I had never heard of The Lovin’ Spoonful before I was assigned a story about the band and its performance at SLO Brewing Co. It seems ridiculous now because after researching The Spoonful, it is evident that they are true rock ‘n’ roll legends.
Anyway, I was lucky enough to actually talk to Steve Boone, bassist and original member of The Lovin’ Spoonful. We got along great and it turned out to be a successful phone interview. Before ending the call, Boone asked me if I would be at the show at SLO Brew. Without thinking too much into it, I told him that I would definitely be there and I would love to meet him in person. And I meant it.
I logged onto SLO Brew’s website to find more ticket information (price, where to purchase, etc.) only to see the single phrase that has haunted me for the last two years of my college career: 21+ only.
As a fourth year at Cal Poly, yes a senior, I am the youngest person I have ever met in this grade. My friends have been going to bars since the summer after sophomore year and as time goes on, it only gets worse. And it really isn’t about being able to drink, because we all know you don’t have to be 21 to do that.
After burning through two fake ID’s (“I swear it’s me! I just look a little different because I got a haircut … and plastic surgery?”), I can now only shake my head in sorrow when my friends go downtown on a Friday night. I no longer even respond to text messages saying that we should totally “meet up dt tonight!”
But why would a musical performance limit the age of the audience allowed to enjoy it? Bars and legal drinking is a different story because that is unfortunately a law in America. Just because I am one month away from finally being that magical age (35 days to be exact) does that mean I am not mature enough to handle the adult setting of this performance?
Boo Boo Records ticketing sales counter told me they don’t even card when they sell tickets at their store. They prefer to leave that up to the venue. But beware, just because you get through phase I, ticket buying, without getting carded, does not mean you will get into a show if you are underage.
So then I called Steve Boone back. He told me that The Lovin’ Spoonful had no control over the decision and that it was definitely not something they wanted.
Boone even said one of their guitar player’s granddaughters wanted to come to a show and could not. They tried to find a way to get around the rule so she could watch her grandfather play, but they couldn’t.
Not only was that sad to hear, but it was a little shocking.
SLO Brew General Manager Monte Schaller enlightened me further, explaining that in most cases, a show is 21+ because the band requests it to be that way. He said it is often based simply on the demographic of listeners the band usually attracts.
In the case of The Lovin Spoonful, SLO Brew chose to limit the audience to 21+ because they knew that the band had an older demographic and the logistics of a 21+ show are easier to coordinate and staff.
They have less liability risks, less of a need for security and can have a bigger bar area that does not need to be sectioned off.
He said the small amount of money they may lose on ticket sales to fans under 21 is made up in bar sales and savings on security measures.
While I understand their side of the story, it still made me cringe a little to uncover this perfect example of the music industry limiting musical enjoyment for monetary benefits.
But who knows, maybe I will see things differently in one month when I possess the wisdom of a real 21-year-old.