For the members of the five rock bands and two acoustic acts set to take the stage Wednesday at Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave., things sure will be different.

No one will be pocketing a paycheck at the end of the night.

Each band is just one in a lineup of other talents.

And a lot of the people in the crowd won't even be there for the music.

That's because the third annual Kevin Dare Benefit simply isn't a gig. It's an event, and a bittersweet one at that.

Dare, an accomplished Penn State pole vaulter, died tragically while competing at the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2002. He was 19.

Michelle Grove, a Dare family friend, used her connections with local bands to start the benefit two years ago. Every penny raised goes toward the Kevin Dare Memorial Scholarship Fund.

"I wanted to do what I could to help," Grove said. "Last year, we doubled the money we raised [the first year]. This year, we've already doubled the money."

A raffle that runs in conjunction with the benefit has prizes including a football signed by Joe Paterno and a jersey signed by Larry Johnson

Between raffle and benefit tickets, about $20,000 has been raised just this year; the three-year total stands at about $70,000.

Crowbar's doors will open at 6 p.m., two hours earlier than usual, to accommodate acoustic acts Eric Himan and Jared Campbell.

"The biggest change to the benefit is that the past two years have been hard rock, and this year we've lightened it up a little bit," Grove said.

The acoustic acts are a preface to the rock that will transpire as the night goes on, and cater to the older folks who want to support the cause, but not stay out past their bedtime.

In, the band formerly known as Stept On, is slated as the last act of the night.

Bassist Adam Zimmer, who played at the first benefit with Stept On, was working for a Web site company when Grove approached him to do a memorial site for Kevin.

"Through doing that, I met the Dare family and realized how much of an impact Kevin had on basically everyone he came into contact with," Zimmer said. "When Michelle asked us to do the benefit, it just seemed right."

Though an ambiance of sadness might be present at the Crowbar Wednesday, the benefit is meant to be a positive, rock-filled experience.

"It's got a sad undertone, but it's a celebration of his life," Zimmer said. "It doesn't have the mourning kind of feel to it."

But when each band dedicates a song to Kevin, it might be a little tougher not to break down -- for those on stage, too.

"The last two years were these hard rock nights," Grove said. "And it was just amazing to see these rough rockers get emotional."

Crowbar operations director Dave Wells said he expects a very strong showing, which grows each year.

"The Dare family is there, lots of friends, people that knew Kevin and people that just want to support the cause," Wells said. "We're certainly proud of be a part of this event."

Zimmer, too, said he enjoys donating time and support to the Dare family. Father Ed, mother Terri and son Eric, he said, "are the most amazing people."

"Anybody that has gone to Penn State in the last few years I'm sure knew of Kevin," Zimmer said. "He was a pretty big figure, and if people remember who he was and what he did, there is no reason to not show up and support what his family is doing."