Concert mayhem! About This Page:

[patty c.]

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm actually getting to type this.....I'm going to see Elton John and Billy Joel in concert tomorrow night in Ames, Iowa with my sister. (silly schoolgirl squeal inserted here!) I have seen them both separately, but they are both long-time favorites going way back to my teenage years when I had all their albums and tons of Elton John posters on my wall. Anyone remember Elton with the denim and fur jacket?

So that's the good news. Here's the downside to this...Most of the concerts I have been to in the last 10 years have been Christian artists -- and this is the music my children associate with me. They listen to a wide range of Christian, pop, country, Disney, and show tunes. Well, DD#1 thinks that since I'm going to see Elton John/Billy Joel, that she should be allowed to see the punk band Good Charlotte in concert. A friends parents are taking a group of girls and she thinks that since parents will be there it is OK. DH and I said no. I think 14 is too young to get into the whole concert scene. What do you think about this? How old were you when you went to your first concert? As an adult, how old do you think you SHOULD have been? At what age will your children go? Will it depend on who is giving the concert?

[ 03-31-2003, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: patty c. ]

[Kruggie]

oh boy!
My kids haven't gotten into this yet, and I do think it depends on the band they intend to see and weather or not parents are present. I have a girlfriend who takes her young dtrs to concerts like brittney spears and such, they are both under ten...I think its a little young and she goes for her own enjoyment more so than her kids. A punk band would frighten me to no ends ...parents or no...at any age, but at some point ya gotta let go right?
I went to my first unsupervised concert at 14, the band was Rush, I went with my then 16yo sis.

I was only allowed to go because they had an extra ticket and my mom felt better with a group going....after that I had to wait till I was sixteen, which seemed to be an appropriate age.

With a parent along, I would probably say okay to my kids if I were sure the parent would be with them the whole time and they had seats far far away from any kind of mosh pit.

[DVC_Don]

I was 17 for my first unsupervised concert. And spent the whole time looking for girls. Just a warning. The first time my daughter asks to go to a concert (she's only 11 now), I'll think of me and my buddies and then say "No".

[ 03-31-2003, 06:39 PM: Message edited by: Disnydad ]

[GoofyMom]

I went to my first concert when I was about 17 or 18. I'm not sure about Good Charlotte because I don't know of them, but I'd be a bit uncomfortable if my 13 year old daughter was going to a concert with friends, even if parents were going too. I think that I'd want her to wait a couple years. Don't be afraid to stick to your gut instincts. She'll forgive you eventually! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

As for Elton and Billy Joel: cool!!!

[statelady01]

Patty,

You will love the show- I saw Elton John in Tallahassee, FL in 1997- and it was the best concert I have ever been to. He is such a showman- it was actually the night before the annual FSU-UF game and he played the Seminoles' War Chant- I thought the roof was going to blow off the civic center.

I was about 13 when my parents started taking me to concerts but it was different stuff, like Debbie Gibson and all. I think it just depends on the type of crowd- and I don't know lots about Good Charlotte.

I am sure you will make the right decision- follow your instincts..

[Belle*]

You are going to LOVE the show! DH and I saw them together last winter. My first concert without my parents was in high school at age 16. It was U2 (Zoo TV - Inside Broadcast [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ). I would be concerned about crowd control at a punk concert (mosh pit, etc.). 14 may be a bit young but it really depends on the kid.

[chezp]

Enjoy Elton John and Billy Joel - I'm sure it'll be amazing! I went to my first concert when I was 18 and at university, but by then I'd officially left home anyway!

Cheryl

[joyjoy]

Have fun at the show!
I have a 17 year old daughter and I let her go to a concert (it was Christian - Newsboys) when she was 13. She went to see 'Nsync when she was 15, it was with a birthday girlfriend who's parents went along. Good Charlotte is not evil - I'd describe them as a kinder, gentler Green Day, if you're familiar. (very pop) I'd let a 14 - 15 year old go to a GC concert as long as there are adults there. The thing to consider is this: Does this band appeal to 18+ year olds? If the answer is yes, don't let 'em go. 18+ year olds think Good Charlotte is dorky, so you're good to go. Hope that helps you out.

[ 04-01-2003, 01:50 AM: Message edited by: joyjoy ]

[AKLRULZ]

Patty, hold your ground - I was also 17 when I went to my first unsupervised concert (not happy about it then, but thankful to my parents now).

Enjoy the show! I remember Janet45 going to see them, and I'll look forward to hearing about how good it was for you too!!

[Janet 46]

Patty, I went in October to see Elton John and Billy Joel and the concert was fantastic! You're going to love it! Ironically, we had an extra ticket and ended up bringing our 8 year old son with us - he really enjoyed it. But I only brought him because it was Elton and Billy (whom he already loved). I would never have taken him to a punk concert! I really think 13 is too young for that type of concert.

I think my first concert was Chicago when I was 17 and I went with a group including my older sister.