7 and 9 year old too Young for a Concert?

[pinacolada lover]

I have to agree with the majority here. I took mine one year and it was hard to enjoy myself and censor things at the same time. I have left mine at home ever since.

[NYCPORT]

Our daughter Delaney will be 9 in Sept. and she can't wait to see Jimmy and all our other friends at Great Woods this year. This will be her 3rd show and I think she started going during the Salty Piece of Land tour. She missed a year and was really upset she couldn't go. It's something she looks forward to every year just like us.
I have to disagree with those who have said no to the tailgate. Not that we impose on those in our group but everyone seems to keep an eye on her and have fun with her and we've never had even a slight problem. It's all how you raise them. My kid is completely comfortable around people drinking and partying, she knows it what adults do and not something she can do, but she still has blast playing beer pong and not drinking.
If you don't want to have to be responsible for your kids don't bring them, but that would apply to anywhere, not just a Bubba show. I can only think of a few things I've seen at a JB tailgate that I couldn't explain to her and nothing that is going to turn her into serial killer or an S&M p*** star.

[silvermoon]

Oh, gosh, this is such a subjective thing. We're the parents who happily brought our kids to New Year's Eve in Key West a few years in a row around that age, so I guess I'm the bad mom.

I don't think there's anything really horrible they'll see tailgating unless you go looking for it. A little nudity is no big deal IMO, especially when it's all in good fun. I'm pretty liberal about that kind of stuff, though, so it's really a personal call in the end.

The biggest argument against taking small children is that having to supervise them will curtail your fun. However, if you go with a group it could be easier than if it's just you and your kids. And, of course, someone will have to be a reliable designated driver.

[Nighthawk]

It all depends on how you raise your children. If you let them live a sheltered life, Hell no. Don't take them. But if you are a little more free, by all means take them. They are going to see it eventually, and at least then you won't have to explain it to them again.

[sonofabeach]

I think it's a little young. Nothin' wrong with cutting the cord for a day and having a little away time for mom and dad to get wild.

[bufitonmybmw]

My two girls were 7 and 9 when I brought them to their first show. It was in Orlando, while we were on a family vacation. We walked around outside the venue, so they could "see" what the tailgating was all about, but didn't participate. They LOVED the concert, having been raised on Jimmy's music since birth!
I would not, however, bring them to a "home" concert here in Chicago. That day is completely different and I agree with those that use the term "adult time". My tailgating experience begins in the lot at 10am and there's no way, even now at 10 & 12, that they would even want to be involved in that crazy of a day!

[Dezdmona]

I can't imagine NOT bringing "Master Junior Mint" to the show and the tailgate. But I think it depends a LOT on the venue and the people you tailgate with.
Some places around the country seem to be more R rated than others, so it's important to know the style of the venue your considering taking your keet to.

We've been taking MJM since he was 6 (he's 12 now) and have been able to steer him away from things that he doesn't need to see, but we don't participate in the wilder things ourselves (anymore) either, so it's not a bother for us. He would be heartbroken if he didn't get to go to the tailgate and looks forward to it every year. I'm thankful he'll have Buffett AND the tailgates as a memory when he's grown...(but he's got some other major Rock Concert icon memories that a lot of kids his age don't have, too.)

That being said, we warn him in advance of some of the things he may see and he's learned to take it with a grain of salt. (pun intended).

[wanderingtoes]

This is the other thing, it is a great way to make a lasting memory of seeing Jimmy Buffett. Since he cannot tour forever for the keets time is fleeting so my advice is to think through the venue and if it makes since, do it. Example at the Woodlands in Houston, it would be a great atmosphere for keets. Finally how cool would it be around the house to be playing Buffett and the keets having actually seen and heard him perform that song in person.

[AlbatrossFlyer]

things i've seen at a JB concert

adults not having adult fun because they brought their kids

adults having too much adult fun even though they brought their kids

respectable adults completely drunk and stupid

heard lots of sailor / longshoreman language

what must be a very frail and infirm audience due to the amount of medical marijuana being smoked at the show

multiple female fans i wanted to see flash, flash

multiple (but not as many) female fans i didn't want to see flash, flash

adult toy races

adult themed ice sculptures

a straight couple buck nekid screwing on the lawn

a gay couple buck nekid screwing on the lawn

not sure how you explain away the last 2 to your kids....

[JollyMon66]

My son is grown, but there's no way I would have taken him to a concert at such a young age. One, it's adult time for me. Two, there's so much going on that I don't think they're ready for. And that would go for any adult music concert. Your mileage may vary.

Ditto...couldn't say it any better Penny.

[looking4OPH]

a straight couple buck nekid screwing on the lawn

a gay couple buck nekid screwing on the lawn

not sure how you explain away the last 2 to your kids....

If the music playing in the background was WDWGDAS.......

[Lightning Bolt]

a straight couple buck nekid screwing on the lawn

a gay couple buck nekid screwing on the lawn

not sure how you explain away the last 2 to your kids....

If the music playing in the background was WDWGDAS.......

"now, er, kids... these people are, uhh, very poor, and they lost their clothes, are trying REALLY HARD to share a very special hug to...uh ..stay warm! ...yeah, that's it!"

[hemispheredancer05]

I have never taken kids to the concerts. It's just a girls night out. With that being said, my partner-in-crime declined the show this year (wth right??) so I asked my 16 y.o. daughter if she wanted to go. She immediately said "heck yeah Mom!". She is a very bright kid that makes good choices. She knows Mom will be drinking and acting just as crazy as a lot of other people. But we have a mutual agreement that what happens there, stays there. Now would I take a 7 or 8 year old? Absolutely not. Just not the place to expose these kids. Plus, a night out without kids is a good thing!

[Nighthawk]

It all depends on the kid. Years ago a bunch of us took my one buddy's son with us to see Sammy Hagar. Of course we pre-showed at his house, and when we left, we took his boy with us who was probably 8 at the time. He saw just as much action as he would at most buffett shows. To make him feel not left out, we got him a few 6 packs of IBC Root Beer. That way, he was able to have a bottle in his hands like all of us, but wasn't real beer. He had a blast.

[aeroparrot]

I would agree with the post that stated it depends on where you are sitting and if you buy lawns, then yes they are way too young, pavilions, not as much.

[Little Miss Magic's Mama]

We took our 7 and 8 year olds to the Shoreline show last October. Prior to the show - and thanks to the Latitude 38 Parrothead Club - they got to meet Mr. Utley plus Peter Mayer. That was a lot of fun for them. They were excited with the games before the show and had fun in the seats for a short time. The show started at 8pm, which is their normal bedtime. This caused a few issues. My 7-year-old son was starting to get cranky and got pretty mad when he realized that he would have to stand during the entire show. Some incredibly nice ladies near us loaned him their blanket and he snuggled up under it for a while. Then he heard "Volcano" and was out of his seat in a flash, dancing around on the chair. When WDWGDAS was brought out for the first time in a long time, everyone around us turned to my 7-year-old and smiled. He loudly sang "Why don't we drink milk and MOO" (since that's what he's been taught... ) Our seats were down low but he mainly watched the screen and liked that Jimmy came out wearing a Giants jacket. My 8-year-old fell asleep toward the end of the first set but was up for the second half. Both kids LOVED "Fins", "Pirate Looks at 40" - all songs they know. If you ask them, they'll tell you it was a great show. For me - I won't bring them again. Once was enough and I want to just enjoy the show and let go of responsibility for a short time.

[caly]

I would not usually add my opinion, but I am going to

In my opinion, kids have way too may privledges these days from when I grew up (I am only 43).

What ever happened to "no" or "wait till you are older". I have lots of friends who include their kids in everything they do. Some should, and some shouldn't. I would never tell them they shouldn't take their kids to the concert, but I don't think it is necessary. As teenagers, that is a little different.
For one ..... they are going to see things they shouldn't. You should also give yourselves a break and enjoy each other while being kidless. If you are going to have to act any different than you would normally at a concert, then they are too young.
There is a time and place and the lawn and the parking lot at the DTE is sure not either. IMHO
Hope I didn't make any enemies over this ........ I'm just sayin

kidless and fancy free

[SeattleParrotHead]

I took my then 11 yo she-keet to the White River show with me when my wife got sick and couldn't go. We didn't tailgate (hell, I don't like drunks, why would I subject my 'keet to them?) We had a great time, a real special father-daughter bonding moment. It was so cool to hear her singing along with nearly every song! (As JB would say, she wuz brung up right!) When she was 14 we took her to Vegas with us, Cirque LOVE one night, JB the next. Again, a great time (again, NO PARKING LOT.) Two years ago, she begged her way to Waikiki with me and ended up in the 1st row in the Shell (I was 6 rows behind, keeping my eye on her.) There are a bunch of BNrs who can tell you what a great time she had. Most kids are pretty smart . . if nothing else, subjecting them to a bunch of drunk idiots will serve as good lesson on the evils of alcohol (excessive alcohol, anyway!)

I say bring them, use it as a learning experience and a great bonding experience. BUT STAY OUT OF THE PARKING LOT!

[sonofabeach]

things i've seen at a JB concert

respectable adults completely drunk and stupid

if one of them was wearing a loud hawaiian shirt, that was me!

[ParrotHeadInThe Making]

I think that parents who are considering taking their children to a show know their kids and what the kids can handle. Now if it were me I would not do it. A Buffett show is my time to cut loose and have time to myself and have fun. After the show it is back to reality and back to life's responsibilities.