3 year-old's First Show Tonight

shortstack

bicyclejoe wrote:

eddiec wrote:

Pearl Jam ain't The Grateful Dead.

Yeah, but they're getting there.

statement.

oysterjar

JH6056 wrote:

Last question for you, Mr. "Get a fucken clue" badbrains: neither you or anyone else yet has actually answered my question: WHAT IS THE HARM? As long as the kid's ears are protected, they're not in the front row of a GWAR show or at a notoriously rowdy venue, and their parents are taking care of them, WHY is it so "NO child belongs at a fucken rock concert PERIOD!!"? Until someone can explain what the actual horrible impact is on ALL kids at ALL rock concerts, you're all just acting like overly Judgemental jerks who have an opinion (which you're entitled to) but it's an opinion you can't back up.

I'm not sticking up for anyone on here, and this is not a defense for anyone but I believe what most people are referring to when they say that kids don't belong at an indoor concert is the drug use and excessive alcohol consumption. CPS is a stretch based on the generalities posted here. Nothing specifically stated would (IMO) justifies a CPS case but it is my opinion. A rock concert is basically an indoor bar with live music and is not the safest place for family entertainment IMO.

jumbojet

JH6056 wrote:

Like the person who just posted about the 7-8 yr old (not sure why you mentioned the family's race by the way - why is it relevant that they wre Indian?)

I mentioned they were Indian to emphasize the diversity of people enjoying PJ music and coming to shows. This is something that amazes me, all the time. During that 2 shows in Berlin, I've met and chatted with people from Poland, Mexico and Brazil. This might sound like old news but when you're there, witnessing it alive, it's really something impressive.

Sorry for getting out of the context of the thread, felt the need to explain.

jrnyc

Merkin Baller wrote:

In whose best interest is a parent acting when they take a child under 10 to a concert like this?

Seriously, who are you indulging here?

One person and one person only, their narcissistic selves.

JonnyPistachio

These threads are always fantastically hilarious.
Personally, I think bringing a 3 years old to a huge rock show is crazy. Its about the same as bringing them to a packed bar/drinking establishment, (regarding the crowd).
I get that many kids are different, but the majority of people there are adults. Its loud. Its late. There's rampant drug use and drinking. There's even vomiting if you're lucky -- but three year olds are used to vomiting and peeing themselves I suppose.

Maybe 8-10+ years old is the age I would consider bringing kids.. But thats just me.. this is from a selfish point of view though... I just dont think I would enjoy the show, since 110% of your attention better be on that kid if he/she is 3 years old.

SVRDhand13

Just make sure the kid gets the full first rock show experience and goes crowd surfing in GA. I'm sure the crowd pull push him straight to the stage and then he has a fantastic chance to drink from eddies wine bottle. Hell, they may even pull him onstage for a song or two. It's myyyy blllooooooddd.

Soybeans

The 3 year old and his dad sat directly in front of me.
We had read his post earlier in the day and we planned to keep an eye out for them. So when they ended up in the two seats in front of us it was pretty funny. I chatted with both of them. Told him I read his post online. I admitted that my gut reaction was to immediately cast judgment on him, but as I really thought about it my opinion changed. I remember Eddie's first daughter being held side stage for much of the Canadian tour in '05. She was about the same age as this boy. I shared this with the dad.

Should Eddie's parenting choices prove you haters to be wrong? Probably, but I will also tell you this boy was very mature for his age. He told me he begged his dad to go to the show. He told me his new favorite song is Sirens (half of you will hate the 3 yr old now).

The kids highlight of the night had to be Elderly Woman. Ed turned to face us in the back. I'm pretty sure the kid was happy we weren't being subjected to Last Kiss. His dad hoisted him over his head and the boy had both hands high for the big "helloooo!".

Overall dad did a great job. He snuck the lad out 2 songs early to beat the crowd. Also while chatting pre-show he gave me some great tips on how to raise a pj fan. I have a 14 month old son and I am afraid that the inundation of "high fructose" pop music will ruin his taste in music before I can properly pollute his brain with the good stuff. He said the softer acoustic stuff is a good intro for the little ones, but the real game changer has been the dvd's of Imagine and Water on the Road (the boys favorite).

Those are the facts folks. So I guess we have a winner.

PureandEasy

I guess it really does come down to knowing your own kid and whether you're dragging them there because you don't have a baby sitter or it's because they want to go.

I've seen some horrible things with children at concerts so I personally would never bring a child but I'm glad this worked out well.

As far as Ed's daughter being at shows, that's completely different, her father is performing and I'm pretty sure there is someone back stage to take care of her should she get antsy or cranky.

Completely different than a fan bringing a child.

JH6056

oysterjar wrote:

JH6056 wrote:

Last question for you, Mr. "Get a fucken clue" badbrains: neither you or anyone else yet has actually answered my question: WHAT IS THE HARM? As long as the kid's ears are protected, they're not in the front row of a GWAR show or at a notoriously rowdy venue, and their parents are taking care of them, WHY is it so "NO child belongs at a fucken rock concert PERIOD!!"? Until someone can explain what the actual horrible impact is on ALL kids at ALL rock concerts, you're all just acting like overly Judgemental jerks who have an opinion (which you're entitled to) but it's an opinion you can't back up.

I'm not sticking up for anyone on here, and this is not a defense for anyone but I believe what most people are referring to when they say that kids don't belong at an indoor concert is the drug use and excessive alcohol consumption. CPS is a stretch based on the generalities posted here. Nothing specifically stated would (IMO) justifies a CPS case but it is my opinion. A rock concert is basically an indoor bar with live music and is not the safest place for family entertainment IMO.

Agreed about CPS. Interesting though what you say about "not the safest place for family entertainment". That's clearly true, but just like everything in life it's about looking realistically at the risks. Much of my comfort in taking my kids to shows comes from a couple of prior decades of going to shows without kids. As a woman, I dislike at shows all the same things I'd want to protect my kids from: excessive noise (I always have earplugs), open drug use (which, after 1,000+ shows (no not exaggerating) I can honestly say I've only seen in the open like 5 times beyond weed smoke, and since I had kids I rarely am in a bldg where smoking is allowed anyway); belligerent obnoxious people (some high/drunk, some not); and fighting. I have easily been able to avoid/ move away from al of those when encountered, but more importantly. I don't encounter them often at all. Never been thrown up on or peed on, other than my kids. So if that's been my experience 97% of the time, and the other3% I've been able to ditch the annoying people and resume enjoyment of the show, where is it even likely at all anything unsafe or bad will happen with my kids?

I appreciate your opinion, just trying to get to the root of what you view as so unsafe about it?

JH6056

oysterjar wrote:

JH6056 wrote:

Last question for you, Mr. "Get a fucken clue" badbrains: neither you or anyone else yet has actually answered my question: WHAT IS THE HARM? As long as the kid's ears are protected, they're not in the front row of a GWAR show or at a notoriously rowdy venue, and their parents are taking care of them, WHY is it so "NO child belongs at a fucken rock concert PERIOD!!"? Until someone can explain what the actual horrible impact is on ALL kids at ALL rock concerts, you're all just acting like overly Judgemental jerks who have an opinion (which you're entitled to) but it's an opinion you can't back up.

I'm not sticking up for anyone on here, and this is not a defense for anyone but I believe what most people are referring to when they say that kids don't belong at an indoor concert is the drug use and excessive alcohol consumption. CPS is a stretch based on the generalities posted here. Nothing specifically stated would (IMO) justifies a CPS case but it is my opinion. A rock concert is basically an indoor bar with live music and is not the safest place for family entertainment IMO.

Agreed about CPS. Interesting though what you say about "not the safest place for family entertainment". That's clearly true, but just like everything in life it's about looking realistically at the risks. Much of my comfort in taking my kids to shows comes from a couple of prior decades of going to shows without kids. As a woman, I dislike at shows all the same things I'd want to protect my kids from: excessive noise (I always have earplugs), open drug use (which, after 1,000+ shows (no not exaggerating) I can honestly say I've only seen in the open like 5 times beyond weed smoke, and since I had kids I rarely am in a bldg where smoking is allowed anyway); belligerent obnoxious people (some high/drunk, some not); and fighting. I have easily been able to avoid/ move away from al of those when encountered, but more importantly. I don't encounter them often at all. Never been thrown up on or peed on, other than my kids. So if that's been my experience 97% of the time, and the other3% I've been able to ditch the annoying people and resume enjoyment of the show, where is it even likely at all anything unsafe or bad will happen with my kids?

I appreciate your opinion, just trying to get to the root of what you view as so unsafe about it?

DewieCox

JH6056 wrote:

Agreed about CPS. Interesting though what you say about "not the safest place for family entertainment". That's clearly true, but just like everything in life it's about looking realistically at the risks. Much of my comfort in taking my kids to shows comes from a couple of prior decades of going to shows without kids. As a woman, I dislike at shows all the same things I'd want to protect my kids from: excessive noise (I always have earplugs), open drug use (which, after 1,000+ shows (no not exaggerating) I can honestly say I've only seen in the open like 5 times beyond weed smoke, and since I had kids I rarely am in a bldg where smoking is allowed anyway); belligerent obnoxious people (some high/drunk, some not); and fighting. I have easily been able to avoid/ move away from al of those when encountered, but more importantly. I don't encounter them often at all. Never been thrown up on or peed on, other than my kids. So if that's been my experience 97% of the time, and the other3% I've been able to ditch the annoying people and resume enjoyment of the show, where is it even likely at all anything unsafe or bad will happen with my kids?

I appreciate your opinion, just trying to get to the root of what you view as so unsafe about it?

Next time you go to a show, stop and buy a lotto ticket, b/c you've been excessively lucky when it comes to attending shows.

My experience at shows reads pretty much the opposite
Noise is a gimme.
Always clouds of weed smoke, and I almost always see a person or 10 that looks completely out of it, clearly beyond stoned and that's just the obvious people.
I higher concentration of belligerent/wanna be badasses than at about any other place I'd go, except my small town hick bar.
I haven't been peed on or puked on, but heard enough stories that I feel like I have and to realize there's a chance of it happening.

Outdoor show where you can stay away from just about anybody else, reasonable. Indoor arena show where all that concentrated into one building with 20000 other people. Seems kinda iffy.

After reading a bunch of stories about how rowdy football games get, I wouldn't take my kids to that either.

I'm a Truck

DewieCox wrote:

JH6056 wrote:

Agreed about CPS. Interesting though what you say about "not the safest place for family entertainment". That's clearly true, but just like everything in life it's about looking realistically at the risks. Much of my comfort in taking my kids to shows comes from a couple of prior decades of going to shows without kids. As a woman, I dislike at shows all the same things I'd want to protect my kids from: excessive noise (I always have earplugs), open drug use (which, after 1,000+ shows (no not exaggerating) I can honestly say I've only seen in the open like 5 times beyond weed smoke, and since I had kids I rarely am in a bldg where smoking is allowed anyway); belligerent obnoxious people (some high/drunk, some not); and fighting. I have easily been able to avoid/ move away from al of those when encountered, but more importantly. I don't encounter them often at all. Never been thrown up on or peed on, other than my kids. So if that's been my experience 97% of the time, and the other3% I've been able to ditch the annoying people and resume enjoyment of the show, where is it even likely at all anything unsafe or bad will happen with my kids?

I appreciate your opinion, just trying to get to the root of what you view as so unsafe about it?

Next time you go to a show, stop and buy a lotto ticket, b/c you've been excessively lucky when it comes to attending shows.

My experience at shows reads pretty much the opposite
Noise is a gimme.
Always clouds of weed smoke, and I almost always see a person or 10 that looks completely out of it, clearly beyond stoned and that's just the obvious people.
I higher concentration of belligerent/wanna be badasses than at about any other place I'd go, except my small town hick bar.
I haven't been peed on or puked on, but heard enough stories that I feel like I have and to realize there's a chance of it happening.

I've has piss splatter twice at shows. :fp:

JH6056

Soybeans wrote:

The 3 year old and his dad sat directly in front of me.
We had read his post earlier in the day and we planned to keep an eye out for them. So when they ended up in the two seats in front of us it was pretty funny. I chatted with both of them. Told him I read his post online. I admitted that my gut reaction was to immediately cast judgment on him, but as I really thought about it my opinion changed. I remember Eddie's first daughter being held side stage for much of the Canadian tour in '05. She was about the same age as this boy. I shared this with the dad.

Should Eddie's parenting choices prove you haters to be wrong? Probably, but I will also tell you this boy was very mature for his age. He told me he begged his dad to go to the show. He told me his new favorite song is Sirens (half of you will hate the 3 yr old now).

The kids highlight of the night had to be Elderly Woman. Ed turned to face us in the back. I'm pretty sure the kid was happy we weren't being subjected to Last Kiss. His dad hoisted him over his head and the boy had both hands high for the big "helloooo!".

Overall dad did a great job. He snuck the lad out 2 songs early to beat the crowd. Also while chatting pre-show he gave me some great tips on how to raise a pj fan. I have a 14 month old son and I am afraid that the inundation of "high fructose" pop music will ruin his taste in music before I can properly pollute his brain with the good stuff. He said the softer acoustic stuff is a good intro for the little ones, but the real game changer has been the dvd's of Imagine and Water on the Road (the boys favorite).

Those are the facts folks. So I guess we have a winner.

Thank you so much for posting the actual result. If I'd been sitting in front of you you would have seen much the same (except we don't have Lightning Bolt yet so they wouldn't know Sirens ).

I have seen bad parenting at some concerts. But I've seen a lot more of it at the supermarket and playground. People who know their kids and care most about them being ok, their kids will be fine at shows. Because I matter how much I may wan to hear "Immortality" or the new songs live, if my kid is having a bad time or I can't escape weed smoke (neither of which has ever happened), then I'm out. But because they enjoy it, when we can we all go.

Original poster, so glad you took your son anyway and sounds like he had a great time. If you raise happy, healthy safe kids, you rock as a parent. Don't let ANYONE tell you otherwise, especially if they can't explain specifics about why every. Single. Kid. Is allegedly in morbid danger at every. Single. Concert.

Too many people make blanket "No, never!" Comments and limit their own perspectives and views of what is possible without even realizing it. I'm totally open to hearing specific reasons/examples of why someone thinks something is a horrible idea, but pages and pages of "You suck as a parent! Don't forget to crowd surf your kid! I hope CPS gets called on you!" is useless and doesn't make any real argument for why it's supposedly so awful.

Hope your son keeps enjoying live shows!

btcs41

Soybeans wrote:

The 3 year old and his dad sat directly in front of me.
We had read his post earlier in the day and we planned to keep an eye out for them. So when they ended up in the two seats in front of us it was pretty funny. I chatted with both of them. Told him I read his post online. I admitted that my gut reaction was to immediately cast judgment on him, but as I really thought about it my opinion changed. I remember Eddie's first daughter being held side stage for much of the Canadian tour in '05. She was about the same age as this boy. I shared this with the dad.

Should Eddie's parenting choices prove you haters to be wrong? Probably, but I will also tell you this boy was very mature for his age. He told me he begged his dad to go to the show. He told me his new favorite song is Sirens (half of you will hate the 3 yr old now).

The kids highlight of the night had to be Elderly Woman. Ed turned to face us in the back. I'm pretty sure the kid was happy we weren't being subjected to Last Kiss. His dad hoisted him over his head and the boy had both hands high for the big "helloooo!".

Overall dad did a great job. He snuck the lad out 2 songs early to beat the crowd. Also while chatting pre-show he gave me some great tips on how to raise a pj fan. I have a 14 month old son and I am afraid that the inundation of "high fructose" pop music will ruin his taste in music before I can properly pollute his brain with the good stuff. He said the softer acoustic stuff is a good intro for the little ones, but the real game changer has been the dvd's of Imagine and Water on the Road (the boys favorite).

Those are the facts folks. So I guess we have a winner.

Great to hear how it all went down. A nice break from the judgmental drivel he received in this thread.

badbrains

JH5066, chill the fuck out you fucken loud mouth. I made a statement about you being an idiot for taking your "baby" "child" whatever the case is and I STAND by it. Go change some diapers and buy some tampoons mr/mrs super sensitive. I give the bad brains a bad name or something to matter you said??? Well shit, you give parents a bad name. And I raised my sis since she's been a child and guess what loud mouth, I took her to her first concert at the age of 16 (the boss). And in nov she'll be going to see paramore at MSG at the age of 17. Does it make me a better parent/guardian then you, ABSOFUCKENLUTELY! You want to continue this conversation, I'll be at both Brooklyn and both Philly shows WITHOUT my sister.

whofeelslikeadrank

.

Cosmo

I don't know why everyone's bitching about this... the kid is 3 and he knows what he likes.
Like my 4 year old loves to go to the strip clubs with me. I mean, what little kids doesn't like giant boobs, right? And it's a great way to introduce him to great classic band like AC/DC and Van Halen because they always play 'Shook Me All Night Long' an 'Hot For Teacher' about 20 times a night.
I'm thinking of taking him to the 'Lamb Of God' gig out in the desert next Summer because it's never too early to introduce him to the 'Wall of Death'.
I don't know why eveyone else is having a tizzy fit... nothing screams Rock And Roll like an OshKosh jumper that says, 'Rock The Fuck OUT!' on it.

Merkin Baller

Cosmo wrote:

I don't know why everyone's bitching about this... the kid is 3 and he knows what he likes.
Like my 4 year old loves to go to the strip clubs with me. I mean, what little kids doesn't like giant boobs, right? And it's a great way to introduce him to great classic band like AC/DC and Van Halen because they always play 'Shook Me All Night Long' an 'Hot For Teacher' about 20 times a night.
I'm thinking of taking him to the 'Lamb Of God' gig out in the desert next Summer because it's never too early to introduce him to the 'Wall of Death'.
I don't know why eveyone else is having a tizzy fit... nothing screams Rock And Roll like an OshKosh jumper that says, 'Rock The Fuck OUT!' on it.

badbrains

whofeelslikeadrank wrote:

badbrains wrote:

JH5066, chill the fuck out you fucken loud mouth. I made a statement about you being an idiot for taking your "baby" "child" whatever the case is and I STAND by it. Go change some diapers and buy some tampoons mr/mrs super sensitive. I give the bad brains a bad name or something to matter you said??? Well shit, you give parents a bad name. And I raised my sis since she's been a child and guess what loud mouth, I took her to her first concert at the age of 16 (the boss). And in nov she'll be going to see paramore at MSG at the age of 17. Does it make me a better parent/guardian then you, ABSOFUCKENLUTELY! You want to continue this conversation, I'll be at both Brooklyn and both Philly shows WITHOUT my sister.

:roll:

Awesome post! :thumbup: :roll:

What, you dnt like the boss? Or was it paramore?

PJ_Soul

curmudgeoness wrote:

backseatLover12 wrote:

I'm not sure why, but it seems to be a trend for parents to not have 'date night' and leave the kids home. Some events are sacred for adults, I know that PJ shows are! And I know that my kid is a lot safer at home than me dragging her around to shows. I wonder if there is no one to babysit, or that some people want to look like the 'cool parent', when in reality, 'cool parents' aren't very good at parenting at all. Because being a 'friend' of your child is not parenting at all.

Well....

While I think taking a three-year-old -- any three-year-old -- to a PJ show is bad idea, I don't quite agree with what you wrote here.

We took our boys with us to Mansfield 2 2008, all four Spectrum shows, and Newark 2010. They were nine and almost-twelve at the first show. We had seen PJ in Camden, left the boys home with a sitter, and decided it was easier and cheaper to take them with us to Mansfield. Our sitter was very sweet but, no kidding, one time she was watching the boys and our house was struck by lightning, and she did not even realize what had happened. The kids were safer with us than they were at home being watched by a teenager.

I've discussed our thought process behind taking them with us before. We never would have taken our older child to a PJ show at nine -- he just was not ready. Our younger child is more mature and is a musician, so it was the right time. And we all wore ear protection (myself included). We explained that it would be very loud, people would be smoking all kinds of things and using colorful language, and it was all good.

We all had a great time and the boys got to see first-hand that getting shitfaced or using drugs makes you really stupid -- a message they have internalized, I am happy to say. The dude at Philly 1 who kept saying "Everything's covered with moss!" and needed the help of his buddies to leave the Spectrum made a lasting impression. I'd rather have an open dialogue with my kids about drinking and drugs than to just say "those are taboo." No, I am not permissive, not at all, I just believe in educating them so they can make good decisions.

This time, younger son said he'd rather not go and the older one said he'd like us to have that time to ourselves, so our teenagers are staying home.

As for taking little kids, I'm really against it. I think small children easily can be overwhelmed in such situations, and the impressions they get can be confusing. It's not even on the same scale, but my parents often took me along to the movies with them when I was little. I saw "Tommy" when it came out -- I was six years old, and that movie gave me nightmares. I was taken along to see "The Deer Hunter" in, I think, fourth grade -- front-row seats, at that. I should not have been there -- it was not educational, it was overwhelming and confusing.

I don't think 9 and 12 is that young. I think people are mostly talking about kids younger than that.

Honest question, just put of curiosity: how would the kids have been any safer with you than with the babysitter while in a house struck by lightning? The danger is sudden, unavoidable, and over quickly. Unless the babysitter's reaction was to get the kids to run outside holding metal pipes or to hide under a tall tree, or doesn't know what to do if there is a fire, I don't understand how leaving them with a babysitter increased the threat in that situation.