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Article on kids and concerts
The author is full of ****. If you know your kids, do what's appropriate.
"HDogan" wrote in message ... "D.Dyke" wrote: Just read an article in today's entertainment section of the Valley Times/Contra Costa Times. It is so nice to read a rant about little kids at adult concerts in print. There are some great lines in this piece, like "Here's an idea: Grow up. You're a parent now and that means, like it or not, life changes." I'd love to post a link, but alas, there doesn't appear to be one. So, I'm typing all this in - any typos, mistakes, etc., are mine. Debbie ********* Want to go to a concert? Leave your kids at home. by Tony Hicks The 2-Year-Old with the big brown eyes and messy dark hair pulled her pink blanket around her shoulder and snuggled closer to her daddy. Her eyelids sagged heavily and she fell limp. It was way past her bedtime. The man patted her back as her mommy smiled at the sight from her chair. The lights went out. Then the power chords exploded like thunder, shaking everything in sight, including the toddler's insides. I watched this play out earlier this year, and surmised that it's good that parents bring blankets for their little kids when they drag them to concerts. It softens the blow when they awake startled. Once they get used to the overbearing noise, the young'uns get bored and crawl under their parents' chairs - on those germ-free concrete arena floors - and the parents can cover them, just as if they're sleeping at home. Or not. It's just more proof that a human being doesn't require any common sense to become a parent. Family entertainment? As concerts have become normal diversions the past couple of generations, they've eased into the category of family entertainment. It's one thing, however, to take a 12-year-old to see a boy band on a Saturday night. It's quite another to drag kids under 5 to a rock concert on a Tuesday night. What's really disturbing is that seeing toddlers at shows isn't so shocking anymore. I've seen kids no older than 4 or 5 late into the night at the heavy metal fiesta Ozzfest and at BFD, the annual hard-rock show put on by radio station KITS-FM 105.3 (Live 105). I've seen kids clutch for dear life while Mommy headbanged to White Zombie or Korn. I've seen kids not yet school age decked out in full KISS makeup, held up for the band to see. This isn't a preachy reinforcement of Tipper Gore's Parents Music Resource Center. It's not about the music either. It's about the appropriateness of dragging kids to rock shows where the volume often rivals 747s taking off in one's living room. Where much of the crowd, whether at a heavy metal gig or Dixie Chicks show, spends a disproportionate amount of time drinking in the parking lot beforehand. Where that parking lot buzz often translates to screaming patrons insides. It's a lot for some adults to handle. To ask a child to do so is just bad parenting. There was a couple at a recent Warfield show with a crying baby in the lobby. They were struggling to watch the end of the show from a distance while their baby sobbed. They weren't having fun; people within earshot didn't enjoy it. And most importantly, the baby wasn't liking it much. Essentially, nobody wins. Here's an idea: Grow up. You're a parent now and that means, like it or not, life changes. Nobody's saying you can't go to shows. But children don't belong at concerts until they're old enough to listen and know the music, and ask to go along. Summertime community concerts in parks are wonderful family experiences. Stick to taking the kiddies there. Find adult friends Kids don't exist to be little party pals for parents. If you've aged past the point where friends no longer attend concerts, find new friends. Adult friends. My stepdaughter was 9 or 10 when I took her to her first show. Even then, I learned it was probably too soon. And this was a summertime Hanson show that she'd asked to attend, where the crowd (and the band) was mostly her age bracket. The should be the only exception to the rule. It would be easy to say venues simply shouldn't allow kids under a certain age, but that's not their job. That's a dangerous precedent, anyway, saying kids shouldn't see live rock 'n' roll. But there is a line of sensibility. Some artists actually ask fans on their tickets not to bring young children to the show, and they're right. In this day of massive ticket prices, if you have the money for tickets, you have more than enough for a baby sitter. In not, stay home and be a parent. Tony Hicks is the Times pop music critic. Reach him at 925-952-2678 or Concerts are no place for children under 13. |
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Article on kids and concerts
"Bill1255" wrote in message ... The author is full of ****. If you know your kids, do what's appropriate. I think your second statement is true, if the kids are a bit older, but the example giving, of bringing a toddler to a show is not what I'd call full of ****. Other than the confusing logic behind keeping a young child out so late, the sound volume at a concert is dangerous to little kids ears. I often wonder about parents in the grocery store with 1 and 2 year olds at 10pm at night. Doesn't make much sense. |
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Article on kids and concerts
"Tony Bad" wrote in message [snipped alt.childfree from cross-post] : The author is full of ****. If you know your kids, do what's appropriate. : : I think your second statement is true, if the kids are a bit older, but the : example giving, of bringing a toddler to a show is not what I'd call full of : ****. Other than the confusing logic behind keeping a young child out so late, : the sound volume at a concert is dangerous to little kids ears. That's what earplugs are for. I took my oldest to a Grateful Dead concert when he was about 5-6 months old -- he loved it. He was probably the only audience member in an official Grateful Dead tie-dyed 'onesy.' I often wonder : about parents in the grocery store with 1 and 2 year olds at 10pm at night. : Doesn't make much sense. If the 1 or 2 year olds are NORMALLY up at that hour (and, yes -- some ARE!), why not? wondered The BEAST |
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Article on kids and concerts
"D.Dyke" wrote: Just read an article in today's entertainment section of the Valley Times/Contra Costa Times. It is so nice to read a rant about little kids at adult concerts in print. There are some great lines in this piece, like "Here's an idea: Grow up. You're a parent now and that means, like it or not, life changes." I'd love to post a link, but alas, there doesn't appear to be one. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/living/6331893.htm --G. |
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Kids out late at night was Article on kids and concerts
x-no-archive:yes
When I was visiting in Spain during festival week I observed many Spanish children out at midnight or later. Often sleeping in their father's arms (I'm presuming that the male person holding them was their dad - of course I didn't really know) But their schedules were different - they didn't even start to eat dinner until 10 pm. So a kid in the supermarket at 10 pm isn't necessarily bad. It could be because: a) The family has a different schedule than yours - sleeping from midnight to 10 am instead of 7 or 8 pm to 6 am. I know a man who customarily doesn't get up and eat breakfast until noon, and then eats lunch around 6 pm. Not everyone needs or wants a 'normal' schedule. b) The parent ran out of something that they urgently needed to get and had to bring the child with them because they couldn't leave them home alone. c) The parent prefers to shop at night when there are less people in the store. d) The parent is on shiftwork and this is the optimum time for them to shop. "Tony Bad" wrote: "Bill1255" wrote in message ... The author is full of ****. If you know your kids, do what's appropriate. I think your second statement is true, if the kids are a bit older, but the example giving, of bringing a toddler to a show is not what I'd call full of ****. Other than the confusing logic behind keeping a young child out so late, the sound volume at a concert is dangerous to little kids ears. I often wonder about parents in the grocery store with 1 and 2 year olds at 10pm at night. Doesn't make much sense. grandma Rosalie |
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Article on kids and concerts
I would submit, given the typical decibel levels, that many live concerts
are downright dangerous to children (and to adults). I just spent three days at the NAMM music industry summer conference/trade show-and one of the things handed out automatically to anyone under 18 was earplugs (and recommended for everyone)-because many of the events (specifically, almost any of the ones using amplified music) were likely to have decibel levels over the safe level for human sound exposure. There is great concern in the music industry as to the risks of noise exposure due to loud music-many rock musicians now wear headphones or custom earplugs while performing, as do most conductors and many band directors (who are at the focus for large numbers of instruments). |
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Article on kids and concerts
"A Bruce Fan" wrote in message ... I was at GS on the floor, 15th row, wore my earplugs, and found that the sound was actually better with than without.... From what I could see around me, most people dont wear them. Only reason I didnt bring my 3 year old was because she couldnt stand the earplugs... I've noticed that, too. I think it's because most of the environmental sounds are below the level that the earplugs filter (mine are 15 db), so you actually hear the concert better. "Donna Metler" wrote in message . .. I would submit, given the typical decibel levels, that many live concerts are downright dangerous to children (and to adults). I just spent three days at the NAMM music industry summer conference/trade show-and one of the things handed out automatically to anyone under 18 was earplugs (and recommended for everyone)-because many of the events (specifically, almost any of the ones using amplified music) were likely to have decibel levels over the safe level for human sound exposure. There is great concern in the music industry as to the risks of noise exposure due to loud music-many rock musicians now wear headphones or custom earplugs while performing, as do most conductors and many band directors (who are at the focus for large numbers of instruments). |
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