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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DD (14) - Capital FM summer ball

26 replies

MintyCedric · 30/04/2019 20:26

We've been talking about this in our house a lot.

Tickets on sale tomorrow...somehow DD has got the impression that I would be happy to buy a couple of tickets for her to go with a friend rather than with me Hmm.

She's a very responsible teen - turns 15 in September but...

a/ I'm not really happy for her to go with a friend on their own which means I would also have to buy a ticket and hang out on my own like Billy no mates

b/ Other option is that I escort her and friend there and back but don't go to the actually event - 1.5 - 2hr journey each way for me to facilitate this. I'm not thrilled with this idea and whether XH would agree to this anyway is doubtful. I think it's only fair to get his opinion as I'd want him to ask mine if situation was reversed.

c/ she wants a bigger than usual birthday party this year...nothing elaborate but social group has expanded so we've been looking at hiring a hall...I don't have a bottomless budget. We're also going on holiday in October which I still need to save a bit for.

So AIBU to give her 2 options:

1/ I get 3 tickets - they can go standing, I'll get a seat or standing but try not appear as though I'm with them Grin but no big birthday party

2/ We go together, just the two of us

3/ I'd you don't like either idea we don't go at all and you can wait until you're old enough to go on your own and pay for your own ticket.

OP posts:
toomanycats99 · 30/04/2019 20:27

She might not be allowed to stand at that age........

Nnnnnineteen · 30/04/2019 20:28

Being devil's advocate, other than it being a ball ache for you to sit in the car or wherever for a few hours, why wouldn't you want her to go with a friend?

Girlicorne · 30/04/2019 20:37

It's from 12-10, that's a long time to be sitting on your own, plus the 2 hours driving each way! We are hoping for tickets tomorrow too but my DD is only 11 and is not allowed in unaccompanied thankfully. I understand why you don't want her going alone, 14 is nt that grown up and there's going to be 80,000 people there. I would go with the option of it just being the two of you, my DD wanted to bring a friend but the friend was less keen when I said she would have to pay for herself. I believe its over £100 a ticket??

Leeds2 · 30/04/2019 20:40

It is a very safe environment within the stadium, but I wouldn't want a 14 year old negotiating a two hour journey back by themselves at that time of night.

Original poster
MintyCedric · 30/04/2019 20:44

It's not that I don't want her to go with a friend...I'm just not 100% sure about her doing it on her/their own.

I have no idea if the friend she wants to take would even be allowed to go, and the cost is pretty significant relative to my budget which I don't mind so much if I'm joining in or, if she's happy to have it by way of an early birthday present/celebration.

She does kind of want it all ways tbh!

Selfishly, I would also quite like to go myself! We went to a local festival last year and had a great time, but I do get that that is going to be a less appealing option as she's getting older.

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyCedric · 30/04/2019 20:48

I wouldn't want a 14 year old negotiating a two hour journey back by themselves at that time of night.

There's no way on God's green earth that will be happening.

I've been to massive gigs at Wembley, albeit a long time ago...I don't think she realises quite the scale of it, not just the stadium itself but the getting to and from egg, which admittedly I'd be doing with her.

I went for the first time with a friend when I was 16 - my dad took us up and went for a few pints with his brother and best mate then met us afterwards - it took us 90 minutes to find each other (admittedly before the days of mobile phones!)

OP posts:
Silversun83 · 30/04/2019 20:48

Why can't the friend buy her own ticket?

Original poster
MintyCedric · 30/04/2019 20:53

Silver

The friend aspect has only just come up...

OP posts:
Floatyboat · 30/04/2019 20:55

I would suggest she doesn't go to egg afterwards. Too young and too long a day.

Original poster
MintyCedric · 30/04/2019 20:55

...I'm not quite sure what gave her the impression I might be getting tickets for her and a friend...it seems she misconstrued a comment I made at the weekend.

Thank goodness she hasn't actually invited anyone to join her yet!

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyCedric · 30/04/2019 20:56

Grin Floaty...that was meant to be etc...definitely far too young to go to egg on the way home!

OP posts:
tkband3 · 30/04/2019 21:32

She won't be allowed in on her own. Minimum unaccompanied age is 16. I've taken my DDs in previous years...last year I took my DTs and two of their friends. We bought pitch tickets - atmosphere is better - and the girls went off on their own but regularly came back to me. If you buy a pitch ticket, there are seats at the back of the stadium, directly opposite the stage which are accessible, so I just sat there. I'd downloaded a few episodes of whatever I was watching on Netflix, but the music was so loud I couldn't watch it even with earphones in!

If you were to get a seated ticket, and pitch tickets for your DD and a friend, they wouldn't be able to get to you for the duration of the concert, although you could meet up where all the drinks/food stalls are.

My DTs would like to go again this year, but I've told them they can only go if one of their friend's mums takes them - I've done my bit!!

tkband3 · 30/04/2019 21:34

Pitch tickets were around £70 last year (although with booking fees it went up by a few more quid!). Could you go with a friend as well, then DD and her friend could go off and come back to check in with you and your friend regularly? I've just seen that you're quite keen to go... (I went grudgingly Grin.)

Girlicorne · 30/04/2019 21:58

@tkband3 its 14 unaccompanied, says on capital website. Also, what are pitch tickets please? Sorry for hijacking your thread OP, I m desperate to find out how much it is going to set me back tomorrow as don't want to pay £££ or disappoint DD who has her heart set on going(already posted in chat but no one knew...).

Original poster
MintyCedric · 30/04/2019 22:09

I'm on a FB page and have done some googling and cheapest price I've seen is about £55 which I assume is for pitch tickets minus any booking fee which I guess will be extortionate.

I'm leaning towards getting 3 pitch tickets and she can see if any of her friends wants to buy one and I'll take them both.

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyCedric · 30/04/2019 22:13

I've just seen that you're quite keen to go...

Maroon 5...Adam Levine...mmmm! Don't mind quite a few of the other acts either tbh - she's indoctrinated me with her music in the car!

We saw Jess Glynne and Raye at the festival we went to last year (I dragged her along to that as Nile Rogers and Chic were headlining) and they were fab.

She's really hoping they announce Shawn Mendes tomorrow.

OP posts:
tkband3 · 30/04/2019 22:48

Shawn Mendes played last year, so don’t let her get her hopes up!

Pitch tickets are standing tickets...they put a hard cover over the grass. Lots of people take picnic rugs etc and just sit around the edges till the bigger acts come on.

I’ve just checked back to last year and pitch tickets were £64.99 plus £7.80(!) booking fee - per ticket 😲.

Girlicorne · 30/04/2019 23:01

Do you know if seated were more? Standing sounds fab, especially if it is a lovely sunny day, but DD is only 11 and standing is 12 and up, maybe next year!

Original poster
MintyCedric · 01/05/2019 12:20

Well, we got 3 pitch tickets...if any of her friends/parents are interested in buying one I'll take them with us, if not I'll sell it a week or so beforehand.

Now have to work out the travel logistics!

OP posts:
tkband3 · 01/05/2019 14:58

Where are you travelling from @MintyCedric?

Original poster
MintyCedric · 01/05/2019 18:32

Brighton area...it's not too bad but it's going to be a loooong day. Just hope my tubby 43yo arse can hack it!

OP posts:
Nnnnnineteen · 02/05/2019 20:48

@mintycedric i also gave into tickets today. If you see a middle aged goth cowering at the back, give me a wave!

Original poster
MintyCedric · 02/05/2019 20:59

Nnnnineteen...I may well also end up at the back for at least some of it, especially if there's some random seating, although I will probably be rocking my inner teen with face gems and purple hair (we were planning to go to Pride again but didn't fancy the line up so waste not, want not - DD will be mortified).

Last time I was at Wembley Stadium was Bryan Adams Waking Up The Neighbours tour in '92 Shock.

OP posts:
Nnnnnineteen · 02/05/2019 21:23

I think mine was GnR in 88!! Unfortunately, it's just me and she, so am hoping she can do whatever kids do to Anne-marie while I try not to show her up by singing to the choruses. Love the sound of face gems and purple hair, how can she possibly be mortified by that Wink. At least the queues at the bar should be short!!

PookieDo · 02/05/2019 21:35

I go with my DC
But they go To radio 1 Teen Awards alone as no adults allowed!
I take them to Wembley it’s a shit journey would not let them go alone