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Just wanted to agree with the "no lawn seats with kids" opinions...

well i know that in the lawn...drunkenness is not the worst thing they'd see...

i know that there was some sort of plant rolled up being passed around near myself at the concert (wasn't mine i swear ) but i'd defintely say wait a few years on the youngons!

Dr. Johnny Fever wrote: It is just as well that you have kept your daughter in the dark WRT these two songs, as they have never ever been sung by Jimmy Buffett, regardless of what all those Napster and Kazaa users have been lead to believe.

There is a 45 record in a jukebox at one of our local watering holes that says otherwise. Margaritaville on Side A, I-95 Song on side B.

I guess that I am the exception. I have taken my daughter twice to Buffett as a 9 and 11 year old. The was at Shoreline (outside) in No. Cal and both times it went well. We got there early and had front row lawn seats so she and the kids of the rest of the group (17 of us) could move around a bit and see well. A couple of the other kids didn't make it through the concert do to falling asleep or boredom. We had no rude people around us and actually nice people even in line. The worst thing she had to experience was WDWGDAS, but as Jimmy says " Why Don't we get lunch at school".
She was upset when she didn't get to go to the indoor concert this winter as getting 17 seats together is too tough.

I would agree with the other posts that you should first go to a concert at that location first to see what that specific location is like.

My son went to his first show at 4. We had lawn seats, and all had a great time. The only question you should ask yourself is if you can relax with them there. Everyone around us was great and my son asks about once a week when the next Jimmy Buffett concert is.

I guess I'm in the minority too. I have two daughters and one went to her 1st show at 3, and the other went to her 1st show last year at 2. The older one is now a pro at the ripe old age of 5. I have to say how wonderful all the fellow Parrotheads have been with them. I have been going to shows for 20 years now, and I expected nothing less. I agree with most of the other posters, the lawn is really not ideal--if not for any reason but that they can't see. The 2 y.o. was on the lawn, but hubby held her the whole time while my other daughter and I took the pavilion seats (yes, screwed by Ticketmaster yet again). I think what you must remember is that you are still a parent, and that it is still your responsibility for what goes on. We simply kept a watchful eye in the parking lot and steered her clear of peeing men, flashing women, and other activities I deemed "inappropriate." I don't expect anyone to alter their behavior for my children, it is my job to just avoid them. As I said, everyone has been simply great (one guy even covered up the boobs on his blow up doll as we walked by , but to me that made it look like he was holding them) and the kids come home with loads of Parrotphenalia that people give them. We've also had the talk with the older one about what too much alcohol does to people, and she is OK...as long as it is not HER parent! Both girls are gearing up for Manassas this year, while Pittsburgh is our "adults only" show. Hope the dates come out soon!

I agree with what seems to be the consensus regarding kids at concerts: parents are responsible for their own kids. I think it is important for any parent taking their kids to realize that the other 10,000 people are not looking out for them. This is not because we are anti-kids, but because this is our time to act as crazy as we want. Many of us have kids and we have arranged for them to be taken care of just so we can spend this time blowing off steam and acting like teenagers again (minus the angst!). I am not taking my 9 & 12 yo kids to Charlotte b/c I want to party my a** off without having to keep tabs on them.
I believe Parrotheads as a group are some of the most kid friendly pholks around, so as long as you are prepared to explain some 'grown up' situations to your kids everyone should have a great time.

OH, one other thing..Don't let them eat the Jello!!

I really don't have a moral/morale (whichever word) issue with it. I just have been in situations where parents expect people around to act a certain way because they brought their child. Well some places just are not suited for children. Buffett is one of those places where people let their hair (what is left of mine) down. I heard someone once say "what happens at Buffett stays at Buffett". Just my thought and reasoning behind my original statement.

Smart woman wrote:I don't expect anyone to alter their behavior for my children, it is my job to just avoid them.

I think this sums up the "keet or no keet" decision perfectly. Being prepared for the outrageous behavior, and recognizing and avoiding the offensive behavior is the responsibility of the parent who chooses to let the keets share in the fun.

Tiki Bar wrote:

Smart woman wrote:I don't expect anyone to alter their behavior for my children, it is my job to just avoid them.

I think this sums up the "keet or no keet" decision perfectly. Being prepared for the outrageous behavior, and recognizing and avoiding the offensive behavior is the responsibility of the parent who chooses to let the keets share in the fun.

Thanks for pointing that line out. I missed it. That does sum it up too!

To quote one of the great philosophers of our time. . .

"I don't drink at your daycare . . . "AF June 2002

Karin wrote:To quote one of the great philosophers of our time. . .

"I don't drink at your daycare . . . "AF June 2002

been called lots of things, but that's a first....

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:

Karin wrote:To quote one of the great philosophers of our time. . .

"I don't drink at your daycare . . . "AF June 2002

been called lots of things, but that's a first....

yea that isn't a word I would have associated with ya

My niece Savanah will is 7 yrs old and Sunrise will be her 3rd show. I have been lucky enough to score tix for my family for the last 3 years and its a multi-generational event.

The first year, also at Sunrise, she slept through most of the show.

Last year, Tampa, with tailgating in high gear she was having a blast. I only get to see her a couple of times a year and the time we had was grand. She fit right in. And everyone was great.

Inside the show, she made friends with everyone around us, something my father and brother-in-law were very happy about, since they all seemed to be good looking co-eds. Someone gave her maracas to play.

This year, she had a choice. I bought her a ticket, but her getting older and more used to saying "NO", I didn't want to assume she would want to go. Thankfully she has decided to go.

I can see why some people might be concerned, but all in all, while things might get crazy, I think its great lesson about going out and living, enjoying life and getting along.

Well, the Mom in me says subject my innocent children to madness??? No, the parrothead says, it's a blast. So, I think it depends on the child. My 4 year old...not on your life. She is the center of attention and would ask way too many questions that I would feel obligated to answer. And, I want to join the conga line and I can't leave her. She does however, know more buffett tunes than most "fans", not Phans. Those people who say "I love Buffett" but Margaritaville is the only song they know. On the other side of that coin, I promised my other child he can join us at the next show. (And I was/am hoping it's Nashville!!!) Now, he's very laid back. He'a also almost 14 and as big as any adult. The idea of strangers falling on him or him getting knocked down doesn't worry me. So, make that parent call based on the kid, because you can't pre-judge the crowd.

I have brought my kids to Great Woods. We go every year so we know which area of the parking lot to go to. We went last year to the Thursday show which is usually a little bit more low key and went to the parking lot to the left. We went later in the day (around 3:30), sat at our car for a while, ate some lunch and then walked a little bit so that they could get the feel for it. I would not bring them to the Saturday show as it is much more wild. It's all up to the parents as to how much they let their kids see. My son was 13 and daughter 9 and they have been wanting to go for years. They are true parakeets and had a blast. My daughter danced dressed in her grass skirt and shell bra in the aisle the whole show! Hope to get enough tickets to bring them along again!

My neice is a veteran of several shows and she is only 12. Her first show was at Madison Square Garden in NY. The following year she went to the PNC Bank Arts Center and has been to Camden a few times. She has also been to the Continental Arena. She loves the outdoor shows where we get to tailgate - her favorite was the PNC Bank Arts Center. Too bad Jimmy doesn't play there often. We have always had pavillion seats and I would never let her on the lawn.

You need to sit the kids down before the show and explain to them, on a level they can understand, some of the things they might see. Put the emphasis on sharing a great time and great music and the Parrothead community and not on the drinking and rude behavior they might witness. We don't emphasize that drinking is an important part of the Buffett experience. We always have a margarita before the show - her's is non-alcoholic of course. She has formed her own opinion about drinking from what she has witnessed at some shows and understands that you don't need to overdue it to have a good time. I hope this is a life lesson that she'll always remember.


Pat

To Sum it up:


If you don't mind your kids being round tons of drunks ( like my group) or people using illicit drugs, then bring them. If any of that bothers you simply just dont bring them, it will be an extra ticket for another person to go.

We've taken our oldest to two concerts. The first was the last time Jimmy was in St. Louis (Please come back). He was 8 and we had pavillion seats. Due to the thunderstorm passing through, not much untoward was going on!

We took him to the Saturday concert in Chicago last year. He was 11 and we sat in the lawn. Other than spilling his $11 soda, there were no problems.

sirgumby77 wrote:To Sum it up:


If you don't mind your kids being round tons of drunks ( like my group) or people using illicit drugs, then bring them. If any of that bothers you simply just dont bring them, it will be an extra ticket for another person to go.

I can't imagine you have children that live with you 24/7....it's hard to leave them behind.....We want them to be able to enjoy the music along with us and become responsible adult Parrotheads one of these days...PS...hope your group of drunks are not sitting in my section...we, like many others, are there to see (and remember) the show....Buffett is not about the booze and the drugs... Those who think he is are missing so much in the messages of his music.....