Ohh well!!

[Infidelity]

So I auditioned with a band later today and pretty much dig the music(90's-recent alt rock). The drummer told me in advance that the vocalist and guitarist is a bit leery of me being 19 and pretty much the problem of getting into the bars.

Got into the audition at 4:30pm and nailed every songs that they throw on me(learned 11 songs in 2 days). Every band member told me that my audition was the best rehearsal they ever had! So after the rehearsal the members are meeting if they will pick me as the new bass player and told me that they will call..

I got home waiting for the call. Phone rang and it was the drummer and he told me that they can't play with me because they don't want the inconvenience of talking to the owner of the bar for every gig that they would do. I got lots of compliments from him and he told me that I should give him a call if I have a band to play with and doesn't have a drummer.

I was kinda bummed but it is what is is.. It was fun though..

Beer anyone? Ohh wait I'm underage!

[Downunderwonder]

Can you get a waiver letter from the local Police?

[Infidelity]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Can you get a waiver letter from the local Police?

Can I? I'm not sure..

[Downunderwonder]

Depends on your licencing laws and the local culture. I've heard of it being done here. This was in the days when non drinking kids were allowed in bars with their parents. Mature bandmembers were allowed to act "loco-parentis".

If you got a letter from the band saying they want you to play in their band and you won't be allowed any booze it might convince plod to give you something you could show the club along the lines of "If we catch Jimmy in your club with a beer your liquor licence is history but if he's just playing bass we won't have a problem".

[Russell L]

Don't worry, time will pass and you'll be 21 like it was no time at all. There's other gigs to play beside bars.

Way to go on the audition, though.

[Plays_For_Dog]

Most of us have been there. Keep jamming, chock it up as experience and when you turn 21 (be here before you know it) you'll be even more ready to get in there and slay them down with sick chops.

Don't ever get drunk until after the gig. Being 21 with free drinks for the band is tempting but ALWAYS ends bad if you don't keep it in check.

[totallyfrozen]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Can you get a waiver letter from the local Police?

No.
The drinking age is not established at the local level. It's at the state level.

Over here instead of, "If we catch Jimmy in your club with a beer your liquor licence is history but if he's just playing bass we won't have a problem".
It would be more like, "If we catch Jimmy in your club your liquor license is history and you'll have a problem".

[Stan Laurel]

My son started playing with us at age 18; my daughters started around age 16 or 17. Of course they couldn't drink and they couldn't sit at the bar but since they were with their parents it was okay.

[Blass702]

Originally Posted by Infidelity

So I auditioned with a band later today and pretty much dig the music(90's-recent alt rock). The drummer told me in advance that the vocalist and guitarist is a bit leery of me being 19 and pretty much the problem of getting into the bars.

Got into the audition at 4:30pm and nailed every songs that they throw on me(learned 11 songs in 2 days). Every band member told me that my audition was the best rehearsal they ever had! So after the rehearsal the members are meeting if they will pick me as the new bass player and told me that they will call..

I got home waiting for the call. Phone rang and it was the drummer and he told me that they can't play with me because they don't want the inconvenience of talking to the owner of the bar for every gig that they would do. I got lots of compliments from him and he told me that I should give him a call if I have a band to play with and doesn't have a drummer.

I was kinda bummed but it is what is is.. It was fun though..

Beer anyone? Ohh wait I'm underage!

I can totally relate. I got offered a gig that payed $200 every Friday night at a casino in Vegas. They didn't give it to me because of my age... FML! They loved my playing tho..

[Dekker]

When I lived in Alberta (Canada), if memory serves, you could be in a liquor establishment and be underage if you were either servicing equipment, or part of the entertainment.

As for today in Florida, the Internet is your friend!

Statute 562.48 Minors patronizing, visiting, or loitering in a dance hall covers "visitors". Basically not allowed.

That said, there are clauses for employees or others hired by the licensee (the bar), and there is much reading to be had: 562.111 or s. 562.13

Also, just contacting them (the State) would get you the required documentation to satisfy most.

[Clark Dark]

Originally Posted by Stan Laurel

My son started playing with us at age 18; my daughters started around age 16 or 17. Of course they couldn't drink and they couldn't sit at the bar but since they were with their parents it was okay.

Pretty much what I planned to say..If you're not sitting at the bar why can't you be employed by the band that's providing entertainment at the bar. During breaks just don't sit at the bar ! Those guys didn't think outside the box.

[Downunderwonder]

Good thing he's not in Alaska then. Get to it young bassist, you may yet have a gig!

[sevenyearsdown]

I started playing in bars when I was 18 in NYS( in the 1990's). The law was 21+ for drinking. There was never an issue.

[Tat2dHeart]

When I was 18, I worked in a bar (singer with the band, bartender, cocktail waitress, etc.). In a lot of places you can work in a bar at age 18 or 19, you just can't drink and you can't sit at the bar. The work exemption might also apply to band talent. YMMV - Check with the local law enforcement agency to be absolutely sure.

[Rockmusician]

Age shouldn't be an issue. A few years ago, I played with an 18 year old drummer and we never had a problem. The only stipulations were that he couldn't drink and we were not allowed to drink while on stage.

[shadow_FIX]

Dude call those guys back. I've been playing in bars since I was 16! They can badge your hands with the biggest, thickest black X's the world has ever seen, you should be fine!

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by shadow_FIX

Dude call those guys back. I've been playing in bars since I was 16! They can badge your hands with the biggest, thickest black X's the world has ever seen, you should be fine!

yeah....here the younguns have to take their breaks in the coffee shop or lobby,but it's do-able.....op should at least make a few phone calls and see what the law says.....nothing to lose and possibly everything to gain

[Downunderwonder]

Must have moved to Alaska

[Derock85z]

As a musician who is counting down the days until my 21st (which thankfully is in December), I've only ever encountered one time where I had to wait outside at a bar, and that was auditioning for the gig. We did a small acoustic set on a Thursday night to audition for the next weekend, so we only used our singer and guitarist. They didn't like the idea of me being in there if i wasn't performing, but thats it.

If you act professional and act like you belong there, you will never have an issue, I've been playing out since I was 16 and been playing in bars for about 2 years now with nothing but that hiccup. Call them back and let them know whats up, don't let that stop you. Other than that hurry up and turn 21 man. Good luck!

[onionpuzzle]

There are some places that let you ONLY perform. You can be on the stage, or outside, nothing else. Every bar tends to have its own interpretation of the rules.

Perfect example of YMMV.