Why do women stop going to gigs?

[Dr Nookie]

I'm 42 and still love going to gigs frequently, but I've noticed that when women hit their mid 30's they seem to disappear from gig audiences almost completely!

When I was in my 20's I'd say most gigs had an almost 50-50 gender split, but taking the Dinosaur Jnr gig I was at last night as an example, and I'd guess it was about 80% male, and of those women that were there the majority appeared to be under 30.

Now the obvious answer would seem to be - kids! Only, men have kids too but they're still clearly going to see lots of bands.

Is it that women are still doing most of the childcare/are too bloody knackered or is it just that they don't care about music as much? Or maybe they are going to gigs, just not the ones I go to!

Just wondered what people thought!

 

[Left]

Is it not more about the type of gigs you go to?

 

[bi0boy]

My aunt and her friend are both 60 and went to see David Essex live at the O2 Arena recently so you're wrong.

 

[weepiper]

Is it that women are still doing most of the childcare

Yes.

 

[Ax^]

After 40 you are only allowed at cliff richard shows..

 

[clicker]

I had a brief respite from indoor gigs, bar the ' must not miss on any account ' ones, when babysitting was needed....too much hassle to arrange someone to stay late enough etc....festivals much better when the kids are young...trick is to get them old enough to appreciate live music and take them with you to venues that allow....rules out pub gigs but they're also old enough now to have sleepovers so back on the gig circuit .

 

[krtek a houby]

Myself and the missus are off to a gig tomorrow and we're in our 40s

 

[ska invita]

When I was in my 20's I'd say most gigs had an almost 50-50 gender split, but taking the Dinosaur Jnr gig I was at last night as an example, and I'd guess it was about 80% male, and of those women that were there the majority appeared to be under 30.

did you see Little Barrie in support? What did you think of them?

 

[Poot]

Yes. Childcare. And also the cost of a ticket would make me feel guilty - the kids would have to do without for me to go to a gig. It's not fair on them.

 

[kittyP]

I would imagine a child care issue yes. This does not make women care less about music (or women without children), just other things become a priority.
I go to less gig than I use to to (but then again so does my husband) because our money is needed else where. When your 20, possibly living at home, living on cans of beans and stuff, a gig ticket is really important.

As left said, the type of gigs you go to may be the point.
I went to see Dinosaur Jr when I was about 20 and it was mainly blokes then too.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

I think it does depend on the type of gig. I went to a classical music thing last year and the audience was mainly (even) older than me and was about 50/50 gender split.

A lot of rock/pop whatever music is very much focussed on youth.

Blokes tend to be more obsessive about music (NB this a different thing from being knowledgeable or passionate about it).

If I go to bonkers atonal improvised gigs then I'd expect the audience to mainly be male nerds of a certain age like me.

There is more of an even split with reggae nights. More older people at rocksteady/ska nights. Probably women in the majority if you to a lovers rock thing.

It depends.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

When I was in my 20's I'd say most gigs had an almost 50-50 gender split, but taking the Dinosaur Jnr gig I was at last night as an example, and I'd guess it was about 80% male, and of those women that were there the majority appeared to be under 30.

I'd have thought Dinosaur Jnr crowds would be pretty blokey years ago tbh. Could be nonsense though.

My personal experience was that gig crowds were always more male than female but then I was a metaller.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Also wrt to the childcare thing - this is definitely an issue in my house. We often end up going out separately, and being a woman on your own at a gig (or even with a group of female friends) is a different thing from being a bloke on your own.

 

[quimcunx]

maybe after 30 women stop bothering to accompany their men to gigs?

men have kids too but usually it ends up being the primary care giver (usually the woman) who stays in a lot more rather than the breadwinner (usually the man) who more often keeps up with social interests.

 

[lizzieloo]

I go to gigs but then we don't have kids, I'm 40.

 

[pennimania]

I still go to gigs and I'm 60.

Not as many as in my youth, but that's partly due to the place I live in.

It was a red letter day for me when Edwyn Collins came to Portree.

AND he was on the same plane as me last week

 

[Dr Nookie]

did you see Little Barrie in support? What did you think of them?

Didn't see them I'm afraid!

 

[mentalchik]

I would go but i don't have like minded friends to go with and it's usually far too expensive these days

 

[Idaho]

We go to gigs occasionally. Ms Idaho has been to see stuff with her mates. It all depends is the boring answer.

 

[wayward bob]

i still go to gigs and festies, more than mr b does - he only comes with me, i also go with mates, or my mum to folk/classical stuff.

but then you'd never spot me as on older woman cos i still look 21

 

[rubbershoes]

gigs often clash with Eastenders

no contest

 

[sim667]

Ive always noticed gigs being predominantly male.

 

[pennimania]

did you see Little Barrie in support? What did you think of them?

Little Barrie was supporting Edwyn at Portree!

Just adored him and his delicious white Fender

 

[secret squirrel]

I would go but i don't have like minded friends to go with and it's usually far too expensive these days

This

 

[Dr Nookie]

This

Maybe we should start an Urban ladies gig-buddies group!

 

[wayward bob]

make that an urban women's gig-buddies group and you might get some takers

 

[mrsfran]

Not only have I got to consider childcare, but so have most of my friends. So even if I was to go out to a gig, I'd have no one to go with because it's difficult to co-ordinate everyone getting childcare on the same night. So we just drag our kids to the pub on saturday afternoons and piss off everyone else instead.

 

[Dr Nookie]

make that an urban women's gig-buddies group and you might get some takers

That's because I was trying to do a pun on 'ladies who lunch' and put 'ladies who lurch' instead but that was shit so i gave up and stupidly forgot to rub the 'ladies' bit out!

Anyway, what's wrong with being sexy?

 

[kittyP]

maybe after 30 women stop bothering to accompany their men to gigs?

men have kids too but usually it ends up being the primary care giver (usually the woman) who stays in a lot more rather than the breadwinner (usually the man) who more often keeps up with social interests.

I am 33 and do not have kids.
If we did, I would probably be the one going to gigs while he stays at home and he would probably be the one going to techno nights while I stayed at home. Or maybe not, I dunno

 

[weepiper]

Not only have I got to consider childcare, but so have most of my friends. So even if I was to go out to a gig, I'd have no one to go with because it's difficult to co-ordinate everyone getting childcare on the same night.

yes, this too.