kids n' gigs [or festivals]

[BritFish]

i was at a certain family festival this weekend, and i thought i'd share my experience just to see what the mumsnet opinion is on small children at festivals or gigs.
-at this gig, we were near the front of the crowd for a well known rock band, and a mosh pit started near us. this was aabout halfway through the set. it was at this point a woman in front of us started screaming at the people in the mosh pit, because she had her young daughter on her hip and they were knocking into the crowd which was in turn pushing her. id like to add that we were v. close to the speakers and this little girl [about 7?] had no ear protection on, which is advised for small kids at concerts etc, because it can be v. damaging. this woman was screaming at this mosh pit, but did not move away [and she could have done easily, as the crowd wasnt tightly packed enough]

-different artist, [it was Rihanna]
there were a few little girls dotted around in the middle of the crowd who couldnt see.
again, music very loud, only one had ear protection. the lady in front of my friend had a little girl with her who couldnt see, so put her on her shoulders, blocking the view of several people behind her [including my v. short friend who was watching one of the screens until her view was obscured]

now, i appreciate that if you are short, gigs and festivals suck if you want to be near the front. but thats why we have those massive tv screens, its not really fair to obscure everyone elses view by going on shoulders. better one person not being able to see than 30. [short friends agree with me here]
and if you are in a crowd for a rock band, theres a high chance there will be a mosh pit, and of course you wouldnt want your child to be hurt, so you could take them to the back where they could watch on the big screens.

and kids should be wearing ear protection at festivals if they are near the stage. im not usually an over-protective parent who thinks every single outside factor could damage my child in some way, but festivals are hellish loud even for adults.
we saw quite a few children at V festival last summer who had big headphones on, either their own or V festival ones. its important right?

discuss

[BritFish]

oh and i realise i said 'family' festival, but regarding ear safety and blocking people's view you could argue it doesnt really change [especially as if it was a proper family festival theyd all have ear protection and thered be raised seats so everyone could see, which would be fab!]

[mamatomany]

I'd love to go to Glastonbury with the kids, it seems such a cool childhood memory to give them, however it also seems bleedin hardwork to ensure their safety and as you mention to protect their ears and skin from sunburn etc etc I can't see how the parents really get to enjoy themselves.

[BritFish]

i took mine to a festival when they were younger and they loved it, it was only a small one and not far from home, and we bought ear protectors quite cheaply online. you're right, it is a great memory for them, but a lot of research into the festival itself is needed so that you arent driven insane!
Glastonbury's looks a bit big and scary. i know a friend who took her son, but he's a seasoned festival goer at 10, and she worked her way up from a teeny local one

[MillyR]

It is not really practical at most festival sites to have everyone on raised seating. I take DS and DD to Cambridge Folk Festival every year and have never seen any children other than babies with ear protectors on. I didn't know anything about it (which doesn't mean you're wrong), but I suspect it is not widely known.

People often get up on shoulders at festivals, and not just children. It is just part of being at a festival.

[MillyR]

Cat64, OP has described it as a family festival though.

[BritFish]

v. good point cat. i took mine too a small one [that i wasnt really bothered about music wise] for the experience in the summer hols when they were younger, but a proper gig or festival? i want to be in the crowd yelling my head off, not sat at the back with two kids!

i just couldnt believe the parents at this one though, completely oblivious to other people! mumzillas all over the place

[BritFish]

MillyR, it was Radio One's Big Weekend, should have just included it in the OP!
i know they get up on shoulders, seperate issue from small children really, just hacks me off that its one person not being able to see vs. lots more people behind them not being able to see.

and yeah, its not widely known which is unfortunate, i think they insist on ear protection at V festival. its strange though, because we all realise as adults what loud music does to our hearing, but not many people make the connection between that and damaging developing ears!

[baloothebear]

I'm going to glastonbury this year for the ninth time and I am NOT taking dd. i couldn't think of anything worse. I don't think that crowds, raves, smelly loos and wasted people will provide her with great childhood memories. They are stuff that great teenage memories are made of. i went whne I was 16 for the first time and got wasted. it was great!

I would choose a chilled out family festiival for littluns. Imagine how scared they would be if they got lost at a heavy adult festival?

I will also have a better time without stressing about my dd.

[MillyR]

I have looked at the festival website and I am not convinced that I would consider it to be a family festival. It does not have any information on children's creche, workshops, or entertainment.

I think it would be okay for someone to take children to Glastonbury, but they would have to do stuff at the kids' field or at smaller stages for it to be a good experience for younger children.

[marrs]

YANBU children should not be exposed to loud noise [http://www.dontlosethemusic.com/home/areyouatrisk/protectingyourself/children_babies/]
The RNID are trying to raise awareness and have stands at various festivals. Mind you, they also think that adults should wear ear protection at gigs, which seems to defeat the object!

[jendaisy]

I have taken my DD (now nearly 6) to several festivals as I have been involved in working at a lot of them, including Glastonbury. Her first Glastonbury was when I was 37 weeks pg! And has been every year since.

I think if you are going to take a small child to a festival with you, you have to accept that you are going to be on a bit of a different tip to most other people. Endless hours sat in kids field, craft workshops etc, chatting to other mums is where it's at, rather than having it large at the main stage. And if you can arrange to go in a group with friends with kids that's even better as you can all camp together and take it in turns to look after the kids, so you may get one night out! If me and DD do go to see a band we stay at the edges of the crowd where she will not get barged into and it's not too noisy.

[marrs]

Sorry - here's the link www.dontlosethemusic.com/home/areyouatrisk/protectingyourself/children_babies/

[MillyR]

Marrs. How small is small? Do you know? The link doesn't say.

[BritFish]

MillyR, i suppose i class it as a family festival as children&babies are allowed and Justin Beiber was there. even though no festival is really family friendly unless there is special kids events. which would be great! family camping, baby changing, music at a lower level...

and marrs, good link! my DH wears ear protection at certain gigs because he's been going to a lot over the past 20 odd years, and hes noticed change in his hearing. they are noise reduction ones though, which get the volume down to a more reasonable level, not fun to wear all the time though!

[marrs]

MillyR, do you mean what age? the RNID recommend everybody to protect their ears at gigs, even adults. Babies and young children should wear ear muffs, like Apple Paltrow in that photo, and I think 7/8+ children and adults should wear in-ear noise attenuating (reducing) earplugs like these www.sensorcom.com/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=271.

I did a project with the RNID about this during my MBA, trying to help them to increase awareness, so I'm not an expert, but I'm interested IYSWIM. I think a lot of people are put off because they think they won't be able to hear properly, but actually, the sound is better because the distortion is reduced.

[darkandstormy]

leave the dc with someone else and enjoy, no place for kids.

[marrs]

YANBU about the kid in the moshpit... I don't venture there myself now (old age!) and wouldn't dream of taking children to the front at a large gig or festival. There are always some newbies though who don't know what it will be like and sit there on their camping chairs and wine box tutting at people dancing around them!

[BritFish]

the thing is with the kid in the moshpit, is that her mum was filming the band with one hand and holding the child on her hip with the other and singing along. so she obviously knew the band and their type of music!
and its the fact she didnt move away when the moshpit started, and just yelled at the people in it! [slightly glad i restrained DH from joining in, the big teenager]