Attend a rock show with your children

At the Bell Centre, it is not uncommon to see children attend performances by Stromae and other artists loved by children. What about in smaller venues and bars, where alcohol consumption is permitted? Can we take children there? Is it a good idea to do this?

Music is an integral part of the life of host and author Melissa Maya Falkenberg. And, by the band, of that of his boy and his daughter – aged 5 and 10 years old. It was therefore natural for her to take them to see shows or attend festivals. “Whether it’s in the street, completely improvised stuff, festivals, small or big venues, these are incredible experiences for both children and parents,” she says.

The desire to pass on his love of music to his offspring is the same for Yanick Tremblay, metal music lover. The one who once shared his passion by writing in See, Music Universe and bang bang often took his 13-year-old boy and nearly 15-year-old daughter to concerts. At 2 months, Raphaëlle even experienced her musical baptism at the very first edition of Heavy Montreal. If his tastes have developed over the years, Renaud has learned to love metal like his father. Father-son shows are frequent, about every three weeks. Raphaëlle goes to more shows with her mother. She has seen Les Louanges six times!

Don’t force things

Young, children obviously accompany their parents to shows without asking too many questions. “They don’t think about that,” says Melissa Maya Falkenberg, who says her daughter loves Cœur de pirate without dreaming of seeing her on stage.

This desire to see and hear artists whose music they appreciate usually comes later. “From 0 to 10 years old, they came with mom and dad. But from the age of 10, it was requests, especially from my boy. It was never forced. I don’t take my child to make it look cool. He wanted to come, he listens to music at home,” says Yanick Tremblay.

Aside from amphitheaters like the Bell Centre, children are rarer in performance halls. Do parents know that they have the right to take their children there? “When there is a show I want to see, often I call and ask if the children can come, says Melissa Maya Falkenberg, author of Rock’n’Miaou – Rock legends told to children. For example, at Le Quai des Brumes bar, for the Winston Band, they told me: “We’re going to do a show a little earlier around 6 p.m. for families.” If I hadn’t called, I wouldn’t have had the info. »

The MTelus, the Corona, the Club Soda, La Tulipe, the Fairmount Theater and many others hold amphitheater permits, which gives them the right to welcome children during shows classified as “general admission”. However, they are refused during “18 years and over” shows. Restrictions determined by event producers and organizers.

“Either it’s a question of the content of the show, such as content that is intended to be vulgar or provocative, or it’s a question of the time of the event. When it ends after midnight, we consider it an 18 and over event, for a matter of security,” said Roxane Perreault, director of the Club Soda box office, by email.

Boundaries not to cross?

Are all shows suitable for children? Yanick Tremblay believes that if everything is well explained by the parents, there are really no limits. His children are aware that this is fiction, that “it is not a lifestyle”. “And the kind of metal I listen to is not scatological. There are explicit lyrics, but nothing disturbing. »

“There is not one show I wouldn’t go see them. On the other hand, I’m not silly: it’s their safety above all else, “says Melissa Maya Falkenberg, recounting having attended the Vulgar Machins show last November and having had to step back a little with her spouse because of an excited crowd.

The one who has never felt judged or has never felt that people find it odd that she takes her children on her musical trips, feels great happiness in passing on her passion to her children. Especially since they can experience and understand certain things such as the effect of music on the public, the proximity with the artist, his personality in performance, the symbiosis with the musicians and, of course, the atmosphere of the evening. “Going to see a concert with my child or my children, and that everything goes well, is one of my best moments with them. »