Dear Arena DJ, Watch Your Language, The Kids Are Listening
Photo by Aaron Muderick
Behind me, I heard a parent standing with their two kids turn to the person next to them and say, “Why do they have to play that crap?”
Good question. I understand in warm up, young, testosterone filled hockey players are preparing to go to battle on the ice, but go to an NHL game, or an OHL game, and tell me if you hear the same vulgarity pumping out of the speakers. Those players don’t need to hear trash to get up for a game, and their marketing teams are likely smart enough to realize it turns fans away.
Snapping a few photos, and watching what the new teams and rookies looked like for a new season of hockey, I forgot all about the swearing songs…until.
“Yeah here we go for the hundredth time, Hand grenade pins in every line, Throw ’em up and let something shine, Going out of my %$&#ing mind.”
Ironically enough, the next line of this song is, “Filthy mouth, no excuse” and it’s true. This time, the mother of the people standing behind me spoke up to her husband. She asked if she had heard what she thought she had heard. Her husband assured her that it wasn’t the first time during the game that the speakers had played profanity.
The next thing the mother said, is the last thing many of our local Junior hockey teams want to hear. Her words were, “This is the last time we bring the kids here.”
Imagine that, one of the first games of the season and a team has lost 4 fans for the remainder of the year, and possibly the year after. I’ll estimate very conservatively that this family brings in $20 to the arena every game. If they were to attend 15 home games this year, that would be $300 lost. I can only assume if this happens with one family on the first night of the year, it won’t be the only family that doesn’t return because of the “atmosphere.”
It’s not even about the money, it’s the message. Imagine that family was visiting our community for the very first time. Like I said, you won’t hear that type of music watching the London Knights, Windsor Spitfires, or Sarnia Sting.
Personally, I don’t understand how the management of a local Junior team can be that stupid. Were they not listening? I doubt that, because during the warmup, I could see them standing out watching their opposition. During the game, they were obviously again inside the arena, watching the ice.
I’m not naming names, in fact, I didn’t even say what game it was, and it would be hard to tell since I usually go to 2-3 junior games a week.
As a hockey team looking to put fans in the stands, and to hopefully be a part of the community’s identity, it would make sense not to isolate anyone, but that’s what this team and their DJ accomplished.
All I’m saying is, that team and arena should watch the language and content of the songs they play, the kids are listening…and your fans are leaving.
Let the games begin.
Well I personally wouldn’t play the music to do these conservative ideals, I find it amusing that the solution for parents would be to stop attending.
What do parents think kids have on their iPods or watch on Youtube at night?
This ideal of hiding children from the eventual, mature society just ill-prepares them for that world. Parents need to discuss with their children the world outside of the fake/hollow fantasy they establish in their households.
I’m amused and saddened. As one who teaches young minds in sports and as an audio person for sports events, I know both sides of the story. I’m also a grandfather of 6. That qualifies me as much as having my grand-kids in performance sports.
I know my teen and preteen grand-kids know all the words selectively not included in the article. BUT, I try to watch my own language around them as I do not want them to think educated adults can’t articulate themselves better.
When it comes to choices in music, I know most artists who feel the need to use profanity also release a radio version. As an arena DJ, and one who arranges music for arenas, it just makes sense to me to use the radio edit of popular songs.
What amuses me is that I grew up with Lenny Bruce and heard Country Joe and the Fish perform the Vietnam song in ’69. That was social commentary, and I admired Alanis Morissette’s “You oughta know.” I’m not a prude, but aside from what I think is just laziness on the part of most popular song writers – to paraphrase Shania Twain, the use of profanity for the sake of using it “that don’t impress me much.” Katy Perry does it much better with no profanity, and even I hold back on including some of her songs simply because while it is great music, there are other choices.
Well written article! The writer makes an excellent point. The post from “devils advocate” seems to be from someone who is obviously not a parent. Don’t worry, you’ll learn pretty quick when you have little ones to lead 🙂
It’s probably unfair to say that “Devil’s Advocate” is obviously not a parent. There are important dangers to protect your children from and societal norms. Only a naive parent/guardian thinks they can control what children listen too. Just because you have control of the radio in the car doesn’t mean you are censoring the whole world to them. All information should be available to children and it is the parents responsibility to have discussions about what they intake.
How many times do you hear or see of the kid who is sheltered from religious or traditional mindsets and then once fly’s the nest completely crashes as they were ill-prepared.
Also the idea of music corrupting children is so silly and 1980’s.
Can we progress and have honest and open conversation with children finally?