Post
by drew » Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:56 am
I really tried hard to make this event 18+ and in the end the venue just wasn't having it. They have done 18+ events at this location in the past, but after a lot of pressure from the local government the 18+ days are now done. In the time when we booked the location, they said they would let us run an 18+ show, but after incidents like EDC this summer the city has made it personal with dance music events.
It's becoming harder and harder these days to get a venue to agree to 18+. Most cases (and I know not all of you) the people who aren't there for alcohol are going to be there for drugs. 18+ crowd will bring markers in and tag their names on the wall. They tag up the neighborhood. You will always need to hire twice as many security guards. You know who gets the bill for the damages? Not the club, but the promoter. I've personally had to repair the window that got knocked out by some 19 year old guy freaking out on shrooms. I've had to hire painters to paint over graffiti. I've had to pay to replace the metal panel from some kid scribing his name into the elevator. Things like this only seem to happen during 18+ shows.
My opinion on the matter is a larger issue I have with the national government law of alcohol at 21 years old. If you are old enough to drive a car, get married, go to college, and get drafted into war - my god, you should at least be able to drink a fucking beer. I also feel that drugs would be less of an issue - if you can legally buy a drink you are less inclined to sneak off in a corner to use narcotics. Being told you can't do something only makes you feel like a child - when you should feel like an adult. Scribing your name in a wall is a childish thing to do. If you were treated like an adult, you would probably act like one too. In Canada drinking is 19, in the UK its 18. You will find a large amount of responsible young individuals in those countries because they feel like they have entered adulthood.
I remember growing up during a time where all the best events were 21+ and I hated it. I felt like it was discriminatory against my age. I tired fake ID's, I tired to sneak in, and in the end I just ended up missing out on a lot of great shows. I completely remember what it's like.
I don't personally have a problem with people younger than me. I know there are many young people that are just as passionate, if not more so than me about this music. We've been able to do a few 18+ shows in the past, but it is always a battle with the property owners, security, venue owners, and police. It's not your fault - but others have ruined it for you.
Maybe you see it as "muthafuckin bullshit" but that muthafuckin bullshit is not coming down from me. It's coming down from American society as a whole. I agree with you - it is muthafuckin bullshit. But what can you do?
Guys we came real close to getting this show 18+ and I'm sorry it could not be pulled off. I can promise you our next big event (Dub Police at House of Blues) will be 18+ and you will be more than stoked on that.
that's all I have to say about the age issue.
dont hold it against us.
much love
- Drew Smog
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