Help Out Those In the "Disability Rows"- Fan Request

green mountain man

Fenway ADA A2 section seemed like a good set up. Very spacious/close to stage/wheelchairs arranged up front with about a 10 foot distance to others standing, tambourine toss was close. Enough room for more people day of show .
Great discussion to educate people. Ratmando... you should re-post every so often
Stub Hub and others sell ADA seats for 10 x face. Talk about lack of compassion

JH6056

ratmando said:

10. This year... I'm hoping others will join me in HELP -A- DISABLED-FAN- OUT. Did you get 10 or 12 picks tossed at you? Do you need all of them or would you like to hand one or two to someone in the wheelchair seats? Is that the 21st Tambourine you have because you borrowed a nephew to wear on your shoulders? Consider giving it to someone who will NEVER get that opportunity- or even offering a cheap sale, (I'd spend $10 on a tambourine!!). You'd still make cash, and you'd do something huge-- help out someone who would NEVER expect such a kindness from ANYONE. Do you think Steve Gleason is the only ALS fan? Look around... maybe you were able to snag 5 or 6 stickers from the show. Did you notice that some of us have our wheelchairs decorated in stickers? Why? It's generally all we can afford or carry! Going to a Pre-party? First hand experience.. I tried desperately to bid on auction items, but no one could hear me at ass level- and I lost out on three items I wanted to buy. Be the VOICE for someone in a chair at a party. Have you met any of us disabled fans? If you see us alone at a party- invite us to your table! (Waitresses and waiters are REALLY fast when it comes to serving disabled customers.) And to help make our experience part of a real PJ FAN experience.. don't be afraid to talk directly to us. Some of us have speech issues, yes, but some don't. And those of us who do have speech issues just need your patience... we have working minds, and we're pretty cool people. (We know all the songs, I swear!) How about a copy of a set list? A cool thing I was sent last year-- a friend copied all of the set lists from a website, and put them in a binder- with a couple of photos from each venue, the show date, and when it came to picking out what Boots I wanted.. I had a GREAT idea that the Worcester show, and the Oklahoma show were going to be SO cool. And they are. You don't have to give us your life collection.. we just want to share our love of the band with you.. WE are People.

Thanks yalzes. (yeah, Harvard grad, howdya know?)

xo to Erich, Dave, Marc, Jeremy, Hazel, Vicky, Marina, Tina, Stephen, Garry, and the 12 or so others who were so kind to me in the 2013 tour.

Cathe, aka ratmando

This is great Cathe/Ratmando! And even though I already have happy warm fuzzy memories of my interaction with the folks in the ADA section the last 2 PJ shows I attended, this makes me glad I facilitated 2 of the exact things that so many disabled fans miss. At Fenway I walked up to a guy I had never seen before but who looked SO STOKED to be there and for the show to begin, and I gave him one of the Ed guitar picks I'd just gotten. And in Charlottesville which was already one of the best PJ shows ever, I was able to start a chain of events that led an amazing fan in a wheelchair to go from getting harassed by venue security and not being able to see at all from regular floor seats mid-way back, to getting into the GA pit and then awesome other fans took over and parted like the Red Sea and he ended up ON THE RAIL in front of Mike, got lots of love from Mike and Ed, got Mike guitar picks and Ed's tambourine, and had the show of his life. We got to hug and pretty much cry for joy when it was all over. That was as much what made that show over the top for me as PJ's actual performance.

All it takes is being observant and remembering that even the tiniest acts of kindness (to anyone, not only disabled fans) sparks a ripple that spreads. Definitely being considerate and not being a douche is also super important.

Thanks again Ratmando! If it's ok, I've shared with another concert-addicted disabled friend/fan who does a lot of work in her country (Australia) to bring attention to both the challenges and opportunities that happen to differently-abled fans. Here's to hundreds more awesome shows for you!

green mountain man

Ed gave a tambourine to a guy in a w/c at Fenway 1. Immediately I gave my poster to the same guy . The guy seemed happy to get 2 souvenirs simultaneously

ratmando said:

6. We LOVE other fans. One of my two favorite shows- In Las Vegas in 2003, a guy who had a front section right near stage right, walked up to to an usher, and CARRIED ME to his seat, and he took my spot up on the rail of the disability row. HE didn't have to do anything of the kind, but he said he had been to the last 4 shows, and saw me sitting alone. It was the BEST seating I had ever had at a gig since losing my abilities. THEN, whenever he went to get a beer, he asked me if I needed anything and was my go-to for water. I loved that guy. (Hi ERICH, wherever you are!) I ended up buying him a tshirt with the money I was going to get my own shirt with... and a few months later, I was able to get my own shirt, too. We LOVE other fans... the gals I met in Arizona in 2013.... I was dancing next to them, (as much as I could), and my service dog was their best friend! I still see them on Facebook and give howdies and love hugs! Again, we're people. Just people.

7. Service dogs-- It's a big deal for many of us. I have Mutt Muffs for my dog. And other people have hearing protection home-made for service animals. This is a really adorable thing to see... a cute dog, with mickey-mouse ears, rocking at a concert. Children have asked me if it's okay to pet Monty (the Rocker Doggy). But, I've had so many people interrupt him when he was getting my medication, or letting me know he needed a "potty break" or anything he is supposed to do to take his picture. I get that it's a cool thing to see a dog at a show, but remember, they're working for a reason. Please just ASK. It's so simple.. "Hey, that's a great dog, can I take his picture?", and I bet you'll hear "Yes of course!". Monty ended up on a LOT of Google pages and Picasawebs, and facebook, and all over the net. You're saying "Hey, you're a person, cool" which is a big deal, in any case, and you're respecting the work my dog does. That's good for him, as well.

8. Alcohol is prohibited for so many of us on pain meds, and other medications- it's neither cute, funny, or a reason for a bet to get a "gimp drunk" as I've seen some strange folks try to do. In my case, I was on Morphine for years, and now on Methadone, (meaning I can almost walk normally some days finally!), but that doesn't mean I want to get wasted with you. That is part of the thing I see when people try to get the companion seats, or worse, pal up because security is asking people to get to their seats or stop blocking fire lane paths. If you feel the need to suck up to us, or if you see we have no companion, or if you think we're hot, (yes, some of us are!), and you'd like to get to know us better.. a nice bottle of water is a great way to start.

9. What I LOVE about Pearl Jam fans.. of all the shows I've seen, the PJ folks are the kindest to anyone who seems to need help. BUT I've also seen people "fake it". Using a cane? Great! Did you happen to buy 11 disabled seats because you thought those were the only places to get an unobstructed view? Then you're a douche, and the bag it came in. Your ingrown toe nail my be the most painful thing in your life, but I was sitting next to a guy who was in a plane crash, another Veteran, like myself was on the other side, and me? I have a disease that makes all of my bones pop out of joint, plus my veins and tendons are VERY loose.. meaning if you hit me too hard you may rupture an artery. Right next to us, in San Diego, were five guys who were there because they were having a stag party-- got tickets the day of show, saw that they could have sections 200 OR could be in disabled. It's not against the law YET for venues to sell these seats to anyone. But think about it.. how many senior citizens, disabled folks, or even people who seem like they're recovering from something have you seen in the last few shows you've been to, who may not have those disabled seats? Guess what... security is trained to watch for people like that, and most venues carry their own wheelchairs and folding chairs so that if someone does seem sick or infirmed, they can be moved to those spots. The disabled seating sells out fast, first, and a majority of the open spots you think are available, are actually called Red Cross Reserve. It's a way for ADA compliance to be met day of show. What if you had a kid, and the week before you FINALLY got to see a PJ show, he was in a skateboard accident and broke his ankle. Should he miss the show because the disabled seating is sold out? NO-- security is likely to move you and him to a RCR seat. Real fans are very cool about this. .. some will gladly give up their unethically obtained disabled spot to help a real gimpy person out. PJ fans do... so watch for it. You may end up in GA because of it. (It's happened several times that I've seen.)

10. This year... I'm hoping others will join me in HELP -A- DISABLED-FAN- OUT. Did you get 10 or 12 picks tossed at you? Do you need all of them or would you like to hand one or two to someone in the wheelchair seats? Is that the 21st Tambourine you have because you borrowed a nephew to wear on your shoulders? Consider giving it to someone who will NEVER get that opportunity- or even offering a cheap sale, (I'd spend $10 on a tambourine!!). You'd still make cash, and you'd do something huge-- help out someone who would NEVER expect such a kindness from ANYONE. Do you think Steve Gleason is the only ALS fan? Look around... maybe you were able to snag 5 or 6 stickers from the show. Did you notice that some of us have our wheelchairs decorated in stickers? Why? It's generally all we can afford or carry! Going to a Pre-party? First hand experience.. I tried desperately to bid on auction items, but no one could hear me at ass level- and I lost out on three items I wanted to buy. Be the VOICE for someone in a chair at a party. Have you met any of us disabled fans? If you see us alone at a party- invite us to your table! (Waitresses and waiters are REALLY fast when it comes to serving disabled customers.) And to help make our experience part of a real PJ FAN experience.. don't be afraid to talk directly to us. Some of us have speech issues, yes, but some don't. And those of us who do have speech issues just need your patience... we have working minds, and we're pretty cool people. (We know all the songs, I swear!) How about a copy of a set list? A cool thing I was sent last year-- a friend copied all of the set lists from a website, and put them in a binder- with a couple of photos from each venue, the show date, and when it came to picking out what Boots I wanted.. I had a GREAT idea that the Worcester show, and the Oklahoma show were going to be SO cool. And they are. You don't have to give us your life collection.. we just want to share our love of the band with you.. WE are People.

Thanks yalzes. (yeah, Harvard grad, howdya know?)

xo to Erich, Dave, Marc, Jeremy, Hazel, Vicky, Marina, Tina, Stephen, Garry, and the 12 or so others who were so kind to me in the 2013 tour.

Cathe, aka ratmando

hedonist

JH6056 said:

All it takes is being observant and remembering that even the tiniest acts of kindness (to anyone, not only disabled fans) sparks a ripple that spreads. Definitely being considerate and not being a douche is also super important.

Seems so simple, doesn't it? We (hopefully) learn this shit in kindergarten!

JH6056

hedonist said:

JH6056 said:

All it takes is being observant and remembering that even the tiniest acts of kindness (to anyone, not only disabled fans) sparks a ripple that spreads. Definitely being considerate and not being a douche is also super important.

Seems so simple, doesn't it? We (hopefully) learn this shit in kindergarten!

Good point - maybe they should sell beer in sippy cups at shows so they don't spill on other folks! I put a smiley face but I'm totally serious - wouldn't that be an improvement?

ratmando

JH6056 said:

Good point - maybe they should sell beer in sippy cups at shows so they don't spill on other folks! I put a smiley face but I'm totally serious - wouldn't that be an improvement?

Hmm great.idea.

JC29856

One of the best all time shows was Continental Arena I 2006 rocking with guy in wheelchair first row Mike side. Never forget the absolute sense of joy I witnessed/felt for and from the guy throughout the show. Don't remember his name but McCready solo'd him a few times had the guy in tears. I'm talking playing directly in front of him for at least 30 40 seconds and allowing me to video and take pics. I think he ended up with a setlist and McC pick. Truly amazing!
Sorry to go off topic but not sure what changed from then other than GA vs assigned seating.

ratmando

Yup...rows made ADA interesting...often not up front. Earlier years, we got early entry, too. Oh, and my ADA buddy Kyle Foster died this year. I want to get baseball cards of ADA fans who have we can set out during shows... weird?

samjam

This is a fantastic post, thank you so much for sharing. This should be mandatory reading!

ratmando

I don't know what it is with Mike-- he is AMAZING to those of us who can't things others can. He took a gal to coffee in New Orleans to talk about her wheelchair story- and he always ALWAYS seems to go towards the ASL translators to play a bit. LOVE some McCready!!