My child was in a S Club Juniors, ask me anything

[BeEagerEagle]

In 2001, my child auditioned for a CBBC show called ‘S Club Search’ and got a place in a child pop group who initially were meant to support S Club 7 on a one time support gig basis. This band was called S Club Juniors, later known as S Club 8.

The band ended up taking off and we basically had to sign or children away to Simon Fuller’s management to release a single. The kids were given tutors and chaperones, and spent most of their time in hotels (the ones London based stayed either their parents) or on the road. After that, they went on tour and I only saw my child once every couple of months. It was brutal but I knew that’s what they wanted to do.

they released two albums and the second one didn’t do that well, Simon Fuller tried them on a TV show called I Dream, however that also tanked. My child will admit that themselves. They all got dropped when aged 14-17. He said they had grown out of their roles a bit.

Now they are in their late thirties and trying to get back into the entertainment industry fully but it’s difficult. They’ve never quite got over their time in the band. They released music but it never really went anywhere. They would never say so, but it doesn’t help them that two of their fellow band members went on to become big stars, both were in a chart topping girl band and now are TV presenters.

their band (minus the two still-successful members) were meant to reunite for a TV show a long while ago, but for various reasons it didn’t happen. When S Club reunited, S Club juniors didn’t get asked to reunite as there was ‘no call’ for it and only a few were up for reuniting. (My child, and another boy and girl member)

they are still acquaintances with S club 7 and went to Paul Cattermoles funeral.

I know my (now adult) child doesn’t regret the choices they made as a child, but feels sad as an adult.

AMA- child (now adult) is also here to answer questions too and is happy to answer questions about specific members and music!

I meant how do your child/you feel about that now. I realise you can't speak for everyone

My child is ok for money now as they have done a few jobs since the band, some “normal” jobs, some performing. They are not rich by any means but they are comfortable. Right now they are doing a more normal job. They didn’t really make much money with the band, not enough to buy a house. But they weren’t promised much money right from the beginning. In fact the touR date at Wembley with SCLUB7 at the start was completely unpaid. There was posters all over the audition hall that said this is an unpaid opportunity. When it was agreed they do all the UK tour dates, not just one, it was still unpaid. However they got free accommodation and all their food and drink and trips to Thorpe park/spain were free. Management paid for the lease on the house and management paid all their chaperones.

They only begun to earn money when they released one step closer. I think everyone was so thrilled of the opportunity that they really didn’t mind at the time.

They don’t really regret not saving more.

I know you said they all thought it was a great opportunity and didn’t care about the money, I don’t think it’s right that some of their work was unpaid. The fact that in 4 years they didn’t make enough money to buy a property in the 2000s (when property was a hell of a lot cheaper) suggests the whole thing was somewhat exploitative.

Sorry I am a little confused. You don’t think it’s right as in false…or bad?

The day of the auditions there were many many posters around citing it wouldn’t be a paid gig or end up in a record deal. Obviously Simon fuller didn’t realise how successful they were because they got a deal at the end. Once they got a deal and performed on tv etc, and did I dream (and the second time they toured with S CLUB on another tour) all of that was paid work.

I think by bad as in exploitation, none of them really see it as that and were happy to be there. As a parent it was so tempting to say no (not just from being protective and the lack of money, but due to a bit of jealousy from other young family members) but I know my child would never have forgave me. Obviously I wasn’t there all the time, but the meetings we did have seemed to reassure us that the kids weren’t being forced. They could’ve left at any time and were contracted slightly differently from sc7. They were also only allowed to work a set number of hours.

most members have said it’s opened up (paid) doors for them and given them opportunities they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Sorry, I mean not right as in bad, morally questionable etc.

Thanks for answering.

Perhaps but kids aren’t thinking about that when they’re hoping to be famous!

They were all actually very talented and I remember them well, as would most of my generation, me being only slightly older than them. My little sister and I loved them and did a dance to Automatic High for our school talent show 😂
They had some absolute BOPS, op! You must have been proud as well as concerned at times?

Whether your child gains a similar level of fame again or not is kind of irrelevant, they did amazing to even get into the band.

I was very proud, I remember the first time i saw them in concert though I was sick with nerves. They all looked so tiny up on stage.

management tried to reassure us regarding all the concerns we had. The only thing I wasn’t happy about was the way the camera people almost upskirted the girls on camera and how they took a long time to remove the member who got pulled out the band.

frequently a lot of the children (even the lads) would complain the clothes were too adult for them, but they didn’t really get listened to. The wardrobe team laid out racks of clothes for each member to choose from, but they were the ones who decided the clothes in terms of what was on the rack.

I don't really understand how it was allowed to be unpaid when their are such strict rules around child performance.
I know a lot of people with child performers and they all put their money away in decent savings accounts and more importantly the children all get paid for their work. Because it is work.

I think Simon Fuller and co behaved appallingly if the children didn't end up with well managed savings accounts.

Most of it was paid.

It’s quite shocking how little input you were allowed to have as a parent. I wonder if things are different now or if you’re still expected to just wave away certain rights as a parent. Not sure if I’ve worded that correctly but I hope you get what I mean.

Have the band ever considered a reunion tour, or even one- off concert?

Does your son/daughter still get recognised?

I do get what you mean. Parents did try to have input now and then especially if they thought their child wasn’t getting enough attention.

some of them yes, most no.

A long time ago some performed in two’s and threes at uni events and the like. But the reality now is that most have their own careers and only 2/3 would be up for reuniting.

A TV show called ‘the big reunion’ was going to have them on (minus Frankie and Rochelle) but they got dropped last minute as 2 members changed their mind about performing. There was a bit of fallout after that.

Although they’re both in the WhatsApp group, two of the members haven’t spoke to each other in years and I know the others feel a level of awkwardness.

my child does still get recognised but mainly by people in their thirties.

Well I was thinking more along the lines of what they were being asked to wear. You mentioned that some of them felt they were being dressed too ‘adult’.
I think as a mother I’d have to step in here and tell them to piss off. Especially for a daughter. Not sure I’d be happy with some middle aged man trying to sexualise my child.

The wardrobe designers pulled large racks of clothes out and the kids picked from them. There was a lot of selection according to my child so they did get a choice. But I know they struggled finding teenage brands for the boys, so they tended to be dressed in adult mens clothes later on. That’s why a lot of their outfits seem so baggy.

Im not going to pick any examples because it’s just mean and not the other thread OPs’ fault, but given all the rather mundane topics that get AMA about, I think it’s hilarious that people are coming on to complain that they don’t know them or act as if nobody would be interested because they weren’t famous enough.

They were a massive massive deal for people of the right age! I had a notebook that I attached a picture of Aaron to and put a heart on and I used to bring it to the playground. My friend fancied Calvin. We used to write our names with their last names

We used to have groups of 6-8 girls all learning the one step closer dance in the playground and I remember asking my mum to buy me an obscene amount of denim in an attempt to recreate that look.

It was a time when the cheesy manufactured stuff was very much in fashion. They were all good singers and dancers especially for their age. If I were them I’d still be exceptionally proud of what I’d achieved. They were no cringier than any other pop bands and they were just kids.

Last night I was inspired to listen to some of their songs as well as some other nostalgic pop. I’d forgotten how “dancey” the dance routines were back then. Really involved and active, like I’d expect at an aerobics class nowadays. It’s quite different to the slight swaying and wiggling sort of dancing you get now.

I am glad, especially following the boyband documentary that they were protected from a lot of the negative parts of the industry. Obviously there were some issues - morally, they should have been paid for all of what they did - but it sounds like on the whole they appreciate the experience. What a lovely blast from the past this thread is!

Totally agree.

The best AMA thread in a while!

Im loving this thread. I was a couple od years too old for them but remember a couple of the songs

Was that ghastly Frankie Bridge as insufferable as a child as she is now as an adult?

Her whole persona consists of - Me, me, me, me, shrill hysterics, me, me, me, me, woe is me I'm a victim of something or other, me, me, me, me, me, shrill hysterics, me, me, me, me....

I'm fascinated to know why you thought this would be a good idea for your child? What motivated you?

'I'm a mum of two kids - AMA!' compared to this 😂

Thanks for answering OP.

Can you tell us a bit more about what Simon Fuller was like?

She was definitely Simon fuller’s favourite from
the beginning and I think everyone knew she would get a place, but my child says there was no cockiness or nastiness that they saw. A few other members found it unfair she was always put to the front and will happily admit that now.

Simon fuller wanted to work with her even after her and another band member declined a record deal, but they had a bit of an argument over what music she should do and ended up parting ways.

seemed nice- but they barely saw/knew him!

during rehearsals they performed once for him, but he was a busy man and often in the states doing other stuff. He occasionally dropped in on meetings we had with management but on speakerphone rather than in person.

he was very very keen on Frankie (not in a pervy way!) and another girl called Lorna in the auditions and I think everyone felt like Frankie was all he cared about when the band begun.

he was there when the band got dropped and told everyone separately because he knew tears would be shed (and also because he still wanted to work with a couple of the members)