BuffettNews.com

photogal wrote:...greatwoods in MA, The police came and shut down a wet t-shirt contest that got out of hand in the parking lot, lots of nudity and the lawn is FULL of drunks.

Thirty years ago, I attended my first Buffett show, and it was love at first sight. For thirty years, I have collected his music, traveled back and forth to the islands and have been involved with volunteerism through charities and politics.

During those thirty years, I became a wife, and a mother. And since Buffett was the majority of what they heard, it seemed fitting that I included the children into my only vice. My only form of escapism.

The husband left years before, and in raising kids alone, I needed something to dull the pain. Booze and drugs weren't an option, but music could take me to different mental places that gave me relief.

My daughter attended her first concert when she was 8 years old. We dressed alike in colorful Hawaiian dresses. A few years later, my son was old enough to attend with us, and it became a family affair. We would dream of the ocean together, waiting for the next time Buffett was on the West Coast.

Some people join 4H, some do Cub Scouts... we all have sea in our blood so we do Buffett.

What was described in the above quote is something that I have NEVER witnessed. And truthfully, if I had seen it, I would have stayed away myself, let alone take my beautiful babies with me.

I realize that I am opening myself up for ridicule once again, but I am willing to do so for all of the many others out there who can attend Church, not drink, and keep their clothes on during a show..... While still knowing in their own hearts that they are PH's.

(please click on the link below.... and find the page:The Life Cycle of a Parrot Head)

Pyr8swyf wrote:

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.....

You are right it's not ABOUT the booze and drugs but that happens there and people need to understand that it does and it might not be something you want your children around.

As I said in a previous post, we do have a few drinks in the lot with our phriends before a show, cook a burger or two, and hang out....but you have to admit there is a big difference in having a drink or two (or three) and being a "drunk." Our kids had a blast at their first show and are looking forward to Charlotte and Raleigh, and the pholks in the lot were nothing but courteous to them last year. It's simply our job as parents in these situations to explain what might going on and be some sort of example in responsible "Parrotheadism." Enjoy the music, enjoy your phriends, enjoy the Parrothead fellowship, but if you have kids going along take inventory before you go and adjust accordingly.

We are taking my neice to the show in Vegas this year. She will have just turned 3 but she knows more Jimmy songs then her mom. She dances to Fins and Volcano and she will get in my stuff and dress like a little Parrotkeet!!! I know she is a little young but when ever we watch the Jimmy dvd she tells me she is going to a Buffett concert so i am bot going to argue

I can't WAIT to bring my 9 year old daughter!
She's a "reeferette kid" as she put it a few years ago, LOL
She enjoys him too so why not?
The most opportune venue (I think/hope) will be Fenway for her in September, she can't wait.... Possibly Raleigh too
We won't be there for the whole abbreviated Fenway tailgate scene, where/whatever that will be, moreso for my love of Fenway & for her 1st show!!!

There will be Plenty of cheesyburgers & rootbeer consumed & in the car we'll still sing "why don't we drink milk & moo"

I became a PHan at 16, had my daughter at 17, and for the past 13 years she has grown up in a house where Buffett is the rule, not the exception. She loves Jimmy's music, and she attended her first concert "in utero"......I can't imagine NOT bringing her to a show. She has grown up with Jimmy's music, and his stories.....it's in her blood, as much as it is in mine.

My son was born in Key West, so it is sort of my obligation to bring him to a Buffett concert. This summer might be the time. I don't care (for the most part) what anybody else does as long as I stay sober. Although, I would be much more comfortable in a seated section as opposed to the lawn.

After reading this entire thread I realized I wasn't alone. This year in Atlanta will be a great family event for us. My brother got me hooked on Buffett when I was 13 and he his coming up for only the thid show we have ever been to together in 27 years. We bought enough tickets for his kids and mine to go. Although I am debating taking my 3 year old son My 6 year old daughter is definitly in. She earned her spot when I found her singing Last Mango in Paris last week and she knew every word. There are many others she knows by heart. In Atlanta I have never seen anything bad - other than passed out drunks & guys peeing in the bushes. My kids have seen that at every football game we go to - so it won't be anything new. I take responsibility and make sure they realize right from wrong. They know adults just like kids do wrong things sometimes and that doesn't mean that it's okay to emulate that.
I can't wait I think it will be a day she will never forget for all the right reasons. I am so excited about my little parakeet experiencing her first show and maybe my son too.

I was a little ambivalent when my friends brought along their 5-year old keet to last year's San Diego show. I knew that she would see the usual tailgate craziness (especially OURS!!) and my initial feeling was that youngsters might be better served to be shielded from such revelry.
But she had a blast! She was all excited to be dressed up in her parakeet suit, and all the passers-by were all charmed by her. Granted, there wasn't as much flashing as we were usually treated to, but we could walk around and drum up more attention with our lil' keet! We all had a great time!
damn, maybe I'm growing up a little....

12vmanRick wrote:

Pyr8swyf wrote:

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.....

You are right it's not ABOUT the booze and drugs but that happens there and people need to understand that it does and it might not be something you want your children around.

poor argument, that happens at baseball games too & there people are more violent / angry drunks as opposed to the more carefree type of drunk at a Buffett concert...

so with that are we not supposed to bring kids to baseball games too?

where does it end?

I love it when people who aren't parents yet say stuff & change their tune 180 degrees after they have a kid, seen it over & over many times

My kid will be with my wife & I at Raleigh & she is so psyched about it!!!

Pyr8swyf wrote:

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.....

Umm have you ever heard a Buffett song?

I will bring my son with me when he is a little older.... 15 months still too young lol.....I know that people drink there, and I know people smoke there and you know what...thats ok....Guess what..it is part of the whole Buffett experience. I don't want people to change how they act because I choose to bring my son...We will walk through the parking lot and aviod anything I deem inappropriate for him and while seated if someone sparks up next to me then good for them, I will move my son to the other side of me and continue watching the show. If you are so uptight about drinking and boozing then you should go see Disney on Ice and leave Buffett to those who want to have a good time.

I just think those that are judging the people who do have kids and bring them to concert need to stop. It's our decision, our kids so leave us alone. Our children are our responsibility not yours.

my kids are 17 months.. i wouldn't bring them cause i couldn't have fun.. if they were teens i'd bring them.. anything to get them to listen to good music and not the rest of the crap thats out there

I plan to bring my 6 year old daughter with us this year. She has, like other 'keets, been raised with Jimmy's msuic and attitude. I can't deprive her of her destiny, she's wanted to see Jimmy since she could sing his songs. The tailgating is not the issue, the parents are. You see things before they do (most of the time) so steer them away from it.

Responsible parents=responsible kids.

ph4ever wrote:I just think those that are judging the people who do have kids and bring them to concert need to stop. It's our decision, our kids so leave us alone. Our children are our responsibility not yours.

What she said.

My son has been to one Buffett show so far. He was 7 or 8 at the time. It was at Great Woods. We got there on time for the show, skipped the tailgate, and had pavilion seats.

Truthfully, I have had more bad experiences at Fenway park (ballgames) than I ran into at the show. I can't believe the amount of people here who are criticizing parents who bring our kids - like we might ruin your drunk or something.

And no, to me anyhow, Buffett music is not all about the booze and drugs. And yes, I have listened to a few of them. And yes, I drink sometimes, and yes, I used to smoke pot. To me, the music is about freedom of spirit, and I pity anyone who doesn't feel that they have that without drinking 4 gallons of booze and smoking a brick of dope.

MojosMama wrote:And no, to me anyhow, Buffett music is not all about the booze and drugs. And yes, I have listened to a few of them. And yes, I drink sometimes, and yes, I used to smoke pot. To me, the music is about freedom of spirit, and I pity anyone who doesn't feel that they have that without drinking 4 gallons of booze and smoking a brick of dope.

It's nice if you have a chance to get together and hang out with friends for a few hours before the show but when I go to a concert, any concert, not just Buffett, I go for the music. That's what got me there the first time and that's what keeps me coming back, not the party. The party is just a bonus. If all the venues that claim they don't allow tailgating actually started to enforce their own rules would it bother me? Yeah, it probably would. But would it be the end of the world and keep me from going to Buffett shows? Not a chance.

LIPH wrote:It's nice if you have a chance to get together and hang out with friends for a few hours before the show but when I go to a concert, any concert, not just Buffett, I go for the music. That's what got me there the first time and that's what keeps me coming back, not the party. The party is just a bonus. If all the venues that claim they don't allow tailgating actually started to enforce their own rules would it bother me? Yeah, it probably would. But would it be the end of the world and keep me from going to Buffett shows? Not a chance.

Well said!

This has pretty much been said already but I'm pretty much all for keets at concerts but with stipulations....they have to be prepared for what they are going to see there. There will be boobies and drunks and bad words and stuff. Mostly from me!!! And you can't party like a rock star when your keets are with you because that's just sad. The lawn would be pretty tricky for them because they could get lost, etc. etc. etc. There's always the chance that you would have to leave the concert early because of a variety of keet needs.

If this is your first concert, I wouldn't make it everyone's virgin experience. Go and see for yourself and then decide if it's right for YOUR kids to go.

My daughter went to her first in 2003 and she was 5. She did great. Went this year as well. Next year we are going keet-free--our baby is only 4 months so that would be way too extreme! I would just hate to deprive my children of a live JB experience and then have him retire before they are "of age" to see him. JB has been such an important influence in our lives and we want our family to share in the experience (or else I wouldn't have rented the entire friggen press box at the Pepsi Center to take MY ENTIRE FAMILY to the concert).

Whew. I'm done.

MojosMama wrote:My son has been to one Buffett show so far. He was 7 or 8 at the time. It was at Great Woods. We got there on time for the show, skipped the tailgate, and had pavilion seats.

Truthfully, I have had more bad experiences at Fenway park (ballgames) than I ran into at the show. I can't believe the amount of people here who are criticizing parents who bring our kids - like we might ruin your drunk or something.

And no, to me anyhow, Buffett music is not all about the booze and drugs. And yes, I have listened to a few of them. And yes, I drink sometimes, and yes, I used to smoke pot. To me, the music is about freedom of spirit, and I pity anyone who doesn't feel that they have that without drinking 4 gallons of booze and smoking a brick of dope.

In 51 replies so far I count 4 responses that say no, so the vast majority say OK. Don't take it as criticism - it's a difference of opinion. Even people who do bring their keets admit that at certain venues the lawn isn't the best place for them and that the tailgate party is on the adult side. You chose to avoid it yourself that time. I agree with you there. Going to the show is fine, but it may not be neccessary to expose them to EVERYTHING that goes on. JMO