The kids aren’t alright

As a young musician first playing in licensed establishments in high school, it is more than brass taps and oak to the underage performer. There are no rock star clichés, or debauchery and onstage antics à la Guns’N’Roses. Rather, it is usually playing Mustang Sally to an

underlying hum of clinking pint glasses and post workweek sighs of relief.

When I started out as a naive musician, it was a rigorous process of paperwork and correspondence between the PEILCC, the venue I was playing, and what parent/guardian would be accompanying me that night to even enter the premises.

Since then, progressive changes have been made to the Liquor Control Act. It allows underage performers to perform in licensed establishments at the discretion of the licensee, leaving the PEILCC out of the whole ordeal, which I applaud immensely.

I believe the rest of Canada should adopt our practices so provinces like Nova Scotia can save some trees and discard the paperwork, or more importantly, heated interactions with liquor inspectors. This would leave us with a level playing field.

These types of barriers only hinder the channels that young talent can express themselves, rather than fostering their potential. From firsthand experience, I can say my time as an underage performer enhanced my knowledge of social constructs within a mature atmosphere, not to mention help the financial ineptness of being a student.

Some kids bag groceries, while others have gig bags slung over their shoulders, and neither should be more unconventional than the other.

Isaac King, UPEI student