To Take the Keets or To Not Take the Keets!?!?

[BareFootnKC]

My wife and I have been pondering this for some time..probably even before they were born..When is the right age to take the kids to see Buffett? They are now approaching 4 and can rival even the most seasoned Parrothead with their knowledge of the songs and their darn cute (if I might add) dances that accompany these songs. They see a palm tree and a sailboat and they immediately are interested to see if a Jimmy song is far behind. They have noticed the music in the background of a resteraunt long before I ever would...they are true Parakeets!
So my question to all my fellow Phans..Is there a child that is too young to see the man in concert? I have seen others there before!? They are still too young to understand what getting drunk and screwing mean... Thank God! So I think its the perfect time. If the majority say don't take em...then my next question will be.... "Who wants to buy two tickets to the MN show in May??"

[sholleran]

You're not the first to have that question - checkout the 3 pages of replies in previous thread "Kids at Buffett concerts". But it's definately not an easy one to answer!

[BareFootnKC]

I'll check it out! Thanks!!

[kitty]

I would not bring a child that young...for many reasons.
But I guess to be honest, my main reason fro not bringing my boys tet...they are 10 and 12...is that it would effect my fun! Buffett shows are the unltimate party day for my husband and me...we go nuts and act crazy...something we don't do in our "normal life". We like to escape, and quite frankly, I would not want my children to witness that.

[12vmanRick]

I would not bring a child that young...for many reasons.
But I guess to be honest, my main reason fro not bringing my boys tet...they are 10 and 12...is that it would effect my fun! Buffett shows are the unltimate party day for my husband and me...we go nuts and act crazy...something we don't do in our "normal life". We like to escape, and quite frankly, I would not want my children to witness that.

Kitty I just keep admiring you more!!! Well said!

[ColdWaterConch]

I would not bring a child that young...for many reasons.
But I guess to be honest, my main reason fro not bringing my boys tet...they are 10 and 12...is that it would effect my fun! Buffett shows are the unltimate party day for my husband and me...we go nuts and act crazy...something we don't do in our "normal life". We like to escape, and quite frankly, I would not want my children to witness that.

Ditto....no way I'd take my kids. Heck, the school and their DARE programs already brainwash them....I can't imagine what they would report back after seeing a Buffett tailgate.

[jvman16]

Welp heres my answer.

If your kiddies like the music.........bring them. If something really raunchy is going on in your immediate area take them for a walk around the parking lot if possible or make them sit in the car. Last year was my first show (Just me and wife, no kiddies in Cincy) while there was lots of "partying" going on there was absolutely no violence or fighting or things like that. If its potsmoking and titties flashing that bothers you, youll most likely be able to shield them from that. Besides everyone here owns a TV right ????????
The only reason I would leave the kids home is if they werent knowledgeable of the music. Im not trying to "make" them ph's. If my kids only liked Jolly Mon and Cheeseburger and Carribean Amphibean Id leave them home and make this a great day out for me and my wife and some friends.
Im not trying to brag but my 6 and 12 year olds really enjoy a large variety of Jimmys songs and thats the reason Im taking them to Camden.

John

p.s. Anyone else going to be in Camden with kiddies ????? Im planning on getting there around 4 or 5

[AlbatrossFlyer]

what are you going to tell the kiddies when they see both a straight and gay couple screwing on the lawn? (shoreline '99)

[parrotsgirl]

I guess I have mixed thoughts on it....if you are going to take them "JUST" to the show, then that's fine, I think the parking lot is a lil much for keets that age....

I have a 16yr old and a 12yr old....although they both love Jimmy, last year was the 1st year I brought my older one to GW.....she had done M.S.G and loved it, but there was no tailgating...

Just my personal opinion.....but I think it's a lil to young....

[kitty]

p.s. Anyone else going to be in Camden with kiddies ????? Im planning on getting there around 4 or 5

With all due respect, John...do you plan on hanging with a group of people at Camden? I think it would be considerate of you to ask the people that you plan to hang out with if they would feel comfortable partying in front of a 6 and 12 year old. I, for one would not enjoy having young children invlolved in a tailagte party that I was a part of. Don't get me worng...I don't do anything illegal or raunchy....I just prefer to act like an adult and have fun..with no worry of offending little ones or their parents. Selfishly, I would not wawnt to feel I had to tone down my fun in fear of little eyes and ears...as I said, I would not allow my kids to see me behave the wway I do at a Buffett show...

[HockeyParrotHead]

It's really no different than watching live TV or an unfamilair show with your keets (except for the cost!). The problem is, you never know what they might see or hear, so if there is a good chance they'd see or hear something you don't want them to at whatever age they are, do something else with them. They won't remember people screwing, barfing, cursing or whatever as much they'll remember you took them to see it. And at 4, you're really asking for touble IMO.

Plenty of wholesome family stuff (and stuph) to do without taking them to a Buffett concert. Take them to Margaritaville in Orlando, or Vegas, or any PH phriendly place in your area in the daytime if you want them to get some of the "experience" but I'd sure recommend against a live show.

[Love and Luck]

I've been to at least 10 concerts at Great Woods and always get there by 10:00 am... I have NEVER seen anyone screwing, mainly because I don't want to...

[citcat]

Well, you really shouldn't take them to a tailgate (vibrator races, flashing, etc.) and you definitely shouldn't sit on the lawn (no 'splanation necessary) and you couldn't drink and you couldn't make wiz zee whoopies back at the hotel, so why would you take them? Take them to a Margaritaville Cafe, get them a big cheeseburger and listen to the good music there. However, if you sit in the pavilion with them and don't mind missing a lot of the fun, go ahead! I still remember last year in Nashville, for some reason a little girl won a contest to get up on stage with Jimmy, he was singing WDWGDAS and had to change the words to, "Why don't we get lunch at school." Kinda took the sparkle out of the song. But Jimmy did show some quick thinking there!

[AlbatrossFlyer]

my question is:

don't you and your spouse WANT some time away from the keets so you can be adults?

[finsupnorth]

Hey Jeff...Don't really have an answer for you....I wouldn't just because I would want to party to much and wouldn't want to lose track of them. You and April seem pretty responsible though... I have been meaning to get in touch with you...I know someone who knows a cop in KC and lives there himself....

[phjrsaunt]

You're not the first to have that question - checkout the 3 pages of replies in previous thread "Kids at Buffett concerts". But it's definately not an easy one to answer!

I love the youngsters as much as anyone, but PLEASE don't bring your four year old to a concert. It's more than they can handle, and I get PEEVED listening to whining children when I'm trying to have "grown up" fun.

[freddyfishstick]

My keets are 4 and 2 and I for along time just figured they would be going with me to see Jimmy. After hearing sound advice from many phriends around here and elseware I decided it was not the right thing to do. The show and preparty is a perfect escape from our normal lives and after having the keets around that is now normal life and we need the time away. Also tickets are sooooooo hard to get, soooooooooooo expensive that I wouldnt want to waste a ticket and inhibit my own phun. They would not appreciatte it nearly as much as many adult phriends that I know and they might even (probably) fall asleep for most if not all of the show. They love Margaritavision though and Buffett is and will remain a part of their lives. So if you have tickets think of who might appreciatte them more, your keets or some adults that need the escape that are phun to be around?

[parrotsgirl]

my question is:

don't you and your spouse WANT some time away from the keets so you can be adults?

My ? AF is does it have to involve the spouse?????

[Tiki Bar]

I'm still in the camp (not band camp ) that wants to share the joy of Jimmy in concert with my keets. I am more than willing to remain sober and responsible for 1 day to give them this everlasting childhood memory, to protect them from the things they shouldn't see, and explain anything odd they do see. They will be 8 and 6 for Thursday Chicago, and we will be there if I can get pavilion tickets.

They fully embrace the fun when we bring them to Tom Carey and Mr Myers every chance we get (not in bars at night time - fortunately they've played twilight shows in area parks, and CIP during the day.) Seeing Jimmy would be something they would treasure forever, and I would thoroughly enjoy sharing the experience with them.

[shrimper~dan]

I look forward to our "adults only" weekend at Tinley Park every year. Usually four or five couples; cuss, spit, and throw bottles, maybe a little slap and tickle after in the Hotel. I surely would not alter that formula by adding 'keets. Having said that, my 10 year old has been begging us to go to a show for the last three or four years. This year my solution is TWO SHOWS! We are takin' a little family trip to Tampa, maybe a little Busch Gardens, some beach action, and a Buffett show.
We won't be doing the taigate thing and I'm guessing with no lawn the scene will be a bit toned down. I guess I'm taking a risk that she may see something beyond PG-13, but I'm hoping that on the whole it will be a positive experience for her. If it gets too weird, we can always leave.