9:30 club dance parties (all ages)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a fan of all ages shows if they serve alcohol. I went to those as a teen and would leave the venue drunk.

They're very strict. One time I went there when I was 22 but my license had expired but I hadn't renewed it yet (It was only a couple weeks, I was in college and didn't have a car and I hadn't grabbed my passport). They stamped my hands on both sides and told me repeatedly I'd be kicked out if they saw me with a drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to a lot of concerts. 9:30 is one of the safer venues. I.M.P. in general is very good at security and running a tight show. Not perfect but definitely the best for DC. Plus, 9:30 isn't huge. The area around it is pretty safe these days too - when it originally opened a very different story. I let my teens go to shows all over DC. Pie Shop is one I get a little stressed about just because H Street can be a little deserted late at night when the concert ends.

I love the Black Cat but I wouldn't let that be their first dance party. It is definitely bigger and very little security presence other than the front door. And some seriously old school bathrooms that lead to interesting events.

9:30 - yes. They can Uber back - always lots of people hanging out after the show to catch Ubers. Atlantis is good. Anthem is fine as well just a little more mayhemy on the big floor they have.

I mostly agree with what you said, but to clarify re: Black Cat vs. 9:30 Club, 9:30 Club is way bigger a venue (1200 people) vs. Black Cat which is more like 700. But overall I find both pretty safe and yes, going to bathroom at Black Cat in basement is best done in pairs with young people. I'd let my 16 year old go but I'd probably want to pick them up and make sure they all get into Lyfts/Ubers safely (and just take my kid and any neighbor kids myself).

True but when the Black Cat feels bigger and more rambling - hard to keep an eye on all the corners - do you know what I mean? Just looked up the square footage of both - I'm getting Black Cat as 1000 standing room.

But Black Cat's legal capacity is 700, and even super sold out shows really don't go above that much. So it's not about square footage alone, the actual legal capacity and how truly the venue tracks it is what matters most to how crowded it actually gets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to a lot of concerts. 9:30 is one of the safer venues. I.M.P. in general is very good at security and running a tight show. Not perfect but definitely the best for DC. Plus, 9:30 isn't huge. The area around it is pretty safe these days too - when it originally opened a very different story. I let my teens go to shows all over DC. Pie Shop is one I get a little stressed about just because H Street can be a little deserted late at night when the concert ends.

I love the Black Cat but I wouldn't let that be their first dance party. It is definitely bigger and very little security presence other than the front door. And some seriously old school bathrooms that lead to interesting events.

9:30 - yes. They can Uber back - always lots of people hanging out after the show to catch Ubers. Atlantis is good. Anthem is fine as well just a little more mayhemy on the big floor they have.

Did you just say that the Black Cat is bigger than 9:30 club?

Yes, they did, but I corrected it (9:30 is 1200 capacity, Black Cat 700). They think it feels bigger, I don't understand that either but the layout of Black Cat does mean it can be hard to keep eyes on someone if you're trying to supervise a group, although at 9:30 you'd have to get there early enough to have a spot on the balcony railing to be able to see the whole floor if you're watching a group of teens. Also dance parties the lights aren't on the way a concert is lit, so overall I'd just say drop off and pick up and only let your teen go with a group of teens you already know and trust. And hell yes to the person who said to remind them over and over beforehand to NEVER put their non-alcoholic drinks down or take their eyes off them if they do. That remains vital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of dance party?

I'm old now. When I think about dance parties, I think about Buzz in the 90's.

Would I let my 16 year old hang out at Buzz? Hell no!

I guess you never made it to the all ages day raves like Sunday mass or good life

[Anonymous]

Do what you think best for your family.

We choose for our children not to do those sorts of things until they are adults -- and either at college or living elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to a lot of concerts. 9:30 is one of the safer venues. I.M.P. in general is very good at security and running a tight show. Not perfect but definitely the best for DC. Plus, 9:30 isn't huge. The area around it is pretty safe these days too - when it originally opened a very different story. I let my teens go to shows all over DC. Pie Shop is one I get a little stressed about just because H Street can be a little deserted late at night when the concert ends.

I love the Black Cat but I wouldn't let that be their first dance party. It is definitely bigger and very little security presence other than the front door. And some seriously old school bathrooms that lead to interesting events.

9:30 - yes. They can Uber back - always lots of people hanging out after the show to catch Ubers. Atlantis is good. Anthem is fine as well just a little more mayhemy on the big floor they have.

I mostly agree with what you said, but to clarify re: Black Cat vs. 9:30 Club, 9:30 Club is way bigger a venue (1200 people) vs. Black Cat which is more like 700. But overall I find both pretty safe and yes, going to bathroom at Black Cat in basement is best done in pairs with young people. I'd let my 16 year old go but I'd probably want to pick them up and make sure they all get into Lyfts/Ubers safely (and just take my kid and any neighbor kids myself).

True but when the Black Cat feels bigger and more rambling - hard to keep an eye on all the corners - do you know what I mean? Just looked up the square footage of both - I'm getting Black Cat as 1000 standing room.

Um Black Cat is smaller. First floor is now a skate shop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of dance party?

I'm old now. When I think about dance parties, I think about Buzz in the 90's.

Would I let my 16 year old hang out at Buzz? Hell no!

Buzz! Pp, you just sent me back. And, yeah, no way I'd let my 16 year old near that place. Although I was about 17 or 18 when I started going...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to a lot of concerts. 9:30 is one of the safer venues. I.M.P. in general is very good at security and running a tight show. Not perfect but definitely the best for DC. Plus, 9:30 isn't huge. The area around it is pretty safe these days too - when it originally opened a very different story. I let my teens go to shows all over DC. Pie Shop is one I get a little stressed about just because H Street can be a little deserted late at night when the concert ends.

I love the Black Cat but I wouldn't let that be their first dance party. It is definitely bigger and very little security presence other than the front door. And some seriously old school bathrooms that lead to interesting events.

9:30 - yes. They can Uber back - always lots of people hanging out after the show to catch Ubers. Atlantis is good. Anthem is fine as well just a little more mayhemy on the big floor they have.

I mostly agree with what you said, but to clarify re: Black Cat vs. 9:30 Club, 9:30 Club is way bigger a venue (1200 people) vs. Black Cat which is more like 700. But overall I find both pretty safe and yes, going to bathroom at Black Cat in basement is best done in pairs with young people. I'd let my 16 year old go but I'd probably want to pick them up and make sure they all get into Lyfts/Ubers safely (and just take my kid and any neighbor kids myself).

True but when the Black Cat feels bigger and more rambling - hard to keep an eye on all the corners - do you know what I mean? Just looked up the square footage of both - I'm getting Black Cat as 1000 standing room.

Yea you're being really nitpicky. I live around the corner from Black Cat and have been to both many times and 9:30 definitely has a bigger feel to it. But more to the point, I can't imagine allowing a teen to go to one but not the other. They're both fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9:30 club itself is very safe. the surrounding area made my wife uneasy at night. Howard university is beside the 9:30 parking lot.

Second time, we used spothero and parked at 2031 8th St NW. and it was very safe , right across the street, besides a pizza place for easy dinner before standing in line.

i would let them go with friends that you trust. easy first step to independence.

What's wrong with Howard U? Is your wife afraid of black college students? What a weird thing to say.

[Anonymous]

How about UltraBar??