Who doesn’t love music? And who doesn’t love watching music live? If you’re one of those parents who play their favorite tunes throughout the house on lazy Sunday afternoons, then you won’t be surprised to see your child switching on, tuning in, and dropping out. 

Eventually, their love for all things musical will drive them to beg you to allow them to attend a concert when their favorite band rolls into town. Now, you’re a reasonable parent, and you want them to enjoy themselves, but you also want them to be safe, which begs the question… 

Should You Go With Them?

Yes, but also no. Your child will likely resist, thinking it’s uncool to go to a gig with their parents, and they might have a group of friends ready to go with them, so you won’t worry they’re alone. 

However, not all kids lean into that moody teenager attitude, and they might love the opportunity to attend their first concert with you, but you’ll never know unless they ask. 

Regardless of whether you go into the venue, they’ll still appreciate getting dropped off and picked up once the lights come up. 

Safety In Numbers

If you opt not to go with them, at least make sure they’ve got a few trusted friends to accompany them. Depending on the type of music, there’s the potential for jumping, pushing, and getting separated. 

Hopefully, they’ll try their best to stick together as much as they can, but there’s always the chance for them to get separated. At most gigs, people are focused only on the music, but afterward, it’s easy to get swept up in the crowd leaving. To ensure they manage to find each other, get them to set up a meeting point. To make sure no one gets lost, trusting them with a cell phone will give you better peace of mind. 

At Elbow Height

If your kid is on the cusp of being of concert age (typically around 14 years old), they’ll need to deal with a people much larger than them shuffling around for space. While people at most gigs are careful and want everyone to have a great time, there are always a few who are only there for themselves. 

You don’t want your child to get hurt and put them off gigs forever, so remind them to stay safe and move if things get a little too rowdy, but only if they want to. Part of going to gigs is getting involved in the energy of the crowd, and if that means throwing themselves into a mosh pit, then so be it. 

The Next Day

If they’re still at school, make sure they’re up ready for classes the next day. With many gigs ending after 11:00 PM, there should be a condition that they can go as long as they wake up and make it to school on time. 

There’s also the potential for hearing damage, especially if your child catches the concert bug and wants to go every time their favorite band is in town. If they start to complain about ringing ears or similar issues after the concert, you can learn more about how to treat them. 

The Future of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Hopefully, their first gig will inspire many years of signed t-shirts and collecting all the devices they can to order tickets as soon as they go on sale, and while their first gig may be scary for you, preparing them will put you at ease.