How young is too young for your first real concert?

So, my daughter, at 4 years old, and I have been getting into the band Superorganism. Unfortunately we missed their show in Columbus - they played here last September, before I'd even heard of them. My 4 year old really likes their music and really enjoys the videos. She'll request their songs while we're driving. Good stuff. Anyway, they're playing near where my mother in law lives and it's an all ages show but still a night time real concert. I was wondering - would it be ridiculous to drag a 4 year old into a show that doesn't even start until her bedtime? She's stayed up late before, to chase fireflies in the summer and look for nocturnal animals and do nature hikes. We try to do an extended nap time and take things easy on those days. She deals with it OK. But would the excitement of a concert be too much?

I think I have a romanticized / idealized mental picture of what it will be like. But what do you guys think??

I think the hardest part will be finding earplugs that fit kid's sized ears.

do it. And yes, ear plugs. 

Will they even let her in ?

There must be an age limit, 

My buddy's first rock concert when he was a kid was was Alice Cooper.

When his son turned 7, he took his son to see Alice Cooper for his son's first rock concert.

She'll turn out fine.

I think my first concert was Robin Williamson when I was about 7. IIRC the fallout was that I was the only one in the family who could remember all the words to "When The Gorgonzola Cheese Went Wrong." So at 4, maybe you can avoid such an incident. I had no hearing protection, but I'm not sure whether that's because it was lightly amplified acoustic, or because it was 1979.

At some other part of the spectrum, a couple of years ago my geeky punk band was playing all ages shows which involved little kids in headphones. Seemed okay to me. The bassist's daughter seems not to have incurred any lasting damage.

I think the nature of the band/show dictates whether earplugs/muffs are in order, but you certainly don't want to need them and not have them.

I was planning on over the ear hearing protection which they sell in kids sizes. 

The venue lists the show as “all ages” and says anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. They list an email address for admissions maybe I’ll drop them an email. I’d hate to show up to it and not get in, disappointing the little kiddo. 

Have you taken her to other places where there are large crowds and noise? Did she seem to enjoy the experience? If so you should be fine. For me, what kind of venue it will be at may be a deciding factor. Are they playing at a club or a place that "adult" activities will be going on even though it is an "all ages show"?  As far as being at night, no big deal. Maybe you can get her to take a nap before but if she's having fun she'll last as long as she can and then curl up in her seat and sleep at the show. We have always used ear muffs on our kids and grandkids, find some good ones and try them out before the show so she knows what it feels like. We have taken little ones to loud events with big crowds and they usually have a blast but they don't always last for the whole show; Blue Angels, Supercross, Monster trucks, outdoor concerts. Good luck, hope she enjoys it.

My nephew has been going to concerts since he was about 4-5.  The over ear protection should be fine.  If she’s not used to being up late don’t be surprised if she starts to fade half way through. We’ve carried him out of several events at that age.

Will they be passing joints around like when I went to my first concert - Rush 2112 back in 1978?  (Chicago Amphitheater)

Then I would say no.  

While they are in womb?

Swmbo went to a rob zombie concert in Cincy with me and a George strait concert with her mother in the same week... That child just went to a halestorm concert earlier this year. She’s 10 now.

My 4 year old couldn't handle it, but you know your kid better than anyone else.  Just make sure you are honest with yourself.  In my opinion, if you have to negotiate with yourself about whether or not it will be okay, it's a bad idea.

Ranger50 said:

While they are in womb?

Swmbo went to a rob zombie concert in Cincy with me and a George strait concert with her mother in the same week... That child just went to a halestorm concert earlier this year. She’s 10 now.

My parents took me to the Grateful Dead. Mom insists she did not partake in certain activities that are apparently common at such concerts.

We took my kids to an all-ages TMBG show when they were maybe 4 and 8.  They were fans.  There where a couple problems, and we ended up leaving early:

• The opening act:  Afro-man.  Our kids were used to swearing from being around us.  But Afro-man was just crude, more crude than I was comfortable with subjecting my kids to.  I know of Superorganism and they should be fine, but look into the supporting acts.  Or maybe just plan to skip the openers.
   
• The venue:  it was a GA show at a place serving alcohol, with all the usual crowd-oriented crap that entails.  I'd be much more comfortable with the idea of a reserved seating venue.  Also, there was a no-exit-and-return door policy.  So there was no way to give the kids a break from the noise and chaos.
   
• If you get there at door-open and have to wait for band set up, opener sets, transitions, etc, it makes for a long night before the main act comes on.  Again, maybe plan on staying outside nearby until shortly before Superorganism's scheduled start time.

My 4 yr old girl becomes cranky, defiant and incompliant when she is too tired.  This is also a kid who thinks she is "in charge.'  For me, if the concert was late, this would likely result in the need to leave the venue early because the kid was having a total breakdown in public. 

Add to this, in my situation, the country club we live on has 4th of July fireworks every year.  A real "pro-show" from a hired company.  They launch less than 200 yards from our house.  We have the perfect view even from indoors.  She hates it.  Even if from indoors.  Too loud.  Too scary.   Also, starting at 10pm usually results in a full day of anticipation and aggravation on her part having to waiting for it to start.   

Every kid is different.  

You might start with something like a Disney on Ice type show and se how that goes over in the middle of a Sunday afternoon.  

I think my first rock show was probably Foreigner around 8-9? 

Saw Metallica and Ozzy both in 4th-5th grade.

Our youngest went to his first concert at -2 months

There were little kids (I'm guessing 4-5 years old) with their parents at Warped Tour last year. The kids seemed to love Chelsea Grin.

She’s been to Nelsonville Music Festival and got to see Merle Haggard and The Flaming Lips when she was 6 months old, but that was an outdoor venue we could get far away from the stage etc. Well I’m gonna give it some thought. The concert is in May and unfortunately that is earlier than most of the outdoor stuff happens here so I can’t necessarily ease her into it before the show. 

Good tip on checking out any opening acts. Afro man opening for TMBG seems bizarre. Like completely diametrically opposite bands. I saw Afro man in concert. He started by lighting four joints and once and passing them out to the audience. I’d never seen anything like it at a concert before. 

I went to see Metallica, Faith No More and Guns and Roses when I was 9. There were strippers between on stage between the sets. Somehow I ended up working for a local concert promoting and booking company later in my life, worked as a sound engineer and ended up with an I

I also nominate this for a very young child's first concert.

My 4 year old is really sensitive to loud noises. We have hearing protection for him but even stuff like parades and such when the cops and firefighters blow the horns and sirens is something he just doesn't like. Frankly, I dislike it too. 

My son loves music, but he would hate an adult-volume small-venue concert. Regardless of how much stuff I could jamb into his ears. 

Now if there was something outdoors, with lots of space at the back for a picnic blanket and room for him to see and dance without ear-bleeding, I think he would like that. 

My  similar aged daughter is very against loud noises as well. To the point she complains when she is inside and someone down the street is using a weedwacker or lawn mower. Or the mixer is running. Or God forbid you try to vacuum whatever she just threw all over the floor. 

We've discussed taking her to concerts, because she really likes the same music we do, but after the last few we went to without her, even outdoors would be way too much for her to handle without a place to get away. 

My dad took me to an ELO concert when I was young enough to sit on his shoulders... so maybe 4 or 5?

In defense though, it was part of a state fair so it was already a family-oriented event.

I didn't get to Rock out like some of you did. My first "concert" about age 4 was Dave Brubeck and his band who had somehow been booked into a venue in Jackson Michigan.

The next concert 5 or 6 years later was Count Basie and his orchestra.  Again someone booked them into a theater in Jackson. I think maybe 15 people showed up. We got to sit down front and then got go up on stage and meet the band and Mr. Basie after the show. 

It definitely gave me an appreciation for Jazz.