I moved to Europe because the US blocked me out of most club settings until I was 21. Now I'm 21 so I'm looking to return home. For most countries the universal liscense to perform any and all venues appears to be 18.I think my first gig was when I was... hmm... eight?
Really it depends on where you are playing, if you are getting paid, if the venue serves alcohol, the kind of supervision you have...
I don't know every rule, and even if I did, it depends on what country you live in.
More specifics.
I moved to Europe because the US blocked me out of most club settings until I was 21. Now I'm 21 so I'm looking to return home. For most countries the universal liscense to perform any and all venues appears to be 18.
My first gig was a party at age 16. My first bar gig was age 19.
As others have said, in most countries you need to be 18 before you can play anywhere that alcohol is served (unless you can slip through the net). Not sure why the US age of drinking is 21 ... perhaps that's why its populace is so renowned for clean living? ;-)
My first gig was a party at age 16. My first bar gig was age 19.
As others have said, in most countries you need to be 18 before you can play anywhere that alcohol is served (unless you can slip through the net). Not sure why the US age of drinking is 21 ... perhaps that's why its populace is so renowned for clean living? ;-)
I'm pretty sure that you have to be eighteen to play in the clubs in the USA.
The age of drinking here is 16 (!), and that's also the minimum age required to play at a venue where they serve alcohol.
I guess that may differ by state.
I think it is because Americans mature slower then the rest of the world *jokes*
It's 21 for sure and applies to all 50 states based on interstate highway funding. Several years ago Mothers Against Drunk Driving /MADD/ intimidated congress with a huge voting block. The result was to basically say that states could do what they wanted but if they didn't go along with the 21 age restriction then they could build and repair their stretches of interstate with their own money. All 50 states soon complied. Soon this applied to legal age to even ENTER the club. And BradGunner is right. Clubs get around this sometimes by having the underage musician enter through a service entrance /usually the back door/ then wait outside during breaks or never leave the stage. I did this a couple of times but got tired of not being able to use a bathroom.It differs by state, but in a lot of states if you play at a bar and you are underage, you have to sit outside when you are not actually performing (i.e. during breaks) and you might also have to have a parent/guardian with you at the gig. Please, check the rules in your state!!
What is the minimum age you have to be to play a gig or can you be any age?