Franz Ferdinand's first gig was in a friend's bedroom and then an empty warehouse.

And Nigel Kennedy busked in public toilets before he sold a few million copies of The Four Seasons.

So this was a pretty auspicious start for a group of rock school graduates embarking on a career of fame, acclaim and riches.

Former students of the Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) took to the streets outside Brighton Station to convert passers by into their first gaggle of adoring fans.

For three days the musicians played to audiences of varying appreciation as part of the Brighton Live festival.

All hope to one day make it big in the music industry.

Will Rendle, who performed yesterday, aspires to be like the Hawaiian singer-songwriter Jack Johnson.

The 19-year-old singer, originally from Arundel, plays in a band called Will and the People. They have performed at Brighton's Q-Bar, Concorde 2 and Pressure Point.

Will recently completed a one-year higher diploma in vocals at BIMM.

He said: "It is a great course. The first thing you notice is there are so many amazing people.

"What you put in is what you get out. There are lots of things there for the taking.

"There is always going to be rivalry, especially between vocalists and frontmen, but everyone's in it together. It is a good atmosphere."

Extra-curricular activities include jazz workshops and heavy metal classes. Also performing at Brighton Station was Alice Shaw.

Alice, 21, said: "I want to be a credible singer-songwriter like Ben Folds or Tori Amos. I want to conquer the world.

"For me the best visiting tutor was Carlene Anderson. She is a fantastic singer."

Kevin Nixon, one of BIMM's founding directors, said: "I am very proud of all of them. They are great kids."

BIMM was founded five years ago and began offering degree courses, accredited by the University of Sussex, in 2002. It has just seen its first set of degree students graduate. Next week hundreds of students will start the new term.