Accessibility at Local Music Venues: What Artists Should Ask
Local shows are the lifeblood of the alternative scene, but they can also be some of the hardest shows for people with physical disabilities to access. Something as simple as the step to get into a pub can be the difference between a mobility aid user getting to see their favourite local band, or staying home and doomscrolling again.
Artists have the power to promote accessibility by choosing to play at accessible venues, and avoiding inaccessible ones. Here's a few key things to ask about when researching whether a venue is truly accessible to mobility aid users:
“This creates a two-tier system where the people with disabilities are much less likely to get a ticket before they sell out”
Getting Through The Door
This is the most obvious one. Could someone in a wheelchair, walker, or crutches get into the venue? As well as the obvious challenges like stairs, keep in mind that narrow doors or walkways can also be a barrier to entry.
During The Show
People with disabilities may want to stay away from the main crowd, both for safety and so they can see the stage. Does your venue have a designated access area? Can they make one? It shouldn’t be mandatory for us to be cordoned off, but it can also be dangerous to be below the eye-level of your fans when the moshing begins. As well as having space for wheelchair users, best practice is to also have some seats for people who struggle to stand for extended periods. If there is no designated access area, the best place to create a makeshift one is beside the stage, or close to it at one end of the room.
Booking Tickets
An aspect of gig accessibility that often gets overlooked is the ease of getting a ticket. Often, this is the red flag that warns of the venue’s attitude to accessibility overall. Many people with disabilities cannot buy their tickets as soon as the sale begins. Access tickets are often locked behind a voicemail or email, with days spent waiting for a reply. This creates a two-tier system where the people with disabilities are much less likely to get a ticket before they sell out. Even for local shows, it’s far too common for people with disabilities to miss out because the venue asserts this frustrating process. Vet venues with regard to the way they offer access tickets. If my local pub and the O2 Arena can both offer access tickets online, they don’t have an excuse!
This is just some of the key advice I would give artists as a wheelchair user who has been going to shows for over seven years. It’s crucial to seek feedback and keep accessibility a high priority. This is how we ensure heavy music is for everyone!
Written by Rohnak
Rohnak is a non-binary activist and heavy music fan, currently living in London. Their favourite bands are Lake Malice, Witch Fever, and Bloodywood. Outside of their work as a 3D animator, they assist local disability advocacy, feminist, and LGBTQIA+ groups by creating articles and illustrations. The goal of these is to highlight the intersectional challenges faced by marginalised groups, and the joy which is possible when we work together to resist them.
Instagram: @foursquidsinatrenchcoat