Can I go to a show without my kid?

[jonesbeach10]

But not everyone has the luxury of bringing an RV.

Exactly! Just my 2 cents, but I think if you can't keep your keet comfortable and let them have a fun day too, maybe they should be at Gramma's house, or somewhere..... Kudos to you, Al, for deciding what works (and what doesn't) in different venues for your family!

Exactly. I just reread my post, and I hope I didn't come off critical, because I wasn't. Kudos on finding something that works, Al!

[SchoolGirlHeart]

But not everyone has the luxury of bringing an RV.

Exactly! Just my 2 cents, but I think if you can't keep your keet comfortable and let them have a fun day too, maybe they should be at Gramma's house, or somewhere..... Kudos to you, Al, for deciding what works (and what doesn't) in different venues for your family!

Exactly. I just reread my post, and I hope I didn't come off critical, because I wasn't. Kudos on finding something that works, Al!

No, not at all!! No worries!

[Tropic_Al]

But not everyone has the luxury of bringing an RV.

Exactly! Just my 2 cents, but I think if you can't keep your keet comfortable and let them have a fun day too, maybe they should be at Gramma's house, or somewhere..... Kudos to you, Al, for deciding what works (and what doesn't) in different venues for your family!

As for as the "adult activities" in the lot, well, we turn it into a "learning lesson". My keet had a DARE program in school this year. Some of the stuff & people she saw in the lots & the show helped with that lesson. At our spot, we set up a display & basically stay there. We will wander a bit & if something comes up, we go the other way. As for nudity, it's only boobies. Big deal. Our keet is a big phan, she sings along, dances & has a great time inside. (last year we were @ Great Woods, see the topic, Keets & Concerts, continued...) It was a great family moment for all.
Anyway, if you think the keet is ready, bring 'em. Enjoy the day.
thank you SGH
JB10, it was nice meeting your family ! See you at the next show.

[seminolegrl06]

Most of yall are talking about kids who are 9 and older... I begged for a beatles album from my parents when i was 9 so I could see 9 year olds enjoying the music. If you know what to do with your keet than cool with me. But I am not changing my behavior for the few keets that are tagging along.

If I marry the BF (which I hope) by the time we have kids and I feel they will be of appropriate age to go... I would be guessing that would be in about 10-15 years from now.(hell I am only 23) I doubt jimmy will be touring by than. The BF went to his first show at 15. That was 15 years ago. While I know we would want our kids to know buffett I am just not sure its possible. So will I take them at age one or two just to take them there to expierance it? uuummm no, because it will be mommy and daddy time. Who wants to watch over a 3 year old amoung 50,000 people? no thanks.

The difference between a 3 year old and a 9/10 year old. You can only decide if you will enjoy yourself or not. I doubt this is jimmy's last tour and he always does a million east coast dates. maybe in a year or two take her. she will remember it than.

[Lightning Bolt]

To heck with the B/F
To heck with the keets,

I wanna take YOU to the Vegas show this Oct, Ms. Seminole!!

[Indiana Jolly Mon]

Not to criticize here, but people that take babies or toddlers to concerts, ball game, etc are doing it for themselves, not the child. I highly doubt your 3 year old will enjoy the show. The music on cd, yes, hell my keets love all kinds of music, but that is NOT an atmosphere for a child to be subjected to. I cringe at concers, Bears or Cubs games when I see people with a baby and they say "its their first game, its to special" no, its not to them, only to you. When the child is 6-7 and they can actually remember it and realize what is going on it becomes special to them. And that is what it is all about, them, not you.
Besides I dont think kids should ever be around adults in a clear party atmosphere, and a JB concert is exactly that.

[Lightning Bolt]

Not to criticize here, but people that take babies or toddlers to concerts, ball game, etc are doing it for themselves, not the child. I highly doubt your 3 year old will enjoy the show. The music on cd, yes, hell my keets love all kinds of music, but that is NOT an atmosphere for a child to be subjected to. I cringe at concers, Bears or Cubs games when I see people with a baby and they say "its their first game, its to special" no, its not to them, only to you. When the child is 6-7 and they can actually remember it and realize what is going on it becomes special to them. And that is what it is all about, them, not you.
Besides I dont think kids should ever be around adults in a clear party atmosphere, and a JB concert is exactly that.

I agree completely, IJM

[buffettbride]

I have two kiddos. One is 9 and the other 3. I would not DREAM of bringing my 3 year old to a show. It would be a nightmare and fun would be had by no one.

That said, my 9 year old has been to 2 shows and was 5 and 6 when she went. She did great. I would bring her to any show in a heartbeat. I have also left her at home when we've gone to shows and don't feel one bit bad for doing so.

For us, Jimmy Buffett IS family time because Jimmy is what helped bring our family together.

[seminolegrl06]

To heck with the B/F
To heck with the keets,

I wanna take YOU to the Vegas show this Oct, Ms. Seminole!!

Hahahaha well thanks darlin!

[RinglingRingling]

for what it's worth: it's not a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the kid, unless you were talking about one of the shows like Anguilla, Paris, or the rumoured Tahiti show. But those are once-in-a-lifetime shows for anyone.

If you are honest with yourself, how much of the taking the rugrat to a concert is for the kid (who might remember some of it, might not), and how much of it is for you? Personally, and no, I don't have kids, under the age of 10 would be too young, and probably more like under 18. I have seen 10 year olds at shows, and with their parents hovering, it is a possibility. But, in the end, you don't have to justify it to anyone. You're a parent, not a best friend. (that comes after emancipation)

[Littleskatersmom]

Wow, I'm surprised to be SO much in the minority here. My 'keet has been attending shows since she was 3 (she's 10 now). She loves the shows as much as I do. I don't worry about the fact that she falls asleep half way through the show. Up until that point she is bouncing around like the enegizer bunny. Do I wander the parking lot with her? No, but then, I have no interest in doing that myself. Usually we bring a hot tub to the shows and she stays in it throughout the entire tailgate. This year we brought a kiddie pool, and 3 tents (and our own "potty"). She even gets upset with JB for setlist changes that she doesn't approve of.

She won't necessarily remember everything about EVERY show she's been to, but I don't think she'll remember anything from our trip to Amsterdam when she was 3. However, it's all part of her happy childhood.

[Missing B'dos]

We took ours to DW the first time they were 3 & 6, we figured it was just 'for us', they wouldn't remember it (they did get a lot more out of visit at 6 & 9, 8 & 11, etc. until at 16 & 19 it was clear they had outgrown goin' with us!!) it was late nights and a lot of walking, we're not stroller people, but then my now 25 year old youngest, who's here visiting CA, said something that made it clear she DID remember and enjoy it, and she was 3. If it would make you HAPPY to take her, and she will be OK (she won't see or remember Fins, it's always at the end of the concert somewhere) and someone GAVE you tix, then for God's sake, take her.

Our family motto has been from an old Sesame Street song... "you may never have the chance again, and you'll have to remember when..." and it's sent us rafting down the Yellowstone, living down island, and our kids have followed their dreams, and many other things we might not have done. Carpe diem. Don't be wishing "what you could have done". :)

[The Lost Manatee]

I took my daughter to her first Buffett show when she was six and she's been to at least two a year ever since. She remembers the shows and she enjoys the shows. She wears earplugs to every concert she goes to where the music is amplified thus reducing the potential damage to her hearing.

We don't do a lot of tailgating stuff when she's along mostly because she gets tired of people saying how cute she is. I'm not worried about the limited nudity and frankly I don't care if it makes someone else uncomfortable if my daughter is present. Think about it, if you are uncomfortable because of some stranger's child being present, maybe you ought not be doing whatever it is that you are doing. Either you think your behavior is acceptable or you think it isn't and if you think it isn't then why are you doing it. I'm not uncomfortable having her present so why should you be uncomfortable.

She counts on us going to Buffett shows every year. They are special events for her, as well as for me. As far as when a parent should take a child to a show, well, that's up to the parents. I don't think that there is anything wrong with having special events in children's lives. I still remember going to see a number of concerts in Central Park when I was 4 and 5. My grandmother thought we should be exposed to a wide range of music and so we were.

My advice is follow your heart and have fun with whatever you decide.

[GetDrunkNScrew?]

Take her if you want, but it's ok to go out without her too. Enjoy the show.

[12vmanRick]

you know in all honesty it's not about what you want to do with your kids it's about how you let them interfere with other adults that don't want kids around. I have said this before and I will say it again. Don't expect me to act a certain way around your kids because you chose to take them to an event that is for adults. There are plenty of true kid events out there where any adult attending should mind their manners and realize that, Buffett is not that kind of place.

[sonofabeach]

man it's a good thing my keet was not at a couple of shows that I've been to.......................or my wife

[12vmanRick]

man it's a good thing my keet was not at a couple of shows that I've been to.......................or my wife

see although I believe (not sure) that we don't agree on everything, THAT is why we need to party together!!!

[sonofabeach]

man it's a good thing my keet was not at a couple of shows that I've been to.......................or my wife

see although I believe (not sure) that we don't agree on everything, THAT is why we need to party together!!!

It's bound to happen one of these days.
Hopefully sooner than later

[ormz6]

you owe it to yourself ,get a babtsitter , and get out on your own. Your child won't mind. But seriously we all need a night away from our kids once in a while. I have four children and would do anything for them. We finally took our oldest to a show and she is 18. P.S. she totally enjoyed the experience.

[rumdrinks]

you know in all honesty it's not about what you want to do with your kids it's about how you let them interfere with other adults that don't want kids around. I have said this before and I will say it again. Don't expect me to act a certain way around your kids because you chose to take them to an event that is for adults. There are plenty of true kid events out there where any adult attending should mind their manners and realize that, Buffett is not that kind of place.

Very well put. We all know what to expect at a Buffett tailgate, so people who bring their very young kids should not be shocked or upset when the kids see and hear things in an adult atmosphere. Unless, of course, they take their kids to bars.
I took my daughter to her first show when she was around 10. Kept her pretty much at our camp, so she didn't see things I didn't want her to see.