Forsyth Barr Stadium, November 18, 2015

[michelej1]

[yeah, no! Babies do not get in for free]

Ticketmaster told parents they'd need to pay extra $200 to take baby to Fleetwood Mac concert

5:00 AM Wednesday Nov 11, 2015 New Zealand Herald, by Chris Morris

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainm...ectid=11543219

Fleetwood Mac may have just won their youngest fan. Four-month-old Noah and his parents will be taking in the band's sell-out show next week from the comfort of a corporate box at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

It was a big change from earlier yesterday, when Noah's mother, Katie Cleaver, feared she and her son would have to miss out completely.

Mrs Cleaver and husband Nigel, of Invercargill, had already paid $400 for two tickets to see one of her favourite bands.

But she contacted the Otago Daily Times yesterday morning after being told she would have to pay an extra $200 for a third ticket if she wanted Noah to sit on her lap during the concert.

She had assumed her baby could come in for free, but was told by Ticketmaster everyone attending the show - even babies who didn't need a seat - still needed a ticket. "I was like 'wow'. He's 4 months old. He can't even sit. It's just absurd that a 4-month-old baby should have to pay $200 for a ticket to a concert they don't benefit from," she said.

Mrs Cleaver said Noah would not bother anyone, and wouldn't watch the show, but she wanted to be able to breastfeed him.

It was increasingly common for parents to take babies and young children to concerts and major sporting events, using earmuffs to protect their hearing, she said.

Air New Zealand and other carriers also allowed children under 2 to fly for free, while sitting on their parents' laps, she said. She had done both with older son Finn, 5, in the past, including attending a Taylor Swift concert at Auckland's Vector Arena, and she said the approach in Dunedin seemed "archaic".

"A baby really is an extension of the mother at this age." She said it was really important society didn't impinge on the rights of a baby and a mother to breastfeed.

Dunedin Venues Management chief executive Terry Davies declined to comment, while the firm's marketing and communications manager, Kim Barnes, would say only that the policy was set by the band's promoter, Live Nation.

"It's their show. We abide by their conditions," she said.

Live Nation relented yesterday and offered both parents, and Noah, a spot in a corporate box.

The company's "blanket policy" was everyone should have a ticket, and parents were "generally" discouraged from bringing infants to noisy concerts, said Live Nation vice-president of promotions Luke Hede.

But if the couple still wanted to attend, and had appropriate hearing protection for their baby, they would be welcome, he said.

"We would actually be happy to welcome them into a heated corporate area behind glass if they think they'd be more comfortable there."

Mrs Cleaver said the company's response was "so awesome".

"I'm really stoked. Fleetwood Mac is one of my all-time favourite bands and I really didn't want to miss out."

[cheappd]

This mother is an idiot. Why are they bringing a baby to a LOUD concert?

I also don't buy the breastfeeding argument. A babysitter could easily feed the child at home with the mother's milk.

Finally, Fleetwood Mac is not an airline.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by cheappd

This mother is an idiot. Why are they bringing a baby to a LOUD concert?

I also don't buy the breastfeeding argument. A babysitter could easily feed the child at home with the mother's milk.

Finally, Fleetwood Mac is not an airline.

Yes, it's stupid. And it's not good for the baby at all, even if he's wearing earmuffs. I guess being in a box suite is ok, but no way do they need to bring any kid under the age of 4 to the concert floor. If you want to do that, you should have to pay $500 for the baby's ticket. Such nonsense.

Michele

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by cheappd

This mother is an idiot. Why are they bringing a baby to a LOUD concert?

I also don't buy the breastfeeding argument. A babysitter could easily feed the child at home with the mother's milk.

Finally, Fleetwood Mac is not an airline.

Yep.

I had the same reaction on the weekend when people brought their poor dogs to an outdoor street fest and stood right by the stage with the dogs in front of huge speakers. I mean, it's not like dogs have even more sensitive ears than we do. Dumbf&cks.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Yes, it's stupid. And it's not good for the baby at all, even if he's wearing earmuffs. I guess being in a box suite is ok, but no way do they need to bring any kid under the age of 4 to the concert floor. If you want to do that, you should have to pay $500 for the baby's ticket. Such nonsense.

Michele

There's so much pot smoke, too!! That's just stupidity.

[elle]

yes, babies need to be confined to the house and never go out in a big scary world.

what's with you all?!?!?! so judgmental!

[FuzzyPlum]

I think its ridiculous anyone would want to bring a baby to a concert. That said, I think people have the right if they feel it would be safe and it certainly seems stupid to charge them full ticket price.

I'm quite annoyed this family are likely to have bagged themselves better seats in a corporate area.

[Montclare]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Mrs Cleaver said Noah would not bother anyone, and wouldn't watch the show, but she wanted to be able to breastfeed him.

Somehow I'm guessing if the kid started crying/screaming in the middle of the concert, the other people who paid hundreds of dollars would be bothered.

[StreetAngel86]

oh those poor people
having to watch from a corporate box ...
STFU and leave your vile children at home
a concert is not a place for babies

they prob just whinged and whined to get an upgrade

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by elle

yes, babies need to be confined to the house and never go out in a big scary world.

what's with you all?!?!?! so judgmental!

Take that kid to the fair if you want to expose him to music. You can bring your baby to the concert if you want, but pay $500. Don't screech about having to pay $200 for doing something only an idiot would do. This kid was an INFANT. He's not even CRAWLING yet.

Michele

[elle]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Take that kid to the fair if you want to expose him to music. You can bring your baby to the concert if you want, but pay $500. Don't screech about having to pay $200 for doing something only an idiot would do. This kid was an INFANT. He's not even CRAWLING yet.

Michele

you all would HATE me when my kids were babies, i was taking them everywhere.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by elle

you all would HATE me when my kids were babies, i was taking them everywhere.

I thought that was you in the gay bar... DC right?

[michelej1]

New Zealand Herald

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainm...ectid=11545490

Kerre McIvor: Playing the righteous trump card of the breastfeeding mother

5:00 AM Sunday Nov 15, 2015

As part of my year of turning 50, I fulfilled my dream of seeing Fleetwood Mac live.

I had wanted to see them with my daughter ever since I introduced her to their brilliance and filled her in on the mad backstory of the making of the Rumours album.

She is living in London and I'm in New Zealand so we met halfway in Las Vegas, where Fleetwood Mac were playing the final show of their American tour.

Fans who are heading to the Auckland and Dunedin concerts are in for a real treat if the Vegas show was anything to go by.

Nearly three hours of their classic hits and fabulous renditions of Never Going Back Again, from Lindsay Buckingham, and Christine McVie's show closer, Songbird.

At times, there was utter silence in the MGM Grand arena - nearly 17,000 people holding their collective breath as Fleetwood Mac worked their magic.

It was worth every cent and life these days is more about amazing experiences than acquiring stuff.

But if I'd found myself sitting next to a woman holding a baby on her lap at the concert, I would have seriously questioned the value of my ticket.

Katie Cleaver and her husband were planning to see Fleetwood Mac in Dunedin. They forked out $400 for tickets and were horrified when told that if they wanted to bring along 4-month old Noah, they'd have to pay $200 for him.

Katie was outraged. She said it was absurd that a 4-month-old baby should have to pay for a ticket to a concert he didn't benefit from and that it was becoming increasingly common for parents to take babies and young children to concerts and sporting events, using earmuffs to protect their hearing.

The attitude in Dunedin seemed archaic, she said, and stressed it was important society didn't impinge on the rights of a baby and mother to breastfeed.

Oh, please. Nothing like playing the righteous trump card of the breastfeeding mother.

Initially, the concert promoters held firm. They charged babies the full ticket price in a bid to prevent parents from bringing babies to concerts. They believe concerts are no places for babies and I wholeheartedly agree.

Katie was adamant Noah would be no trouble. She just wanted him there so she could breastfeed him.

All very admirable but how on Earth does she know he's not going to bother anyone? Babies can and do cry for no reason at all. That's their prerogative. Being a baby is the perfect excuse for throwing a grade A tantrum.

I love babies. I love being around babies - most of the time. And Noah looks like a little cutie.

But if a baby had opened its lungs and wailed during some of the beautiful acoustic ballads we heard during the concert, it would have ruined the experience.

Cleaver's right to breastfeed her baby wasn't being violated by concert promoters suggesting she leave her baby at home.

Her boobs weren't going to shrivel and dry up if she left her baby at home for an evening.

Every breastfeeding mother knows you can express milk and the baby can have it from a bottle. It is arrogant in the extreme to assume your baby should be welcome wherever you go.

But after all the hoo-ha and publicity, the promoters relented and offered the Cleavers, including baby Noah, a spot in their corporate box.

The company's policy was everyone should have a ticket and parents were generally discouraged from bringing infants to noisy concerts, said Live Nation vice-president of promotions Luke Hede.

But if the couple still wanted to attend, and had appropriate hearing protection for their baby, they would be welcome, he said.

"We would actually be happy to welcome them into a heated corporate area behind glass if they think they would be more comfortable there."

Fabulous for the Cleavers. Not so fabulous for the other suckers in the corporate box.

Noah will probably be a perfect angel and sleep his way through the entire concert. Then again, he might not.

And his parents have learned that, just like a baby, if you throw a big enough tantrum, in this day and age, you'll generally get your way.

Kerre McIvor is on Newstalk ZB, Monday-Thursday, 8pm-midnight

[Macfanforever]

Good grief. Keep the babies home with the nanny or babysitter.I see its a safety issue bringing infants to concerts.he/she got to go to the bathroom on the mother,Crying through out the show and ruin it for the neighbors .Loud music,noise ,drunks,cigarette and pot smoke and just aholes in general in the crowd.

If the fan can afford the inflated tix prices for the concert.I know they can afford a freaking babysitter or nanny for one night.

Anyway .For those of you that are going tonight.Enjoy the show.

[FuzzyPlum]

Originally Posted by Macfanforever

Good grief. Keep the babies home with the nanny or babysitter.I see its a safety issue bringing infants to concerts.he/she got to go to the bathroom on the mother,Crying through out the show and ruin it for the neighbors .Loud music,noise ,drunks,cigarette and pot smoke and just aholes in general in the crowd.

If the fan can afford the inflated tix prices for the concert.I know they can afford a freaking babysitter or nanny for one night.

Anyway .For those of you that are going tonight.Enjoy the show.

I'm not a fan of babies at concerts- hate it in fact.

But come on;

'he/she got to go to the bathroom on the mother'. Babies don't tend to do poopoo or peepee on their mother- they wear a nappy (diaper).

'Crying through out the show'. 90% of the time babies tend to sleep. If they are awake I dont think many people are going to hear a baby. FM concerts in particular are loud.

'Loud music,noise'. They wear ear muffs.

'drunks,cigarette and pot smoke and just aholes in general in the crowd'. I dont know what they are like around the world. Certainly here in the UK Fleetwood Mac crowds are full of really lovely people. Though the age range is varied, they tend to be at the upper end of the age spectrum. Certainly not a load of riff raff. Anyway, I dont think a baby is personally going to meet many of them. Not sure what its like in Australia but its difficult to get away with smoking at an indoor concert in the UK these days.

My major concern was the bass that hits you at a FM concert. That said, babies feel vibration in the womb- they'd probably be largely non-plussed. Indeed, it could be positively stimulating for them.