8 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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COVER STORY
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2003
School House Rockin' Bands try to find balance between classes and gigs
By Amy Potter
apotter@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Tom Brantman probably didn't sleep much last night.
His band, Getaway Driver, played in Springfield, Mo., late last night. They finished their show around 1 a.m., only to drive four hours back to Lawrence for the first day of classes.
This morning Brantman had to wake up for an 8:30 a.m. design history class. He is one of many students in a band who try to balance schoolwork with late-night gigs and an out-of-town tour schedule.
"Myschoolwork definitely suffers, but on the other hand, I'm much happier." Brantman
Brantman is a senior taking 13 credit hours to finish a degree in industrial design.
He already anticipates missing about three weeks of class this semester because of his band's touring schedule.
"We bring a laptop on the road so we can write papers. If we didn't we wouldn't pass school." Brantman said.
"My schoolwork definitely suffers but on the other hand, I'm much happier. I wouldn't be as happy if I weren't doing this stuff."
Mike Logan, general manager of Abe & ke's Landing, 8 E. Sixth St., said it took a lot of work and organization to be a student in a band.
said. "I wouldn't be as happy if I weren't doing this stuff. I wouldn't be so creative."
Tom Brantman
Getaway Driver band member
"I don't think it's impossible to do school and play in a band. If you are playing locally it's very doable, but when you have to play out of town you maybe have to miss class on Thursdays." Logan said.
To combat a heavy touring schedule,
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Photos by Eric Braem/Kansan
Andrew Bruns, Olathe junior, strums his guitar. The lead singer of Kev, Bruns must work to balance school with the rigors of being in a band.
TOP:
LEFT:
From left to right: Olathe juniors
Timothy Kohl, Kyle Babson, Andrew Bruns,and Clay Britton, members of Key, join in a jam session.
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