... - Entertainment - Columnists - Justin Hooks

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

Teens have their own place at Graffiti’s

Remember how limited your nightlife options were when you were a teenager? It was either a slumber party or a school dance for most kids. Maybe a Friday night at the drive-in if you were lucky.

South Missisisppi teens have been starving for a place to call their own since Katrina. They’ve been over-regulated and kicked out of almost every place they’ve tried to gather, on top of trying to overcome the stereotype that trouble exists whenever more than three of them gather in one spot.

Graffiti’s, 3110 Government St., Ocean Springs, may perhaps be one of the best things to happen to local teens in a while. It’s a proper nightclub and all-ages music venue that caters to the under-18 set and gives them the freedom they crave in a secure environment.

Owners Kathy and Rick Mitchell, of Ocean Springs, are parents of four and grandparents of six.

They’ve seen it all. They’ve had a dream for the last two decades of establishing a place where teens can gather and listen to their own music with their own crowd.

The Mitchell house was the hangout when their kids were growing up, so it seemed only natural their club would follow suit.

Security at Graffiti’s runs similar to an adult nightclub. And from what I saw, it’s airtight. No outside food or drink, security patrols inside and out and a clever wristband system can highlight those who can drink and those who can’t from across the room.

There is a beer bar, which is watched closely, and all the refreshment cups are clear, preventing any surreptitious beverage replacement. I’m a parent myself, and believe me when I say, they’ve thought of everything. Despite the security, the mood is still vibrant and the bands are awesome. The teen-heavy crowds, sometimes four or five deep at the stage, are very appreciative of the chance to have a place of their own, and they are going to great lengths to protect it.

Mitchell says the kids are more than willing to listen to her and do everything in their power to keep the place alive. All-ages venues are rare to find anywhere. As such, most bands that play those venues have adopted a kind of crusader approach. It’s common for bands at Graffiti’s to repeat the fact that the venue’s success depends on the kids treating it with respect. They’re free to party with their friends as much as they like, just as long as they realize that all-ages means ALL ages (even younger than they might be).