question about age requirements

[sunrisegirl]

Well, I'd like to start out saying that I'm young and probably ignorant, so I could be posting this in the wrong section or this might have already been discussed. So, let's get my apology out of the way...I'm sorry! Anyways, I have a question for ya'll: For the Brooklyn, NY concert on July 18, 2007, at Union Hall, the Union Hall website says at the very bottom of 'Calendar' something along the lines of 'age requirement 21 unless stated otherwise.' Do most shows make this a rule, or is it only this one and a few others? I'm asking this because I've been waiting about a year for Vienna Teng to come close enough to my area that it isn't a nuisance for my family and I to travel, and so that it doesn't coincide with preplanned events. I've even (already!) begun to write a persuasive essay to my parents, the topic being why I deserve to go to this concert.

...Don't get me wrong, my parents embrace my loving her, and don't think she's a bad musician at all...I just wanted to prove to them that I'll go out of my way to go to a concert of hers. I'm sorry if I'm been sort-of rambling...in any case, there's no use in putting effort into this essay that I'm writing if it's true that most places in which these concerts are held in offer service only to those over age 21. I've only just turned 14, and really, I'm not sure if I can stand waiting 7 years to see Vienna live! I just want people's thoughts on this; whether you believe my thoughts are right or wrong. And keep in mind that though I'd want to, I am a minor and can't fly all over the place to see her in a place that doesn't have an age requirement.

[rtu]

a lot of the venues that serve alcohol will have that stipulation, though i'm not sure what happens if the parents are accompanying. they may be your ticket in. i would contact the venue. the xpn music fest on july 22 should be no problem for you, but i'm not sure how long of a set vienna will be playing.

[shawn]

Yeah, it's definitely an alcohol-related restriction. As Vienna gets more of a following, she should be playing fewer club-style venues and more theater-style ones, where that won't be an issue and there won't be a strict age-based cutoff. She does get to play in theater-style venues sometimes, though it's often as an opening act for someone else.

For her sake (and for that of her underage fans), I'd like to see her headlining in theaters, though I know it will mean the loss of the intimacy of the club shows.

[Steve]

I took my daughter to many shows when she was a teenager, including to hear Vienna. (My choice, and she's now a fan. Much nicer than some of her choices, like Stroke 9, Crystal Method and others, although the Indigo Girls and Ani Difranco were both great.)

Going to concerts with her was something I'll always cherish. If you can convince one or both of your parents to go (and the venue accepts their bringing you in), it will be something special not only for you, but for them. I hope it works out for all of you!

[Scot]

Hi Sunrise- welcome to the forums! I hope you get to see some Vienna
show soon. How did you first hear about her music?

scot

[sunrisegirl]

Thank you for replying, everyone, and thanks for the welcome! =) I can see how alcohol would be the reason younger people aren't allowed....so I'll just talk it over with my parents, and contact the place she'll be singing at. And Scot..I went over my cousin's house about a year ago, and when I went up to her room, I heard this absolutely AMAZING voice, singing about a constant satellite of a blazing sun. I mean, it's not every day you hear such a pure voice singing about something so cool as that! So, I was like, "who IS that?!" And my cousin told me it was a woman named Vienna Teng, and we listened to it the whole time I was at her house. After I left, I ordered her CD's online, and she's still my absolute favorite musician to this day.

[rtu]

wow, to be so young and have such great taste in music. i loved the 80's and still listen to 80's music all the time but the quality was nothing like this. hope you get to see her live. you'll appreciate her that much more when you do.

[Scot]

That's a great story, sunrise!
I'm especially pleased that you think stars and satellites and gravity to be a
cool subject. (I am an astronomer. :>)

cheers!

scot

[CrazyOne]

Yeah, a lot of the places she's playing are clubs which are so small and crowded they don't have a good way of determining the under 21 on the fly, so they check ID at the door and only let you in if you're 21 or over. Places that allow for all ages tend to be larger.

There is one on the schedule this summer: The Birchmere. You just need to take a vacation to the Washington, DC area during the week that includes the 19th of July. Birchmere is all ages, all the time. Seats 500, and she is headlining. Should be interesting. The only time I saw Vienna in an all-ages show, she was opening for another guy, and the audience was the worst I've ever seen ignoring the opening act, talking all through it.

She's played at the Birchmere a few times before, but it looks like all as opener according to the tour archive. Could be something interesting to see. Have any of the other headlining venues been that big? Maybe the World Cafe Live?

[Ginny]

Hi, Sunrisegirl--
I didn't see your original post unti today, but I wanted to welcome you to the forums and tell you I'm sorry about the age restriction in your area. That's ashame. I hope you can get to a show soon. I grew up in an area where NOTHING and NOBODY came near us--New Orleans was about 3hrs away and Dallas was 4 and there was no way my mom was going to drive me that far to see concerts. The waiting about drove me nuts! ~Ginny

[Michele]

She's played at the Birchmere a few times before, but it looks like all as opener according to the tour archive. Could be something interesting to see. Have any of the other headlining venues been that big? Maybe the World Cafe Live?

The capacity for the San Francisco venue she just played is 960. It's weird that she can go from playing for 50 people in Scottsdale to 800+ in SF within the same week. I am so happy and proud for her to be headlining the Birchmere this time around!

[Kay]

Hi Sunrise -

I'd definitely suggest calling the venue beforehand and emphasizing the fact that your parents will be with you. Most venues are strict about their age policies, but it's always worth a try.

I also wanted to mention that if Union Hall is close to where you live, Vienna has moved to NYC and will probably be doing more shows in that area in the next few years. Though I don't know how many all-ages venues NY has to offer, at least there's a higher chance she'll be around to play in a variety of places.

Good luck!

[bofis]

My younger brother isn't 21 yet and we either give him my old license or something, or if we're with our parents then it's okay...usually it's like over 21 unless accompanied by parents or guardians...so just go with your parents, I've seen Vienna with mine like 3 times now, they've obsessed just like I am! Hope you can come to the Union Hall show, I'm excited to see her on her new home turf.

[rtu]

sunrisegirl, i hope you've had the chance to check with the venue. let us know what they say....as for the rest of us, no matter how amazing vienna is live, i'm not so sure we should be suggesting to a minor to use a fake id nor am i so sure that there's a fake id that's good enough to cover up the fact that she is only 14.

[CrazyOne]

Yeah, seriously, that would be some ID if it worked for age 14.