Dear They Might Be Giants,
It was with much excitement that I purchased tickets to your September 26th concert at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, looking forward to taking my kids, 10 and 13, to your live show (having introduced them to your music since they were toddlers and could dance along to "Particle Man"). I have been a longtime fan of your music, since your first album and earliest videos on 120 Minutes. My kids were thinking I was the coolest dad ever.
So imagine our disappointment when we arrived at the entrance to the Moore (having paid $10.00 in event parking) to find out that, at the band's request, no one under 14 was to be admitted. I mean, I understand playing an 18+ show, or a 21+ show in a club where alcohol is served. But nowhere on the tickets or the Moore website did it forewarn me that my kids would not be able to see your show. Ticketmaster lists the show as "recommended for ages 14+", but as their parent, I should be able to determine their ability to see a rock concert - and "recommended for ages 14+" is not the same as "absolutely no one under 14 will be admitted, period". It's not like they're babes in arms - they're worldly, music-savvy tween/teens who have great taste and have been looking forward to this show for more than a month.
Luckily I was able to get a box office refund from Ticketmaster, but I'm still out 10 bucks for parking and have a couple kids who are disappointed in the policy, disappointed in the lack of notice, and soured on They Might Be Giants in general (and I don't blame them). They were really looking forward to seeing you perform, and we all feel like you let them down. In the future, you might do your younger fans (and their parents) the courtesy of stating your age policy somewhere more visible than at the venue box office in sharpie, and in clearer, more concise language than "recommended for ages 14+".
Thanks, Johns.
Todd, Tyler & Kayleigh Downing, Seattle
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8 comments:
I have had similar experiences where it is seemingly impossible to find out any details about either venue rules or promoter rules or band rules before shows. Usually in my case it was rules about cameras that caused long pissed off walks back to the parking lot to dispense with cameras that were not allowed.
That's just outrageous! I also have children who are big TMBG fans - heck, I might have learned about them from Sam. Pshaw on them. I wonder if it really was their decision, or the decision of the venue?
The sign on the box office hand-written in Sharpie said "At the artist's request...", so it was not the Moore's policy at work. Had it been, there would be some kind of permanent disclaimer on the Moore website.
Perhaps you should be angry with the parents of the children under 14 who have ruined it for everyone else? More than likely it's been experience that leads the artist to shy away from that age group [if indeed it's the artist and not the Moore deflecting pressure from angry patrons].
Well, as I explained it wasn't so much the policy of "absolutely no one under 14 admitted", it was the lack of clearly posting the policy in advance of the show, like say, on the artist's website, or the Moore website on behalf of the artist, or more absolute language on the Ticketmaster site, as opposed to "recommended for ages 14+", which is clearly leaves it to parental discretion and is not a policy.
You go dad! Sorry that the evening was a disappointment since your kids are big fans. I know it was a disappointment to get there and then not be able to get in. At least you got your ticket$$ back.
gotcha, point taken.
aw, shit. That's truly sucky. I'm so sorry for T & K. How totally disappointing. Julia's had early introduction to TMBG too, and I can only imagine how upset she'd be to literally be turned away at the door. Grr.
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