Accept no substitutes

How Should Parents Behave at a Green Day Concert

Green Day
My 12 year old son saved enough money and was quick enough on the draw to get good seats for the upcoming Green Day concert. I’m going with him and a couple of his friends and their parents. As I look back, I could not begin to imagine going to a rock concert with my father (fine person that he is and was). I saw most of my early rock as an usher at the Charlotte Coliseum which is no longer called the Charlotte Coliseum any more, but Independence Arena instead. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a big venue concert and when I was there (maybe the Elvis Costello/Nick Lowe tour), I paid no attention to how a parent should behave at a rock concert.

So tell me what would you suggest is appropriate parent behavior? I’ll post my observations after the concert (Wednesday night unless Billie Joe’s voice is still on vacation).

10 Comments

  1. Brian R.

    Of all the parents I know I think you’ll be the coolest to goto a show with Paul! But no matter how cool an adult was when I was a teen I just needed SPACE. I’m not a parent so I can’t speak for that perspective, but I can speak from the POV of a teen.

    * Let the teens go off by them selves once in awhile. Walking around the arena and socializing can be important.
    * Don’t stand next to them every minute of the show.
    * Don’t encourage or discourage them to do ANYTHING.
    * If your teen decides to stage dive, take deep breaths.
    * If the teens must slam dance/Mosh/Thrash around let them.
    * Try not to relate and get into the music too much. If someone from an older generation LIKES your music too much how can it be punk?
    * Don’t try too hard.
    * Do pay for t-shirts and CDs if they ask for the $. Let them buy the stuff.
    * Encourage bootleg recording…
    * Set a good example, bring and wear ear plugs.
    😀

  2. justin

    wear jeans. bring ear plugs. i would recommend slinking off in the back with the other dads, but you mentioned “seats” so your parental behavior may be moderated by the fact that everyone is sitting around you.

  3. Jesse

    This show should be great. I enjoy your blog by the way.

    1. Do not dance
    2. Bring Ear Plugs
    3. Do not make comments about the show during the show
    4. Relax and have fun. It’s only Rock and Roll!!

    Have a great time!

  4. sylvia

    I’ve been with my son to two rock concerts. The first one when he was young enough that he needed a ride and the second one because he asked me to go; he
    drove to that one. I completely enjoyed both of them and rocked on
    with the rest of the crowd. Forget how you should act and just get
    into the music. Ear plugs help though unless you like numb ears.

  5. Emma

    Don’t get too wild.
    Wear casual clothes.
    Let the child go off with his friends. Don’t stand next to him all the time.
    Earplugs help.
    Don’t comment during the show.
    Buy him a T-shirt or something.
    Relax and don’t try too hard.

  6. Scott

    Hello, my son is 11 and was invited to a Green Day concert. I think he is too young, what do you all think?

    Thanks,

    Scott

  7. Paul

    Depends on how much you object to having him hear the word “Fuck” yelled out over the PA. Once you get past that, the show is a mix of punkish ethos and stadium rock effects. My son and I enjoyed it a lot. Earplugs were the best suggestion ever. Thanks to all above for that. Made the show very enjoyable.

    There were lots of kids and their parents at the show in Raleigh.

  8. Julie

    I think if you have a teenager and they are responsible it is okay for them to go. I would
    go and have them met me in a certain spot at a certain time to leave. All teenagers now
    days have cell phones. They don’t want mom and dad following them around.

  9. Green Day Fan

    I think that there is nothing bad to let your sun go to a concert like this. You were going with him and it is good, don’t be matter about behave, there isn’t any frames nowadays… 😉

  10. Green day is awesome

    Get into the music and enjoy it yourself!!

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