i just would like to provide a different type of response here with some firsthand info.
as some of you already know, or don't know, i am 15 years old (actually, not even! 14 until my birthday tomorrow. i just tend to LOOK a lot older than i really am). but it's still pretty damn young. i live in BETHESDA, the most overprotective and sheltered community around here. and i make music my pastime + love going to shows, so this of course places me and my parents in quite the pickle.
i went to my first show at merriweather when i was in fifth grade, and came to 9:30 first when i was in 7th grade (about twelve years old). i also go to shows a lot, at least twice a month but sometimes much more. the bands that i usually want to see are pretty much always playing at 9:30 or the black cat.
since i started going to these shows, i always have had to have a "responsible adult" (i.e. a parent willing to take us, or my brother--whose ticket i have always had to pay for myself) take us to the show, and stay in the club. i made my dad take me to see joan jett when i was 11 years old and he had a miserable time--he loves music too, but classical. i have had to find other people to take me to shows, and it's really really rough. especially since now, the people that have been taking us to the shows (friends parents, my brother) won't take us anymore, as they realize that their presence is unnecessary.
the locations of the clubs of course is the main concern here. my dad grew up in DC, and the areas where the clubs are now were where all the riots and violence took place when he was growing up, and he sees the neighborhood that way, and always will.
it's taken me years to work this out with my parents. first they were concerned about other people in the club, then they were concerned about me being out too late (they stopped letting me go to shows on school nights about two years ago), and it's finally just come down to the area. there is actually a huge debate going on in my household right now, because my dad doesn't think i should be able to start going to shows with at least two other friends and NO responsible adult present(we would get rides to & from the club), and my mom thinks it is okay. i recently went to a show with a group of kids and no adult, which my mother had said was okay and my dad got very pissed about. it is especially frustrating, because HE is the one who i inhereit the muscal interest from. so, tips i can give?
- tell your parents that realistically, there is not much risk. once you are inside the club (assuming that you stay in the club and don't wanter the streets), you are perfectly fine. any creep on the street is not going to have the ability to pay to get into these shows every night, and harass kids.
- try to reason with them, or make an agreement. don't yell and whine a lot. and make sure you understand where they are coming from before you try to reason with them.
- if you really are a good kid? tell them so, like somebody above suggested. i am a sweet kid that is ridiculously opposed to smoking and drugs of any sort, i don't have sex, i'm not going to go out and drink myself pissy at this age, and i do fantastic in school. and realizing this was probably why my mom is now trying to convince my dad that it's okay for us to start going to these things by ourselves.
- and also? if you think there is something going on that will FREAK out your parents about the area, you don't have to always tell them or let them find out!
good luck, though. if you need anything else you can always PM it over here.
