kids at gigs

[RENDELM]

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.

[DannySan]

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 (  ) 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

[RENDELM]

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. 

[Barty]

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.

[purplehaze]

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

[sozbot]

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!! 

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!!

[Neily]

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.

[Shush]

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. 

[NickyG]

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!)

[bigbadalex]

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!

[Erekosë]

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.

[LCG]

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.

[DannySan]

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 

[Wessexy Witch]

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.

 

[Valstar]

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