requirements
Payton leads you and your friends to the Prep Hangout cafe, where Maya is enjoying a cappuccino.
Maya: Hi, Payton! Hey, Danny!
Payton: Hey, Maya! Do you want to help us plan a party?
Maya: I thought you’d never ask.
Time - 18 hours
Payton and Maya lay a large cork board covered in a collage of photos on the cafe table.
Danny: What’s this?
Payton: It’s Payton’s Patented party Inspiration Board! I mean, it’s not actually patented... but it should be!
Maya: Basically, we use it to plan parties by creating theme collages. It’s a fun, creative exercise, and when you’re finished you have a perfect party planned out!
Danny: Sounds like just what we need!
Maya: I’ll go grab some of our past issues of Teen Vogue... they’re perfect for making collages with!
You and your bandmates leaf through magazines, cutting out your favorite pictures for the board.
Mia: Ooh, an espresso bar is definitely essential! I’m adding this for sure.
Payton: And this skirt would be so cute on me...
Maya: Payton, are you just using this to plan your outfit?
Payton: Hey, it’s called Payton’s Patented Party Inspiration Board! I’ll do what I want with it!
Ezra: Whoa, we definitely need to get some of these models at our party...
Julian: I like the way you think!
You all step back to admire the inspiration board.
Danny: So basically, we’ll be throwing an espresso party with some fashion models?
Payton: And I know just what to wear!
Danny: Okay, so where will we be hosting this?
Payton: Why not right here at the Prep Hangout? There’s plenty of espresso, and everyone here is practically a model already...
Maya: SO true.
Ezra: Sounds good. We’re actually supposed to be at practice now, so we’d better get to the Musician Hangout. Nishan’s probably waiting for us.
Danny: Hang on, I’ve got a text from him... ‘Can’t make it to band practice today. Sorry. Might not be able to make it to the next one, either...’ What does that mean?
Ezra: I don’t know... but I think we should probably ask him ourselves.
Requirements
You swing by Nishan’s house after school and knock on his front door.
Nishan: Oh. Hey, guys.
Danny: Nishan, what’s up? What’s this about you not coming to band practice?
Nishan: Well... as it turns out... I might be, uh, grounded... And I have to quit the band.
Julian: What?!
Time - 10 hours
Danny: Quit the band? Why?
Mia: You’re just gonna bail on us right before the release party? We need you!
Payton: Why do you have to quit?
Nishan: My parents noticed that I was focusing more on promoting our band online than on my homework... And they told me that I should just focus on my grades because I’m not ‘the rock star type.’ It’s like you guys said. I just don’t have ‘the look.’
Mia: Nishan...
Ezra: Come on, buddy! It’s not like that--
Nishan: No, it’s fine. I get it now. I know you guys need someone to play the release party... so you can borrow ComposerBot. All of my keyboard tracks are preloaded in his database.
Nishan hands you a USB drive.
Nishan: That’s ComposerBot on the USB, and there’s a manual too. Promise me you’ll take good care of him, Danny.
Danny: I will.
Nishan: Guess I’ll see you guys at school. I’d better get back to my homework.
Nishan closes the door, and you all stand in stunned silence on his doorstep.
Ezra: I don’t accept this! There has to be something we can do to get Nishan back!
Mia: Well, it’s too late now... Nishan’s parents will never let him play, and we need to practice for the party.
Danny: Guess we’d better study up on how ComposerBot actually works...
Requirements
At the Musician Hangout, you and Ezra hook up a laptop with ComposerBot to a set of speakers and get ready for band practice.
Ezra: Okay, so far so good... let’s try ‘You Schooled Me.’ Danny, make sure ComposerBot knows what he’s supposed to play. Er, make sure the right track is preloaded.
You read through Nishan’s ComposerBot manual.
Danny: Okay, it looks like I just have to type in the right command string to identify the song and instrument, and ComposerBot will do the rest. Ezra, we’re playing ‘You Schooled Me’, right?
Ezra: Right! Type that in along with the instrument! We need to load up Nishan’s synth solo.
YouSchooledMeSynth.
Danny: Okay, I think we’re good to go!
Ezra: Julian, play us in!
With a crash of drums, Julian gets the rhythm going! Ezra’s guitar leads into Payton’s vocals!
Payton: ‘I thought that I was ahead of the curve! Thought I knew what was what and how to deal! Thought no one could ever EVER make me feel! But then you came along and schooled me!’
Your band plays out the song, and ComposerBot’s synth solo comes in right on time.
Payton: ...
Julian: ...
You all stop playing and stare at the place where Nishan and his keyboard used to be.
Ezra: Well, it worked.
Danny: It’s not really the same as having Nishan with us, though...
Ezra: It’s not.
Mia unplugs ComposerBot from the speakers.
Mia: Okay, it’s obvious that we all just want Nishan back... And I admit that it might be my fault that he isn’t even in the band anymore... I was just so worried about blowing our chances to play the Dolphin Room that I bought everything the owner said.
Ezra: And I just liked being thought of as the star, as ‘the guy.’ I loved the spotlight so much I pushed my friend into the shadows.
Payton: So... how are we going to get him back?
Julian: Yeah, isn’t he grounded?
Mia: Yes, he is...
Danny: And he might not even want to be in the band anymore.
Ezra: Don’t worry. I know how I can make this right. I’ve got a plan to get Nishan back in the band AND make sure he’s allowed to play! Just meet me at the Nerd Hangout later... I’ll take care of the rest.
Requirements
You all meet up with Ezra and Autumn outside the Nerd Hangout. Ezra knocks on the door.
Mia: So, Ezra, are you going to tell us your plan, or are we just going in blind? I want Nishan back as bad as anyone, but the party is tonight!
Payton: And why is Autumn here? I mean, I love you, Autumn, but what’s up?
Autumn: You’ll see.
Ezra: Just trust me on this one. It’ll work, I promise.
Danny: I hope you’re right...
The door opens, and Nishan steps out.
Nishan: What are you guys doing here? Isn’t the album release party in, like, just a few hours?
Time - 10 hours
Nishan: Did ComposerBot do okay? I did my best with the user manual, but it was sort of short notice...
Danny: ComposerBot was fine, Nishan...
Ezra: But he’s not you. Listen, Nishan... maybe Mr. Prince thinks that bands have to look a certain way to be successful... But that’s just not true. Our band’s image is stronger when you’re a part of it.
Mia: How many other bands have a keyboardist who wants to be a kaiju more than anything else?
Ezra: I can’t think of many. We’re all part of this band... and without you, we don’t have ‘the look’ that we want. So to make it up to you... I wanted to get your opinion on our final t-shirt design. Luckily, Autumn was working late in the Artist Hangout and helped me make about a hundred of these...
Autumn holds up a band t-shirt printed with a lavish painting of your band members in Dungeons & Dragons adventuring gear creeping through a tunnel.
Nishan: This is... this is amazing! I love that you made Ezra the bard! Great touch!
Autumn: Thanks! And look, here’s the evil wizard and his kobolds!
Nishan: This is so cool!
Nishan: But isn’t this, you know, not the look we want for out band? Will we still be able to play that guy’s venue if we go with this?
Ezra: Well, like I said, we already made around a hundred of these shirts so it’s a little late to decide that.
Mia: And to be honest, that guy can keep his stupid venue if he thinks we’re going to change for him.
Julian: Uh, guys, I don’t want to ruin the moment, but we really should get back to the Prep Hangout for the release party.
Ezra: All right, let’s go! You’re coming with us, right Nishan?
Nishan: You bet! Just a heads up, I got pretty involved in finding the most effective algorithms for going viral on social media... So there might be a LOT more people that we originally anticipated.
Requirements
You and your bandmates show up at the Prep Hangout and find it mobbed by a huge crowd!
Danny: Uh, Nishan... how many people did you invite?
Nishan: It kind of got out of my hands... you know how it is, something goes viral on Reddit, then it’s trending on Twitter, and before you know it, it’s Tumbling all over the place! Should we try to get some of them to leave?
Mia: Are you kidding? This is perfect! We’ve got plenty of space in the quad and on the lawn outside the Prep Hangout. And even better, we can raise the price on these band t-shirts because our supply is so limited, and demand is so high! Thank you, Econ class!
Payton: Wait... Nishan, aren’t those your parents over there?!
Nishan: Oh no, I’m supposed to be grounded! How’d they find me?
Ezra: Because I invited them.
Nishan: Wh-what? Why would you do that?!
Ezra: Because it’s about time they see in you what I do. And I see a rock star.
You and your bandmates climb onto a stage and set up on the lawn.
Ezra: Ready, Nishan?
Nishan: Uh... Ready! Let’s rock!
Julian lays down a barrage of drumbeats, and Ezra plucks the first few notes of ‘You Schooled Me’.
Payton: ‘I thought that I was ahead of the curve! Thought I knew what was what and how to deal! Thought no one could ever EVER make me feel! But then you came along and schooled me!’
The spotlight swivels onto Nishan as he begins his keyboard solo! Warm synth tones radiate from the speakers surrounding the stage, and the audience sways in time with the music!
Ezra: This is WAY better than ComposerBot!
Nishan: Hey! I’m going to tell him you said that!
As the song comes to an end, you all gather behind the stage, where Mia’s waiting with Nishan’s parents.
Nishan: Here goes nothing...
Nishan walks over to his parents, looking nervous.
Danny: Do they seem mad?
Mia: Hard to tell... I almost wonder if Nishan’s parents aren’t robots also, they’re completely unreadable.
Nishan walks back over to you, his face blank.
Danny: Uh, Nishan? What did they say?
Nishan: Well, they’re not impressed that I let my grades slip... or that I was spending so much time on social media sites, which they consider vain and self-indulgent...
Payton: Ouch.
Nishan: But they were really impressed by our performance, and... They’ve agreed to let me stay in the band! I just have to manage my time a little better from now on.
Mia: That’s great! I promise I won’t try to keep you out of the spotlight or listen to any stupid venue owners anymore.
Ezra: And I won’t tell you what look you need to have to be a rock star.
Payton: Maybe being a rock star is just about having confidence in your look, whatever that might be!
Nishan: Works for me. So, what’s next, Mia? Mia? I thought we were having a moment here?
Mia looks up from a fanny pack stuffed with dollar bills.
Mia: Sorry, I got distracted by all this money!
Nishan: Are you wearing a fanny pack? I’m not sure that’s ‘the look’ we want for our band manager, Mia...
Mia: I know fanny packs are lame... but this one’s holding about two thousand dollars, so deal with it.
Looks like your album release party was a huge success! Now that you’ve started building a fanbase online and IRL, what’s next for your band? Keep playing to find out!
- Mia
- A Student Gov (Maddie)
- A Student Gov (Brandon)
You, Ezra, Payton, Julian, and Nishan pile onto couches in the Musician Hangout. Mia, Maddie, and Brandon call the band meeting to order.
Mia: Okay! Your show at the Dolphin Room is coming up, and we’ve got to drum up some publicity.
Julian: Leave it to me! Get it? Because I’m the drummer? I’ll DRUM up some publicity?
Mia: Let’s all pretend that you didn’t just say that. Moving on, the owner of the Dolphin Room, Mr. Prince, actually had a few pointers on building our public image, and Maddie and Brandon helped me come up with a plan using his suggestions. So, thank them, I guess.
Maddie: No need to thank us! It’s really our pleasure!
Brandon: Marketing campaigns are our favorite kind of campaigns.
Maddie: Except for presidential campaigns, of course!
Brandon: Naturally. And that’s why we’ve drawn on successful presidential campaigns from the past to create a three-step plan that’s sure to generate some serious buzz!
Time - 8 hours
Maddie and Brandon click through a presentation outlining their marketing campaign.
Maddie: So, you’ve got an album. Right now you’re like FDR - getting in touch with the nation through radio.
Brandon: But as we learned in the Nixon-Kennedy debates, image is everything!
Ezra: Isn’t there a way to teach this lesson with examples from music history?
Mia: Yeah, I’m just going to skip ahead to the part where the plan is actually explained. Step 1: Music video. Step 2: Promotional t-shirts. Step 3: Album release party.
Payton: No offense to Maddie and Brandon, but I think I’d better handle the party planning. You seem like unlikely candidates for the party planning commission.
Maddie: You’d be surprised, Payton! Politicians party harder than anyone! Did you know that Andrew Jackson threw a party at the White House on the night of his inauguration?
Brandon: And it was entirely open to the public! Tons of guests flooded the White House and did thousands of dollars worth of damage, smashing priceless china and dropping food everywhere!
Maddie: They say the White House smelled like cheese for months!
Julian: That. Sounds. Epic.
Mia: Well, now that we all know the plan along with some miscellaneous information that no one cares about, let’s get started! Danny, do you think you could enlist a filmmaker to help us out with the music video?
Danny: Sure!
Requirements
- Danny
- A Filmmaker (Henry)
You find Henry in the computer lab, editing footage on three monitors.
Danny: Hey, Henry, would you perhaps be interested in--
Henry: Yes, please, anything!
Danny: ...filming a music video?
Henry: That sounds great. I’m editing a video scrapbook for my mom, and I can only spend so many hours looking at footage of her pet guinea pigs. A music video break is just what I need.
Time - 20 hours
You and Henry meet up with Mia and your bandmates in the quad.
Danny: Okay, I’ve found a director! Henry has a lot of experience and was super excited to help us with the video.
Henry: This could be the start of a director-artist relationship to rival that of Michel Gondry and Björk! I’m thinking Ezra can be like a potter shaping a ball of clay, and Payton’s face will appear on the clay singing the lyrics!
Ezra: Yeah, that’s not really the direction we’re picturing for this video... something a little less eccentric.
Mia: Actually, Mr. Prince gave us some guidelines for a video. He felt it would be best to really emphasize Ezra.
Danny: Emphasize Ezra? Why?
Mia: Because he’s got that ‘rock star look,’ apparently.
Ezra: Aw yeah! Rock star right here!
Mia: All right, calm down.
Danny: I guess Ezra is sort of the face of the band... but we should give everyone some screen time.
Henry: Great! Let’s start shooting, shall we?
Henry: Okay, let’s get some shots featuring each band member! Ezra, you go first!
Ezra: You got it!
Ezra poses for the camera, leaning against a chain link fence and tugging at his shirt collar with his teeth.
Henry: Awesome! Definitely rock star material!
Julian: Step aside, pretty boy. Let me show you how it’s done.
Julian strips his shirt off and tosses it toward the camera!
Julian: Sun’s out, guns out! Now get some shots of me playing the drums!
Henry: Perfect! Ezra’s the heartthrob, you’re like the tough guy... all we need is a hot babe!
Payton: You rang?
Payton blows kisses and bats her eyelashes!
Payton: How do I look?
Henry: Gorgeous! All right, Danny, what’s your look?
Danny: Stylish and stunning.
You toss your hair and strut like a model on a catwalk!
Henry: Tres chic!
Danny: I woke up like this.
Nishan: I’m ready for my close-up! I was thinking I could stomp around like a kaiju, and we could add in a miniature city getting destroyed by my feet during editing!
Mia: That’d be cool, but I think we’d better wrap this up! We’ve already used so much of Henry’s time...
Henry: No, I don’t mind at all! I’ve been experimenting with After Effects, and I’d love to try Nishan’s kaiju idea!
Mia: Well... I don’t know if that’d go over well with Mr. Prince. He kind of suggested that we... keep Nishan in the background.
Nishan: What? What do you mean?
Ezra: Mr. Prince has a pretty specific image in mind for our band...
Mia: And ‘sci-fi nerd’ isn’t part of that. And honestly, he’s probably right.
Ezra: Yeah, I get that. It’s just marketing, Nish. And you don’t really have... ‘the look.’
Nishan: Yeah... I guess I can see that. I don’t have much of a ‘rock star’ image.
Mia: Sorry, Nishan. Maybe there’s something else you could help out with?
Nishan: Oh, well... Maybe I can handle social media! We could generate a lot more publicity online if we promote ourselves on Reddit!
Mia: Sounds great. Let’s wrap shooting on this video, and tomorrow we can make some t- shirts!
Requirements
- Autumn
- An Artist (Nick)
- A Hipster (Nalo)
The next day at lunch, you and your bandmates find Autumn and Nick in the Artist Hangout doing charcoal sketches of Nalo.
Autumn: Hey, Danny! What’s up?
Danny: Hey, Autumn. We want to make some t-shirts for our band, but we don’t really know how... could the Art Club give us some tips?
Nick: We’ll do more than give you tips... we’ll help make the shirts!
Nalo: If there’s one thing I know, it’s DIY clothing. HOw do you think I stay ahead of the trends? I MAKE them.
Danny: Uh, all right then! Let’s get to work!
Time - 12 hours
You and your bandmates brainstorm t-shirt designs with the Art Club.
Julian: How about a painting of me playing the drums so fast that the sticks catch on fire?
Payton: Or we could do a pastel drawing of all of us at an ice cream parlor!
Ezra: Nah, it’s definitely best to stick to the basics - a black and white photo of us leaning against a wall in some dirty alleyway.
Payton: I’m not about to hang out in a rat-infested alleyway... not even for a photo shoot!
Nick: Such creative suggestions! I’d wear a t-shirt with ANY of these designs!
Nalo: Ironically, maybe, but is that the best we can do? What do you think, Danny?
Danny: I think our t-shirt should have watercolor fireworks.
Nick: Ooh, that’d be beautiful! Like, Monet’s fireworks or something!
Mia: Not a bad idea, Danny. Maybe we’ll go with that.
Nick and Nalo write everyone’s ideas on a whiteboard.
Autumn: Hey, Nishan, did you have a suggestion?
Nishan looks up from doodling on the back of his homework and shows his drawing.
Nishan: Yeah, I just finished it! Check it out - it’s our band as Dungeons & Dragons adventurers fighting an evil wizard and his gang of kobolds!
Mia: Umm... remember what I said about sci-fi nerd not really being a good look for our band?
Nishan: Yeah, but... this isn’t sci-fi. It’s fantasy...
Ezra: I don’t think Mr. Prince wants us to be the kind of band that knows the difference between sci-fi and fantasy...
Autumn: Nishan... is that the trigonometry assignment that you’re drawing on?
Nishan: Oh, um, yeah it is...
Autumn: The one that was due this morning?
Nishan: I... didn’t really get around to completing it.
Julian: Nishan didn’t finish his homework? Is this an alternate reality?
Nishan: I wish. I was up pretty late working on this social media stuff, and I guess trig just didn’t seem important. On the plus side, we’re getting a lot of hits on Reddit!
Payton: Whoa! I feel like I’m seeing a while new side of you, Nishan!
Nishan: That’s what my trig teacher said... I’d better go finish this. I can still turn it in for partial credit.
Julian: I still can’t believe Nishan was late on the homework... has that EVER happened in his whole life?
Payton: Come on, this is Nishan we’re talking about! He can finish his homework in, like, thirty seconds. I’m sure he’ll be fine. But it’s going to take us a lot longer to plan this release party, so let’s get started!
Requirements
- Payton
- Mia
- A Prep Except Danny (Maya)
Payton leads you and your friends to the Prep Hangout cafe, where Maya is enjoying a cappuccino.
Maya: Hi, Payton! Hey, Danny!
Payton: Hey, Maya! Do you want to help us plan a party?
Maya: I thought you’d never ask.
Time - 18 hours
Payton and Maya lay a large cork board covered in a collage of photos on the cafe table.
Danny: What’s this?
Payton: It’s Payton’s Patented party Inspiration Board! I mean, it’s not actually patented... but it should be!
Maya: Basically, we use it to plan parties by creating theme collages. It’s a fun, creative exercise, and when you’re finished you have a perfect party planned out!
Danny: Sounds like just what we need!
Maya: I’ll go grab some of our past issues of Teen Vogue... they’re perfect for making collages with!
You and your bandmates leaf through magazines, cutting out your favorite pictures for the board.
Mia: Ooh, an espresso bar is definitely essential! I’m adding this for sure.
Payton: And this skirt would be so cute on me...
Maya: Payton, are you just using this to plan your outfit?
Payton: Hey, it’s called Payton’s Patented Party Inspiration Board! I’ll do what I want with it!
Ezra: Whoa, we definitely need to get some of these models at our party...
Julian: I like the way you think!
You all step back to admire the inspiration board.
Danny: So basically, we’ll be throwing an espresso party with some fashion models?
Payton: And I know just what to wear!
Danny: Okay, so where will we be hosting this?
Payton: Why not right here at the Prep Hangout? There’s plenty of espresso, and everyone here is practically a model already...
Maya: SO true.
Ezra: Sounds good. We’re actually supposed to be at practice now, so we’d better get to the Musician Hangout. Nishan’s probably waiting for us.
Danny: Hang on, I’ve got a text from him... ‘Can’t make it to band practice today. Sorry. Might not be able to make it to the next one, either...’ What does that mean?
Ezra: I don’t know... but I think we should probably ask him ourselves.
Requirements
- Nishan
You swing by Nishan’s house after school and knock on his front door.
Nishan: Oh. Hey, guys.
Danny: Nishan, what’s up? What’s this about you not coming to band practice?
Nishan: Well... as it turns out... I might be, uh, grounded... And I have to quit the band.
Julian: What?!
Time - 10 hours
Danny: Quit the band? Why?
Mia: You’re just gonna bail on us right before the release party? We need you!
Payton: Why do you have to quit?
Nishan: My parents noticed that I was focusing more on promoting our band online than on my homework... And they told me that I should just focus on my grades because I’m not ‘the rock star type.’ It’s like you guys said. I just don’t have ‘the look.’
Mia: Nishan...
Ezra: Come on, buddy! It’s not like that--
Nishan: No, it’s fine. I get it now. I know you guys need someone to play the release party... so you can borrow ComposerBot. All of my keyboard tracks are preloaded in his database.
Nishan hands you a USB drive.
Nishan: That’s ComposerBot on the USB, and there’s a manual too. Promise me you’ll take good care of him, Danny.
Danny: I will.
Nishan: Guess I’ll see you guys at school. I’d better get back to my homework.
Nishan closes the door, and you all stand in stunned silence on his doorstep.
Ezra: I don’t accept this! There has to be something we can do to get Nishan back!
Mia: Well, it’s too late now... Nishan’s parents will never let him play, and we need to practice for the party.
Danny: Guess we’d better study up on how ComposerBot actually works...
Requirements
- Spend 1000 books
- Practice!
At the Musician Hangout, you and Ezra hook up a laptop with ComposerBot to a set of speakers and get ready for band practice.
Ezra: Okay, so far so good... let’s try ‘You Schooled Me.’ Danny, make sure ComposerBot knows what he’s supposed to play. Er, make sure the right track is preloaded.
You read through Nishan’s ComposerBot manual.
Danny: Okay, it looks like I just have to type in the right command string to identify the song and instrument, and ComposerBot will do the rest. Ezra, we’re playing ‘You Schooled Me’, right?
Ezra: Right! Type that in along with the instrument! We need to load up Nishan’s synth solo.
YouSchooledMeSynth.
Danny: Okay, I think we’re good to go!
Ezra: Julian, play us in!
With a crash of drums, Julian gets the rhythm going! Ezra’s guitar leads into Payton’s vocals!
Payton: ‘I thought that I was ahead of the curve! Thought I knew what was what and how to deal! Thought no one could ever EVER make me feel! But then you came along and schooled me!’
Your band plays out the song, and ComposerBot’s synth solo comes in right on time.
Payton: ...
Julian: ...
You all stop playing and stare at the place where Nishan and his keyboard used to be.
Ezra: Well, it worked.
Danny: It’s not really the same as having Nishan with us, though...
Ezra: It’s not.
Mia unplugs ComposerBot from the speakers.
Mia: Okay, it’s obvious that we all just want Nishan back... And I admit that it might be my fault that he isn’t even in the band anymore... I was just so worried about blowing our chances to play the Dolphin Room that I bought everything the owner said.
Ezra: And I just liked being thought of as the star, as ‘the guy.’ I loved the spotlight so much I pushed my friend into the shadows.
Payton: So... how are we going to get him back?
Julian: Yeah, isn’t he grounded?
Mia: Yes, he is...
Danny: And he might not even want to be in the band anymore.
Ezra: Don’t worry. I know how I can make this right. I’ve got a plan to get Nishan back in the band AND make sure he’s allowed to play! Just meet me at the Nerd Hangout later... I’ll take care of the rest.
Requirements
- Danny
- Ezra
- Mia
You all meet up with Ezra and Autumn outside the Nerd Hangout. Ezra knocks on the door.
Mia: So, Ezra, are you going to tell us your plan, or are we just going in blind? I want Nishan back as bad as anyone, but the party is tonight!
Payton: And why is Autumn here? I mean, I love you, Autumn, but what’s up?
Autumn: You’ll see.
Ezra: Just trust me on this one. It’ll work, I promise.
Danny: I hope you’re right...
The door opens, and Nishan steps out.
Nishan: What are you guys doing here? Isn’t the album release party in, like, just a few hours?
Time - 10 hours
Nishan: Did ComposerBot do okay? I did my best with the user manual, but it was sort of short notice...
Danny: ComposerBot was fine, Nishan...
Ezra: But he’s not you. Listen, Nishan... maybe Mr. Prince thinks that bands have to look a certain way to be successful... But that’s just not true. Our band’s image is stronger when you’re a part of it.
Mia: How many other bands have a keyboardist who wants to be a kaiju more than anything else?
Ezra: I can’t think of many. We’re all part of this band... and without you, we don’t have ‘the look’ that we want. So to make it up to you... I wanted to get your opinion on our final t-shirt design. Luckily, Autumn was working late in the Artist Hangout and helped me make about a hundred of these...
Autumn holds up a band t-shirt printed with a lavish painting of your band members in Dungeons & Dragons adventuring gear creeping through a tunnel.
Nishan: This is... this is amazing! I love that you made Ezra the bard! Great touch!
Autumn: Thanks! And look, here’s the evil wizard and his kobolds!
Nishan: This is so cool!
Nishan: But isn’t this, you know, not the look we want for out band? Will we still be able to play that guy’s venue if we go with this?
Ezra: Well, like I said, we already made around a hundred of these shirts so it’s a little late to decide that.
Mia: And to be honest, that guy can keep his stupid venue if he thinks we’re going to change for him.
Julian: Uh, guys, I don’t want to ruin the moment, but we really should get back to the Prep Hangout for the release party.
Ezra: All right, let’s go! You’re coming with us, right Nishan?
Nishan: You bet! Just a heads up, I got pretty involved in finding the most effective algorithms for going viral on social media... So there might be a LOT more people that we originally anticipated.
Requirements
- Complete a Party with Nishan
You and your bandmates show up at the Prep Hangout and find it mobbed by a huge crowd!
Danny: Uh, Nishan... how many people did you invite?
Nishan: It kind of got out of my hands... you know how it is, something goes viral on Reddit, then it’s trending on Twitter, and before you know it, it’s Tumbling all over the place! Should we try to get some of them to leave?
Mia: Are you kidding? This is perfect! We’ve got plenty of space in the quad and on the lawn outside the Prep Hangout. And even better, we can raise the price on these band t-shirts because our supply is so limited, and demand is so high! Thank you, Econ class!
Payton: Wait... Nishan, aren’t those your parents over there?!
Nishan: Oh no, I’m supposed to be grounded! How’d they find me?
Ezra: Because I invited them.
Nishan: Wh-what? Why would you do that?!
Ezra: Because it’s about time they see in you what I do. And I see a rock star.
You and your bandmates climb onto a stage and set up on the lawn.
Ezra: Ready, Nishan?
Nishan: Uh... Ready! Let’s rock!
Julian lays down a barrage of drumbeats, and Ezra plucks the first few notes of ‘You Schooled Me’.
Payton: ‘I thought that I was ahead of the curve! Thought I knew what was what and how to deal! Thought no one could ever EVER make me feel! But then you came along and schooled me!’
The spotlight swivels onto Nishan as he begins his keyboard solo! Warm synth tones radiate from the speakers surrounding the stage, and the audience sways in time with the music!
Ezra: This is WAY better than ComposerBot!
Nishan: Hey! I’m going to tell him you said that!
As the song comes to an end, you all gather behind the stage, where Mia’s waiting with Nishan’s parents.
Nishan: Here goes nothing...
Nishan walks over to his parents, looking nervous.
Danny: Do they seem mad?
Mia: Hard to tell... I almost wonder if Nishan’s parents aren’t robots also, they’re completely unreadable.
Nishan walks back over to you, his face blank.
Danny: Uh, Nishan? What did they say?
Nishan: Well, they’re not impressed that I let my grades slip... or that I was spending so much time on social media sites, which they consider vain and self-indulgent...
Payton: Ouch.
Nishan: But they were really impressed by our performance, and... They’ve agreed to let me stay in the band! I just have to manage my time a little better from now on.
Mia: That’s great! I promise I won’t try to keep you out of the spotlight or listen to any stupid venue owners anymore.
Ezra: And I won’t tell you what look you need to have to be a rock star.
Payton: Maybe being a rock star is just about having confidence in your look, whatever that might be!
Nishan: Works for me. So, what’s next, Mia? Mia? I thought we were having a moment here?
Mia looks up from a fanny pack stuffed with dollar bills.
Mia: Sorry, I got distracted by all this money!
Nishan: Are you wearing a fanny pack? I’m not sure that’s ‘the look’ we want for our band manager, Mia...
Mia: I know fanny packs are lame... but this one’s holding about two thousand dollars, so deal with it.
Looks like your album release party was a huge success! Now that you’ve started building a fanbase online and IRL, what’s next for your band? Keep playing to find out!