LONDON, UK (CelebrityAccess) – Music Charity Attitude Is Everything has announced the launch of a brand new industry-wide initiative aimed at improving ticketing practises for Deaf and disabeled concert-goers.
The announcement followed the release of Attitude Is Everything’s fourth State Of Access Report yesterday at London’s Roundhouse, which revealed that of the 349 Deaf and disabled concert-goers surveyed, 80% said they had experienced problems when booking tickets to live music events while over 70% stated they had felt discriminated against.
AIE’s newly formed Ticketing Without Barriers Coalition, which is comprised of more than 35 trade bodies, 130 venues and festivals, leading ticketing agencies like Ticketmaster, and event promoters such as LiveNation, Festival Republic, and AEG Events, has been tasked with addressing their findings.
Suzanne Bull MBE, Attitude Is Everything CEO, and disability sector champion for music, said: “With our fourth State of Access Report we wanted to return to probably the single most important issue that impacts all Deaf and disabled music fans – the process of booking tickets. Although there has been much progress in making the ticketing process accessible and inclusive, and certain venues and companies are definitely getting this right for their Deaf and disabled customers, we felt that only a comprehensive and truly unified approach would be able to drive through the real and lasting changes that we need.”
The organization has identified a number of key areas where action is needed to improve the overall experience of disabled customers including a single proof-of-disability system that is both universally accepted across the UK and is to be adopted by the music industry as a whole. Additionally, AIE has noted that accessibility requirements should be integrated into standard online booking systems, disability awareness and inclusive communication training must be implemented for all sales staff, while access to things like pre-sales, VIP areas and artist “meet-and-greet” events are also of top priority.
Bull added, “In 2018, every large-scale music event should be all-inclusive. Disabled customers should be able to buy a ticket online, they should be encouraged to attend shows with their friends, and not have to jump through undignified hoops when things go wrong. As a disabled music fan myself, I’d urge ticket sellers, venues and festivals to understand that all disabled people must enjoy the same experiences as any other fan. The wider music business has the power to fix this, and I’ve been delighted at the response from all who’ve agreed to join the Ticketing Without Barriers Coalition. It feels that everyone’s on the same page, up for the challenge and committed to working towards a positive result on this. We now look forward to getting to work, and delivering some results.”
