The official NMA board
General Category => On The Road => Topic started by: Ragamuffin on November 15, 2013, 06:42:50 PM
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I've waited for eight years to be able to take my daughter to a gig and last night's Leeds gig was my first opportunity to do so. I also went with my brother and his eight year old son. On the whole people were great wishing the kids a great time, proper friendly. There was this one bloke though who moved away from us when we took up a vantage point in front of the mixing desk. Didn't think much of it though he did give us a 'look' as he and his partner moved away.
Anyway, he came up to me a few minutes later, a bit intoxicated to be fair, and asked me if I though a gig was a proper environment for a child. I said that I was her dad and that I thought it was indeed an appropriate place for her. She likes the music and when I gave her the chance to join me she jumped at the chance I added.
"So you play this music at home?"
"Er, yes"
"Well what about people who want to come out and not have kids running about?"
"Well don't go to a club that allows kids in, go somewhere else".
Anyway, he shuck my hand and wandered off (all unagressively I must point out).
So, question is, is an NMA gig inappropriate for the over eights? And do you, if kids are allowed into a venue, find their presence annoying?
Justin Bieber? One Direction? FFS! Those gigs are full of kids even younger. And don't get me started on Miley Ciris teaching her impressionable following to fellate sledge hammers... Justin's occasional potty mouth hardly warrants a blink.
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I thought it was great to see kids at the gig last night. catching them young, eh? ;-)
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I was stood on the left hand side of the mixing desk and saw you with your kids on your shoulders.
My reaction was one of complete admiration as if they love the music and the venue allows you to bring your kids in why not bring 'em.
It was great to see 'em mate
Hope they loved it and enjoy more gigs :) :)
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We took our 10 year old son for his debut gig to Devizes, he has been listening to NMA for years out of preference, his favourite song is Fate and he loves Get Me Out and a host of other stuff. He had a couple of shoulder rides and caught Ceri and Dean's attention as we were front stage right on the night. Countless people came up and said how great it was to see Oli enjoying it so much and he was invited to be in the post gig fan line up photo by Kat and Spud (think I got that right, thanks folks) - at the end of the gig Ceri came to the front of the stage and gave Oli his plectrum.
I chose Devizes as I had a feeling it would be a laid back gig and venue in a small town (England!) and it was a perfect intro for him and now he can't wait to go again. The following couldn't have been more accepting. Wy should age disbar anyone from an Army gig?
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Kids love gigs...our youngest is 8 next week and she loves festivals and any live music :)
Taking kids to gigs is a real pleasure (as long as they want to be there!).
Obviously you stay at the sides or the back....the pit is not usually a fabulous idea(though a brief visit can be quite exciting!).
Use common sense, stay (mostly) sober, and keep your eyes open.
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Depends on the kids - If they like the music and want to go, and have the attention span to go, and you are responsible parents and accept if it is getting too much for them then your going home early. then why not (took mine to the Anti Nazi gig in leeds in 89 when she was 3 and she loved it, but we were with a group of about people who all helped in looing after her. though as she got older she rebelled by listening to Celine Dion records).
If taking them is because you can't get a babysitter no.
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Been taking ours to gigs for years. Our eldest, Karin (16), came with us to Buckley last night and loved it. It was her second NMA gig and she had a good bounce around, behaved herself well, knew more lyrics than me (must sort that out...) and was very chuffed with the whole thing.
NMA is a family, and families have kids, right? So take them to gigs...
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my baby maya loves music and she askes me to put music to dance (really...) and she is 1 year and 3 months. she stands in front of the speakers and she moves up and down with her little legs she is just amazing. yesterday she went nut with a live album of Misfits for example. She is is so small but truly one can see that she loves music. and new model army too and a lot (by the way she s born when Navigating by the Stars playing.................) but the point for me is (even if she was older) how can I bring her to a gig and not **** up her ears?
ah yes.......the guy at the gig u mentioned was an asshole.
best
simon
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Been taking ours to gigs for years. Our eldest, Karin (16), came with us to Buckley last night and loved it. It was her second NMA gig and she had a good bounce around, behaved herself well, knew more lyrics than me (must sort that out...) and was very chuffed with the whole thing.
NMA is a family, and families have kids, right? So take them to gigs...
for me too......one family one tribe. it will always be.
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I've been taking my kids to festivals and gigs since before they were born.
:) :
They heard music inside me and they hear music outside with me.
:)
Now they're old enough to go without me.
:(
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No problem at all with kids at the gigs, the following needs new members as we're all getting older :'( :D
I wish I was taken to gigs as a nipper instead of having to wait sooooo long.
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...the guy at the gig u mentioned was an asshole.
Ah that's hardly fair is it? It seems to me that the guy at the gig was just questioning something that he wasn't accustomed to. It seemed like he was trying to get his head around something that kinda confused him - that - again to me - seems like an ok thing to do - surely we can talk about things that we're not sure of - if something at a gig takes us out of our comfort zone - and for him it seems his comfort zone is that gigs are adult occasions - well; personally I like the fact that he questiond it. How's he going to change his head if he doesn't question this? No; me - I think he was cool - I guess it depends on the guys intentions; whether he was being scolding or whether he was being questioning.
I'd like to think that we're that we're ok with talking about any disagreements we have.
and for the record - I think we shoud take kids to gigs. They're exciting events that kids will cherish.
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...the guy at the gig u mentioned was an asshole.
Ah that's hardly fair is it? It seems to me that the guy at the gig was just questioning something that he wasn't accustomed to. It seemed like he was trying to get his head around something that kinda confused him - that - again to me - seems like an ok thing to do - surely we can talk about things that we're not sure of - if something at a gig takes us out of our comfort zone - and for him it seems his comfort zone is that gigs are adult occasions - well; personally I like the fact that he questiond it. How's he going to change his head if he doesn't question this? No; me - I think he was cool - I guess it depends on the guys intentions; whether he was being scolding or whether he was being questioning.
I'd like to think that we're that we're ok with talking about any disagreements we have.
and for the record - I think we shoud take kids to gigs. They're exciting events that kids will cherish.
In fairness, Ive been to enough gigs to realise that while there are people at gigs for the same musical tastes, it doesnt mean we all have the same opinions about life and its many follies or upbringing. And Ive met people who are assholes at gigs (particularily one individual that sent my other half flying across the floor in his selfish quest to find "his" spot). Ultimately its no-ones place to question anyone being at an open event that theyve gone to to enjoy, although I do think this guy approached it in a fair way, so good on him.. Kids at concerts/ women at football matches. Its 2013 ffs. I appreciate the need to debate things but sometimes you cant reason with the unreasonable.
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Thanks for your thoughts people. To be fair even if folk had objected I wouldn't have taken any notice ;). As for the bloke in question I have to repeat he was not aggressive in any way. As Kinevel points out he was perhaps just reacting to something outside his comfort zone. I also got the impression he isn't a 'regular'. My girl is now 8 and gigs that come up within 70 miles of home that allow over 8's in we will be there. :)
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Thanks for your thoughts people. To be fair even if folk had objected I wouldn't have taken any notice ;). As for the bloke in question I have to repeat he was not aggressive in any way. As Kinevel points out he was perhaps just reacting to something outside his comfort zone. I also got the impression he isn't a 'regular'. My girl is now 8 and gigs that come up within 70 miles of home that allow over 8's in we will be there. :)
Good on ya mate :)
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Took my 14 year old to his first NMA gig in Manchester on Saturday. I have been watching the band for 29 years now and it was great to see him realise why I have been raving that they are the best live band that I have seen. Added bonus was Ed coming on for Vagbonds and Purity which really made his night.
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I have twin boys aged 11.
One loves the Dead Kennedy's and one loves Rush. I took Tom to see Rush in Sheffield in May this year he said it was the best two days of his life. I know that Rush play Arena's as oppossed to the venues NMA play. I actually had a spare ticket on Saturday for Manchester and asked if either of them wanted to come but they wanted to watch some Doctor Who marathon that was on instead ( :o ) and they haven't fully discovered New Model Army yet.
I have no problem with kids at venues. I am pretty sure that anyone taking kids to a venue like The Ritz has a good idea of what sort of thing goes on and uses common sense when taking them there. Hopefully when the next tour comes along I will be able to take at least one of them with me :)
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Re Dannysan, yes my Mosh Pit days are long gone so he was at back of the Ritz. I have always found the NMA crowds to be respectful of how each other wants to view the concerts and do not impose on anyone elses space. Excellent night which has lit the fuse in my son to go on the next tour as well.
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Took my son to see NMA at the Rock and Bike Festival in 2011 when he was 7 - we stood quite far back and he spent the whole gig on my shoulders. He loved the show and still talks about it. We got him some earplugs so it wasn't too loud for him. He loved it and the Family were really nice to him, as I fully expected.
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i have six kids and when they get to about 13 or 14 ,thats when i start to take them with me to mainly nma gigs,but other bands more local ,i generally like to wait till they get in their teens ,not because i have anything against younger kids being there but mainly because if i took mine when they were younger i wouldnt be able to enjoy it the same cause id be worrying if they were ok all the time,and when i go to see nma i like to let myselfd go and enjoy a good dance and a bit of me time,my 18 year old came with me on saturday and really enjoyed it ,four of my six kids have now seen nma,and all of them have enjoyed it ,good childhood memories like that are good to have ,my earliest one was deeply vale peoples free festival 1977 ,sitting on my dads shoulders watching steve hillage ,i was six ,it was really cool. Istill like steve hillage loads now even named my dog hillage :D :D :D
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I don't have kids, and am not interested in having them - that said with the utmost respect for those who do. I've met a lot of great kids in my life, and I've also met some absolute little monsters!! :D
That said, I think it's a perfectly valid thing to do, bringing a kid to a gig if a) they're allowed in and b) you think they'll enjoy and/or benefit from the experience. As long as they're not running around causing trouble, which it doesn't sound like yours were doing at all!!
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Never had issue with children at gigs, God knows its hard enough to get them away from computer games and into live events at the best of times. Mine have been going to gigs for years, although when in their mid teens I was relagated to dropping off and picking up - on the plus side it meant I didn't have to see Lost Prophets or My Chem Romance, but felt it my duty to go and watch Stone Sour / Slipknott, obviously.
On the other hand i used to be dragged along to 60s festivals at Butlins (dreadful bands, brilliant people & drinking) and swathes of pushchairs used to clog up the 3 concert halls. If that ever happened at 'proper gigs' then it would need to be looked at. Never happen though with our sensible Health & Safety laws, oh hang on...
Have more issue with screaming babies (and couldn't care less parents) in Costa when Im trying to enjoy my massively price inflated coffee & caramel slice to be honest.
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Good point. Anything getting teenagers away from P/C consoles etc can only be a good thing. I really wish my 17 year old lad would like to go to see NMA at Rockers next month, but I suppose the more I push it, the more inclined he is to exercise his teenage rights to rebel against whatever his Dad likes. Only shining light is, his girlfriend likes NMA, and has T & C on her Ipod. My 20 year old lad now goes to see his bands on his own.
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Depends where they go, what they do, or what they are allowed to do. I'm sure I remember seeing festival footage of the band having to stop part way through a set because someone had put a small child far too close to a speaker, and the parent looked on oblivious until it was made clear the band wouldn't play on unless he moved him? Exposing a small child to the risk of deafness (or other injuries/accidents) is a big price for the parent to pass on to the child etc.... (...not saying that's what anyone above/here would do of course!)
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For those asking about ear protection for kids, we've been using *Peltor Kids Ear Protectors* since Eloise was 1 and still use them 7 years later... dead cheap on ebay and built to last!
Every festival we get parents asking about them, and they are still almost impossible to find for sale at any festival we go too? Good business opportunity there for someone!
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I took my twelve-year-old daughter last night to Cambridge, and it's by no means her first! A friend bought her two as well.
It's good for them to go - takes a little preparation and watching over them obviously, but I can't see any reason why kids shouldn't go if they wish, particularly at smaller venues.
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My lad will be 10 next April. I waited until I thought it was the right time to take him to a big football match and now taking him to a live gig is the next stage for me. I can't wait for him to see Army. He knows a lot of the tunes and can sing Knievel virtually the whole way through.
I'm all for it. We need the new generation to follow us!
As NickyG says, as long as the parent/s know how to behave and what to beware of when they take their kids, that's the most important thing.
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For those asking about ear protection for kids, we've been using *Peltor Kids Ear Protectors* since Eloise was 1 and still use them 7 years later... dead cheap on ebay and built to last!
Every festival we get parents asking about them, and they are still almost impossible to find for sale at any festival we go too? Good business opportunity there for someone!
I've seen those and they are great. Got to be honest though when I took Tom to see Rush he told his mum that dad would be getting him the ear protectors... as soon as I got to the Arena I said "I will get you some ear protectors from the staff" He "Awww dad have I got to?" .... so he went without! We were up in the gods anyway ::)
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There was a little lady infront of me, sat inside the crash barrier at Frome and she was loving it.
The security guy sat her there and told her to enjoy herself.
Well done security guy.
Well done mum and dad.
:)
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I dig this topic from the crypt, because for some weeks we have or tickets for the Christmas show, and tonight, or nearly 6 years old daughter started to ask to comme with us with insistence ...
We have the Peltor Kids Ear Protectors, we know that she will behave, she loves NMA (was even born during "this words" on the various artists compilation we brought to the hospital, so she HAVE to love NMA), she will be 6 and 3 months, but still we wonder if it's appropriate ... and the 3 years old brother will be really jealous ;)
Do you think that in a small venue, the ear protector will be sufficient ? Do you think of other reasons it could be a bad idea ?
thanks folks :)
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Hi ! I'm deep in love with music since I was young (thanks to my older brother who took me to my first gig at 13).
Now, I'm 45 and I already took my 2 kids to concerts. My daughter went to Of Monsters & Men at 8. My son went to his first NMA concert in Paris at 10. We were at the back, in a "safe" place and he enjoyed as he used to listen to NMA since he's a baby. He went to his second NMA concert last march. We went in front row and he enjoyed so much to go in the pit on my shoulders
Band was amazing with him during after show and he's ready for winter tour :)
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I don't have children myself but if I had I would certainly try and take them to shows with me - or, take them to shows they want to go to. Provided that it can be done in a sensible and safe way, of course. My parents weren't interested in music and hated to take me to shows (we lived in a really rural area so it was always quite the trip) - so I'd definitily love for my kids to be able to have that experince.
I have a friend in the UK who takes her 2 sons to alls orts of gigs - and they absolutely love it, have already met quite a few musicians and have started playing drums and guitar. ;) So much better than just computer games all day.
I have seen children at NMA gigs in Cologne, for the Christmas show - never an issue, everyone always tries their best to make sure they get to enjoy it. :)
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my daughter maya is born with Justin s solo album, I know Justin since years and my wife got to know him too personally last year.........this is more than music. its family stuff. would love to bring my daughter but she is 4..............almost 5. an open air gig would be great but difficult to find the appropriate time when we all can travel for that etc
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I'm hoping to take my 12 year old daughter to her first gig next February when we will be going to watch Electric Six in Manchester. She's been asking for a while to attend a concert and if I'd of known beforehand when I went to see Cabbage recently she wouldn't of looked out of place due to a very young audience.
I have tinnitus in my left ear so I'll probably insist my daughter wears some sort of ear protection just to be on the safe side, better safe than sorry.
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Your love of music has nothing to do with age. I remember my mum buying me a second hand record player for my Christmas when I was only at primary school. To be fair she also bought me the 7" of the ghostbusters theme tune and Paul McCartneys We all stand together...and Band Aid Do they know it's Christmas lol
But I went out and bought Madness and The Who albums. I took all my mum's 60s records and my love of music was born.
I wish when I was a kid there was the opportunity to go to gigs.
Kids are the new blood that will keep the legacy of this great band going. We are old, we are young we are in this together...
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Swap the word kids with black people or disabled people. No-one would dare say its acceptable to ban either. So why on earth anyone thinks kids shouldnt be allowed in is beyond me.
Im all for banning intolerant people however.