My 15 year old daughter and 13 year old son want to go to Deer Creek with me in August. How out in the open will things be? Do I take them? I went to Cincy in November and inside the show was cool.

I will never forget last summer at Deer Creek. Lemme paint the picture...

...rainy 2nd set. 2001 funkathon (par for the course on that one). My good buddy rasting a spleef, turns to pass it on to his right...

...two 8-year olds dancing away in the darkness, Momma Bear right behind them.

Oops.

Hilarious.

My kids went to Cincy last year, they were 16 and 10 at the time. The youngest told the guy behind us that the show was "better than Ween in Baltimore." (Yeah, they're spoiled). Security is pretty tight at U.S. Bank, so people there were being more discreet than they will be at Deer Creek......

Deer Creek will be crowded and very hot, or it will pour down rain (likely both). Your biggest problem with the kids will be outside the venue, there are a lot of "balloon vendors". Avoid wooded areas, secluded parking, and be prepared to explain people flopping around like fish out of water. Do not take them to any campground in the area -- it's no holds barred.

Thanks for the advice, I've been to Deer Creek/Buckeye Lake etc. for Dead shows, ions ago, and figured the scene would be similar to back then. I think I will try to get Pavillion and at least have a little more control. I am digging that my daughter likes good music.

Do not do that. Its people that bring kids into that kind of enviornment that really makes me sick to my stomach.

@54Bradley said:

Pot is being legalized all over the country

Um, what country are you living in?

@pistilstamen said:

@54Bradley said:

Pot is being legalized all over the country

Um, what country are you living in?

i live in indianapolis, and i have some friends in the monroe county and marion county jails that wish that were true.

Bring them. The scene is growing up. There will still be crazy shiate going down, but its ridiculous to think that those of us that were going to shows 15+ years ago shouldnt be able to bring kids, if we wanted. (I dont have kids, but some of my friends do and we've rocked the occasional 3.0 show with their little ones.) Just dont expect or request others to adjust behavior on behalf of the snowflakes and all should be fine.

@medleyd - "The youngest told the guy behind us that the show was 'better than Ween in Baltimore.'"
Classic. I think a 10 yr old at a Ween show is about 20 times more hardcore than a Phish show. I mean they dont have a level called "Ween-drunk" for nothing.

Also, still dying to see what the LED skirt/panties looks like. Do you have any pics you'd be willing to share?

@Phishhead860 - allow me to pass you a barf bag. "...that kind of environment"? Methinks you are only seeing a small piece of our community.

I'm 16 and have been to numerous shows. They'll be fine if your with them. Don't hide the truth because someone in the crowd is either going to ask them for weed or if they want any.

@GVOldTimer said:

15 is a solid age to go to Phish....I saw my first show at 15 (cough cough...1994 in Binghamton).

The 13 year old is tricky, that's a tough age, and the influences can great and lasting....that's a call you'll have to make as a parent that knows your kids personality.

Then again, the first concert I ever saw I was 13....Metallica, fall 1991 "Enter Sandman Tour"...and I turned out just fine.

Sorry I hit the wrong button before....I too agree that the 15 year old is old enough...that was when I went to my first Phish concert....also in 1994... seems like yesterday! It will definitely be a teachable moment...but I would bet that your 15 year old has already had some experiences with smoking (be it her or her friends.) I do not think parents should smoke with their child until they are adults, if at all, and by adults I mean 20's. If she will respect it and respect you then you may be able to have a lasting influence on her choices (ie pointing out those who aren't partying responsibly and that you don't have to be blasted to enjoy the music)

The 13 year old is a different story. I think that I would make her wait til she is around 15 too. If you set a limit hopefully she will understand and will have something to look forward too. Also, that will help her to understand that there is a certain amount of maturity required to attend such an event and may help to her from growing up to fast....although it wouldn't be a bad idea to discuss why you don't think it is a good idea....if she doesn't have friends smoking already she will next year in high school....on another note I wouldn't want my 7th or 8th grader going into school the next day telling her friends (and being overheard by her teachers) about what she saw at the concert her Mom took her too...I wouldn't want to field the phone calls from either the school or other parents!)

I understand your dilemma, although not quite the same, my 5 year old wanted desperately to come....and although I probably could lie to him about what he was seeing I definitely would have to answer ?s....and I'd rather keep him in the dark than lie b/c whatever I tell him could possibly stick with him for a long time and give him the wrong impression when he is in middle school....and those people who think kids don't notice or it is over there heads are in denial....unless they are under 2.5 they understand! We took the kids to the fest 8 movie....they refer to as if they actual went to a concert and we of course made sure that we danced with them and gave them as much of the experience as possible....for reference, my 5 year old asked what all the smoke was coming from the crowd not in the theater but on the screen....something to think about they miss NOTHING!

The family area is a nice bonus...it'll keep all the falling down drunks away from you! Have a good time and hopefully this will help your 15 yr old in the next year or two when she is old enough to go by herself!

PS I missed seeing both the Dead and Pink Floyd b/c my parents wouldn't let me go as a 17 year old...but since the Phish scene wasn't so publicized they let me go to that at 15. I'm still upset that I missed those shows!

I say bring them and don't try to hide the weed. Be open and honest. I am sure they know about it any way. Why treat it any different than alcohol. They are too young to drink and they are too young for weed in my book. I am sure you don't go around trying to hide beer and liquor from them.

The scene has changed DRAMATICALLY in the last few years. It is WAAAY more toned down on the lot than it used to be. I say bring 'em, like a few people commented about missing the Dead and the like because of parents saying stuff like, "you're too young, they'll be back next year," etc. And we all know how fleeting life can be, who's to say what next year brings?

they're teenagers - plenty old to go to a show, just keep an eye on them.

if you think teenagers haven't learned about most of the stuff that happens out-in-the-open at a phish show from their friends and at school, then you are extremely naive. i hit my first phish show at 17 and my first concert at 15 and my parents were at neither and i didn't do anything except drink a little bit - something i was doing not-at-concerts anyway. in my opinion, you are being extremely responsible by offering to take and supervise them, rather than waiting a few years and just allowing them to go with their friends.

If I cant bring my kids to a show because why.....someone is doing something so wrong and the kids shouldnt be witness to ...then i say maybe that person shouldnt be at the show.My kids are smart and know the difference between wrong and right "for the most part".
So when we get in a pinch and cant find someone to watch them they are coming with!

and really it seems pretty mellow to some of what I remember being around growing up in the 70's...

just IMHO I say Bring the kids cause the band brings theirs!