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Anyone for Wall of Death?

These are challenging times for bar owners. Mortgaged to the hilt, squeezed by the breweries (ouch!), massive expansion of super markets selling all manner of beers, wines and spirits cheaper than the bars can buy them in at.

Then there's the credit crunch, cigarette ban, bad weather, XFactor, Xbox, Dominos Pizza and those comfy sofas from DFS to compete with. 

These are great times for young bands. For example, the rise of social networking means that it's never been easier for them to organise an army of supportive friends to come along to support performances.

These are exciting times to be a young music promoter. Put a few bands together in one place and you've got a veritable youth movement on your hands. No prior experience, training or awareness of HSE guidance required, just an ear to the ground, Facebook account and gregarious personality. 

Giving young people the confidence and ability to perform and organise their own events is a worthy ambition, but these events bring with them a range of issues that need to be carefully considered and managed.

If I had a penny for every time I'd seen promotion along the lines of " The gig starts at 3pm so the kiddies can get in, lets get p***** and fight dance!" ...well It might not be a life changing amount but you see what I'm getting at.  

Hardly a week goes by without seeing a new 16 year old promoting performances by  15 year olds, in licensed premises, to their 14 year old friends. I appreciate that the bars have been affected by reduced custom, but is opening them up to unaccompanied children the right approach to take?

Won't somebody think about the children!?! 

Unfortunately, some people are.