Accessibility can mean a lot of different things, especially when it comes to concerts. A concert hall might appear accessible with lifts, ramps, and disabled seating but, even with all these offerings, sometimes it still isn’t enough. Disabled seating is limited, operating on a first come first serve kind of basis, which means lots of disabled people miss the opportunity to go see their favourite artists because there simply isn’t anywhere for them to sit.
Another reason disabled people might miss the chance to go see artists they really love is simply because of the ticket system. Not all concerts and/or venues are the same but some operate on a system where disabled people are told to buy one ticket then send an email or ring up guest services to get a companion ticket. Companion tickets are a crucial part of accessibility because it allows disabled people to have their support needs met either by a caregiver, family member, or friend which could be physically dire needs or other necessary support depending on the disability and the requirements of the specific person. However, this system has proven itself broken many times. I myself have had problems with the system where I’ve bought a ticket then emailed like I was supposed to but received an email back saying that they’re over capacity and can’t issue the companion ticket which meant I couldn’t go to the concert at all and had to sell my ticket. I’ve talked to other disabled people and many have had similar experiences, it is undoubtedly unfair disabled people have to miss out on such great concerts because of accessibility needs, especially when venues/concerts claim to be accessible and all-inclusive.
Has anyone reading this had a similar issue and what do you think would make concerts more accessible?
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