Voyage to the Iron Reef at Knotts...

Well...

... dark rides don't necessarily have a universal appeal either. Younger kids may be too scared of the dark environment or elements in the ride; body size can still be an issue; and dark rides will just have no appeal to some folks.

Blue Man has a broad appeal, but we regularly have terrified children and disappointed parents spending much of the show in the lobby because the kid was so scared of the tall, unspeaking, blue clowns, for example.

noggin said:
Well...

... dark rides don't necessarily have a universal appeal either. Younger kids may be too scared of the dark environment or elements in the ride; body size can still be an issue; and dark rides will just have no appeal to some folks.

Blue Man has a broad appeal, but we regularly have terrified children and disappointed parents spending much of the show in the lobby because the kid was so scared of the tall, unspeaking, blue clowns, for example.

I thought Blueman had an age restriction. Like... No kids under 10?

I don't know why you'd bring kids to a BMG show...

No kids under three.

Why any parent would bring such young children to a Blue Man show, I have never understood. It's not like a 4-year old is going to laugh at the witty commentary on popular culture.

noggin said:
No kids under three.

Why any parent would bring such young children to a Blue Man show, I have never understood. It's not like a 4-year old is going to laugh at the witty commentary on popular culture.

It's because mom's and dad's perceive them as "blue clowns" and have no actual concept that its performance art.

I have an entire soap box about this, but I'll keep it to myself. Just because it's (mostly) clean, doesn't make it kids entertainment.

3snoH un=l said:

Maybe they can get the gentleman in the woodwork shop to increase the Schwabinchen figures production for shooting at spinning Bavarian Frauleins.

That would be cool, but I've always said they should have put her at the peak of Top Thrill Dragster, to give her a high five (or wherever) on the way past.

I think Top Thrill Dragster is plenty Freudian enough, as is.

What? There's CLOWNS?!? (runs...)

Mystical Matthew said:
I have an entire soap box about this, but I'll keep it to myself. Just because it's (mostly) clean, doesn't make it kids entertainment.

Well that's good, because you don't know what you're talking about. My kid did his first BMG show at 3, and he watches the Megastar concert video frequently. He's 5 now, and has seen them three times. You don't need a PhD in childhood development to understand the attraction to music, especially something so rooted in rhythm.

True enough, but I wonder if he's the exception, rather than the rule.

Pete said:

That would be cool, but I've always said they should have put her at the peak of Top Thrill Dragster, to give her a high five (or wherever) on the way past.

Since one hand is on her hip and the other behind her head it wouldn't be possible, but a high two would be.

noggin said:

Well...

... dark rides don't necessarily have a universal appeal either.

True enough. No ride will have universal appeal, and I suppose that would be the trick of creating a great one; that is, you have to toe that line of the mysterious dark thrill while also make it fun and "not so scary" as to completely freak out the 4 year olds (a little freaking out is OK, though). I know I keep using these as examples, but Pirates and Haunted Mansion are great examples of how a dark ride can have "scary" elements and still hold near universal appeal. Without shooting at cartoons on a screen.

All that said, I'm fairly certain Triotech is already busy on Cedar Point's installation, whether that comes next year or the year after.

I'm reminded of my father, who's day at Cedar Point consisted of sitting on benches watching people, happy as a clam. Rides held no appeal to him at all, aside the transportation purposes on the train and skyride.

Pirates and Haunted Mansion are excellent examples of dark rides with broad appeal. I wonder if part of that arises from the more "organic" creation processes involved as the rides were developed -- both were initially conceived as walk-through attractions, which kept getting "plussed" into the rides we know today, and Haunted Mansion I think benefitted from tension between Marc Davis, who wanted a humorous take, and Claude Coats, who wanted a more scary approach.

Jeff said:

Mystical Matthew said:
I have an entire soap box about this, but I'll keep it to myself. Just because it's (mostly) clean, doesn't make it kids entertainment.

Well that's good, because you don't know what you're talking about. My kid did his first BMG show at 3, and he watches the Megastar concert video frequently. He's 5 now, and has seen them three times. You don't need a PhD in childhood development to understand the attraction to music, especially something so rooted in rhythm.

There's a difference in mentality here... You're probably not the type of parent I'm talking about. This is going to be difficult to explain, but I'll give it a shot.

Parent A takes their kid the show because they understand it's performance art. They want their kids to appreciate art as adults. The best way to do that is to expose them to it as kids.

Thumbs up. I never really thought about it, but I could see how BMG would be an accessible entrance to the world of performance art.

Parent B doesn't really understand the concept of "art". They go in with "blue clown" mentality. They expect the entire experience to be catered around their children, when that's NOT what it was designed for.

It's not fair to lump both parents into the same group. Yes, both are bringing their kids to the show, but the mentality and expectations they bring with them are radically different.

I don't know you at all. Based solely off you're posts here I suspect you're in "Parent A" category. If so, that makes you more unique than I think you realize.

Having made my living off performance art and live entertainment for most of the past decade... My perspective is unique... I find myself, as a whole actually liking kids. Their parents, on the other hand, are frequently a different story.

Mystical Matthew said:

Parent B doesn't really understand the concept of "art". They go in with "blue clown" mentality. They expect the entire experience to be catered around their children, when that's NOT what it was designed for.

Based on my experience with the show, I agree. Admittedly anecdotally, based on conversations with parents tending to terrified children in the lobby, that's generally the case.

If Parent B is really the norm, or the majority, that is pretty sad for the children of this country.

Jesus, you guys really overthink BMG. And parenting. The character essentially is a child.

Pete said:

If Parent B is really the norm, or the majority, that is pretty sad for the children of this country.

Dude... You have no idea...

Our schools are so busy teaching to common core that there's no time to teach them common sense stuff. Like what the difference between an encyclopedia and a dictionary is. (Ask any third grader. They don't know.)

Flat out... If it's not on the test, it's not being taught.

The schools are so focused on passing the tests, they've pushed aside everything else. "No child left behind" is leaving a lot of children behind.

Most parents are "Parent B" and just don't care. As long as the kids are out of their hair for 8 hours it doesn't matter to them.

The parents in "Parent A" category are so few they don't make a difference.

This is not my personal opinion that I'm expressing BTW. This is the opinion of countless teachers and school administrators that I'ved worked closely with for the past decade.

I don't always agree with Mystical Matthew, I usually find he gives me my laugh for the day (sorry about that Matt), but this time I do have to agree with him. As a retired teacher and former school board member, he is right on. It is time for the state assemblies, most of whom know nothing about education, to step back, shut up, and let teachers teach.

I do take one exception with what he said. Matt said, "the parents in "Parent A" category are so few they don't make a difference." They do make a difference with their own kids, but they don't make a dent in society.

Bluestreaker said:

I don't always agree with Mystical Matthew, I usually find he gives me my laugh for the day (sorry about that Matt), but this time I do have to agree with him. As a retired teacher and former school board member, he is right on. It is time for the state assemblies, most of whom know nothing about education, to step back, shut up, and let teachers teach.

I do take one exception with what he said. Matt said, "the parents in "Parent A" category are so few they don't make a difference." The do make a difference with their own kids, but hey don't make a dent in society.

Usually I'm trying to be funny... So I'm glad I make someone here laugh. :) Typically I try to make it blatantly obvious when I'm being serious (as in the last few posts).

...And you're right. I was referring specifically about the issue of state testing, but you can never underestimate the power of changing one life. Especially a child's! :) I count my family the greatest blessing of my life.

Just being reflective (subliminal) for a moment, topics like these are the best (long winded) here at Pointbuzz. We started out with a peek at a ride at Knott's and began discussing the possible (inevitable) installation of a Triotech ride at Cedar Point. Then we talked (bitched and moaned) about the differences and pros and cons of interactive (no appreciation for aesthetics) versus more traditional (only rational option) dark (make-out) rides.

Then we somehow started talking about Blue Man Group (Smurfs on acid) and whether or not you should take your three-year-old (only Jeff) to the show, and finally ended up talking about the Common Core (what happens when politicians and administrators (on acid) run your schools), and we even got a nice, serious post from Mystical Matthew (he has a soul).

How does this happen?

Ask Rideman...