What are YOU doing here?
Nearly 250 people, ranging in age from 20 to over 80, have already taken our “Smells Like Ageism” survey. It looks at what younger and older people experience at clubs, concerts, raves, and festivals, and when age enters the picture.
Too young? Too old?
Who belongs without question? Who stands out, gets comments, or gets shut out? And where does age simply not matter?
For the past four weeks, Age Bombs has been gathering experiences from around the world through Smells Like Ageism. The survey was developed by Robert Eysoldt together with gerontopsychologist Dr. Tim Kuball.
The first responses shared here come from the survey’s open-ended questions and reflect personal experiences. They range from simply feeling like they belong to unsettling comments and encounters at the club door.
At the club door
One older respondent describes how they were greeted in a single sentence:
“At the door: What are YOU doing here?”
One group, with members ranging from their 30s to over 50, describes a Sunday evening outside a club:
“Club door, Sunday evening, 6 p.m. Mixed group: two women, three men, one over 30, two over 40, two over 50. No line. They turned us away immediately without asking a single question. Between us, we had a combined 110 years in the scene.”
Looks, Comments, Reactions
A 64-year-old respondent describes being more visible at events, drawing comments, and even being filmed:
“I am aware that I’m more visible at these events, and know that I’ve been the subject of comments and some filming. But, at 64, I’ve decided that doesn’t need to limit me.”
Even comments meant as compliments can suddenly put someone’s age front and center:
“Being told ‘I’ve still got it’ or being asked ‘where do I get my energy from?’ makes me feel alienated.”
Another respondent describes a moment at a rave:
“Being hugged at a rave & told I remind them of their auntie (wtf!!).”
Missing role models
The way we think about age also shapes what we imagine might still be possible or feel right later in life. One respondent writes:
“As a teenager, I never imagined that at 40, with a child of my own, I’d still enjoy going to festivals and raves. Somehow, I never had any role models for that.”
The line raises a simple question: Who do we see on dance floors, festival grounds, stages, and in the way these spaces are presented?
Age? Not a factor for some.
Other respondents say age simply doesn’t matter when people come together around music:
“Honestly, age doesn’t play a role and never has when it comes to feeling like you belong at music events. Especially not in the house and techno scene.”
This experience is part of the survey’s early picture, too. Age can stand out, draw comments, or become a possible factor in exclusion. It can also fade completely into the background.
The survey is still open
We’ll continue collecting experiences from a wide range of age groups, countries, scenes, and roles through the end of September.
The results will be published in fall 2026.
Anyone who experiences music with others or helps shape these spaces can take part: attendees, artists, DJs, concert promoters, club operators, and people working in technical, organizational, or curatorial roles. No matter how old you are.
The survey is anonymous, takes about 15 minutes, and is available in German and English.
Jetzt an der Umfrage auf Deutsch teilnehmen.
Bring more voices into the mix
Share the survey with people whose perspectives belong in the mix.
And because sharing works offline too, put Smells Like Ageism on the wall. Download the A4 poster, print it, and hang it up at universities, clubs, cultural venues, offices, or on the good old bulletin board.
QR-Code-Poster auf Deutsch herunterladen.
Download the QR code poster in English.
If you’d like to help bring the survey into more networks and communities, support the project as a partner, or stay in the loop about the results, get in touch: smellslikeageism@agebombs.com
