Handicapped Fanclub seats?

redrock

blondieblue227 wrote:

'(who can prove they receive a disability allowance)'
i like that proving thing. wish they did that in the US. but with that 'temporaries' wouldn't be able to use ADA seats.

Yes is a teaching thread. I like it.

There are so many disabilities that are not as obvious as a person in a wheelchair. If the disability is not physical, one may not automatically be 'assigned' ADA seats if the venue is GA, but will have the opportunity to have his/her 'companion' go free and also have early access, therefore not in the mad rush of people going for GA seats but being able to get a seat (a good one!) so no 'ass watching'!

blondieblue227

I can’t think of any other instance where a person with a disability would need ADA seats for a concert if their disability wasn’t physical/visible? Can you?

redrock

blondieblue227 wrote:

I can’t think of any other instance where a person with a disability would need ADA seats for a concert if their disability wasn’t physical/visible? Can you?

Following a stroke.... not obvious. Not warranting a wheelchair but difficulties standing, balance, etc. along with 'other' problems. Nothing one would notice at first glance. As I said, they may not be assigned seating in those areas (as there are seats and wheelchair space - at least in the venues I know), but they would still need disabled access. If the venue is all standing, they can usually provide chairs/seats for the person & companion in the wheelchair area.

blondieblue227

good answer.

i've often thought people with disabilities should be issued a card with a number. That way we could buy ADA tickets online and things like that with no hassle. But then again handicap parking tags are a joke so maybe that wouldn’t work. Plus I’m sure some would say the card infringes on privacy.

There’s so much gray area with things regarding people with disabilities I hate it.

redrock

A card or something would be useful maybe. My husband hates it everytime he is asked to send a copy of his 'disability allowance letter'. He's only started 'going out' in the past few months after a major stroke and we have been only been dealing with these issues for a short time. Though in the UK (or at least in my borough), my husband is very well catered for (ie taxi vouchers, free public transport, rehab, etc). He needs someone with him when he goes out as he now has short term memory problems. It is a constant reminder (even sometimes humiliation he feels) to have to carry this letter with him if he doesn't want his companion to be out of the pocket everytime he would like to go to the museum, swimming, etc.

Not easy by all means. I know they are trying to make things easier but there is still a lot of work to be done. Venues are definitely improving this access.

blondieblue227

yes venues have gotten way better. people are following the ADA guidelines way more now.

i can understand how your husband feels.

Jearlpam0925

Call the 10C. I'm bringing my brother who is autistic to the first Philly show, and they helped me with his issues for seating.

mensane

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

Call the 10C. I'm bringing my brother who is autistic to the first Philly show, and they helped me with his issues for seating.

the show that hasnt happened yet?

Jearlpam0925

mensane wrote:

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

Call the 10C. I'm bringing my brother who is autistic to the first Philly show, and they helped me with his issues for seating.

the show that hasnt happened yet?

I don't understand the sarcasm. Yes, the show on Oct. 27th. Better to call in advance than play the handicap card right at the door.

blondieblue227

aw, yes......the golden handicapped card. much like the race card. and yes i'll admit I have used it. can be a good thing and bad thing all in the same moment.

Funny thing thou, because I still think if there was a physical/real life handicap card things would be easier.

mensane

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

mensane wrote:

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

Call the 10C. I'm bringing my brother who is autistic to the first Philly show, and they helped me with his issues for seating.

the show that hasnt happened yet?

I don't understand the sarcasm. Yes, the show on Oct. 27th. Better to call in advance than play the handicap card right at the door.

i guess the reason for the sarcasm is that you said they helped you with his seating issues. i thought the same thing before the show that i took my dad to. i hope they actually help you and dont screw you like they did to me.

Jearlpam0925

mensane wrote:

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

mensane wrote:

the show that hasnt happened yet?

I don't understand the sarcasm. Yes, the show on Oct. 27th. Better to call in advance than play the handicap card right at the door.

i guess the reason for the sarcasm is that you said they helped you with his seating issues. i thought the same thing before the show that i took my dad to. i hope they actually help you and dont screw you like they did to me.

Well, whatever. I called them, spoke with Anna, and she supposedly helped me with my issue. If not though, no big deal.

zadars

I am one of those folks that have an "invisible illness" (Lupus, and 17 failed back surgeries). Depending on how I'm feeling on a particular day, warrants which device I use, to help me motor along, (cane, walker, wheelchair). Remember that the VENUE, also plays a LARGE roll, in the seating, (or assistance with) this seating problem. When I was in the horrible line for the ticket wait in Hartford (no, I will NEVER drop this,,,,,it was a TERRIBLE experience), I showed my Medicare card, AND my NJ State disability card, (you must have one, to get the ADA parking placards or plates, in the state), anyway, when I showed BOTH ID's to the "Venue Security A-Holes" on the so called, "Watch" of the line, they said and I QUOTE " Sorry Lady, that won't PLAY here, if you gotta get your tickets, from standing in this line, then you have to wait just like everybody else".
Wow, that was such a kick in the face,,,,,,,about 30 min. later, we even asked for a chair,,,,,,,,no dice. Their reply when asked for a chair, was pretty much the same, (except with more anger and sarcasm). "Look LADY, we told you that it DOESN'T MATTER, you HAVE to WAIT just like EVERYBODY else!!" ,,,,,and as we walked away back to the line, they said to each other, while laughing "some people will do JUST ABOUT ANYTHING" (wow again,,,,,the kicks just kept coming). When I wrote to the venue to say something about their HORRIBLE treatment by the staff, I got a BIG FAT ZERO for a response.

So, quite often, with a venue that I have never been to, it is often, just like the 10C seating lottery,,,,,,,,,you NEVER know where you are going to sit, until you get INTO the venue. Usually, the smaller venues have better, and MORE POLITE staff, to assist you.

And like I also stated before, the 10C, has always been GREAT with the calls to GET the 10C ADA seating ISSUED. However, I do not know how much influence they have as to WHERE that seating is. Like in Camden, the ADA seating is behind the 100 section,,,,,,,,as soon as those folks stand up,,,,,,,,if I'm in my wheelchair,,,,,it's all butts and elbows! MSG, has ADA seating on EVERY floor (they will tell you different), but my first 10C seating issue was on the TOP floor (MSG has seven levels,,,,,,this was fan club seating?) they were "nice enough to LET me" (their words from MSG), LET me, sit on the fourth level,,,,,,,,(but honestly, when you get to to show, and have to do THAT much run around, BEFORE a show,,,,,I'm exhausted before the show even starts!).
The TAJ in AC has been great on occasion, but I think that it was BECAUSE of David Crosby. When I went to see CSNY in AC,( I had made a Sock Monkey for CROZ,,,,LONG story),,,, and after he got it, the next thing I knew, I was in the FRONT row (GOD,,,,,what a freakin' show). So yeah,,,,,it is my DREAM to see PJAM from the front row, but alas, I have given up on that dream LONG AGO! As always, I'm just happy to see them AT ALL!!

Again, if you do need ADA seating,,,,,,,,PLEASE try and get to the shows, as early as possible, because then they can try and get you situated BEFORE the lights go down, and 15K people are already inside. This is usually the biggest time that you find the able bodied in the ADA seats,,,,,,,,and after that happens, NEVER ONCE has ANY of those horrible people, that are already in that area, given up a seat for me, and I have been tossed into a hallway to see the rest of the show! GET THERE EARLY!!!!!

Fingers CROSSED for good sight lines in Philly!!!

Maybe we'll see you there!

blondieblue227

Thanks zadars for your post. It just reinforces what I but maybe not what other people know…ADA seating at venues have much to improve on. The ADA is there but it’s not followed and exercised as it should be.

Some new venues have the ADA section marked on their website.
I went to a show once that was at a university. I was able to buy ADA seating online, no problem, thru the venue. It was wonderful!

Was it that the line was too long for you to wait? They couldn’t even bring you a chair? wow.

acutejam

My wife is wheelchair-bound, and I quite frequently take her to shows. Out here in the Bay Area, I e-mail Ticketmaster the moment public tickets go on sale -- we have had FANTASTIC ADA seats at: San Jose Compaq Arena (Shark Tank); and the Oakland Arena and Coliseum (both venues are AWESOME, Oracle Arena being just about my fav place to get ADA seats).

The flipside is tragic, my favorite venue, the Berkeley Greek Theater -- handicap folks park on the "first tier" walkway in the amphitheater, but there's no platform, when folks stand in the lower bowl section, kiss your sight lines goodbye! What's worse, they don't honor the actual ticketed seats -- we had A1&A2, should have been the first two spots, instead, we got there late (but prior to the opening act) and the ushers would not seat us in our spots, "Sorry it's kinda first-come-first-serve." (No! My ticket clearly says A1&2 like the small taped markers indicate.) There's no nearby handicap parking, they will let you "drop off" at a dorm nearby with a "level" path into the venue -- but you can't leave a car there, so the person sits for 10-20 minutes at the dorm while you go find a parking spot! One Bonus: they do let wheelchairs into the backstage/side stage area to use ADA restrooms!

More Berkeley horrors, stuck in second row ADA seats and companion of a man in knee-brace/cane decided it would be cool to STAND in front of my wife in her wheelchair and hippy dance. Um, you're there in ADA seating with someone who can't stand, and you decide TO STAND in front of another person in a wheelchair?!?!?! This is the face of earthy, crunchy peace-luvin Berkeley ... clueless! (I could tell from her armpits she was local....)

So I guess I would just toss my hat into the discussion to point out a few things:
-- SPORTS ARENAS get it. Staff is very accommodating, viewlines are awesome. Security in the parking lots see us coming from a mile away and start directing us to the proper entrances, walk us past lines, get us to proper elevators and back entrances (we were actually wheeled across backstage and out through the side curtains for The Police at the Coliseum! Totally Cool!)
-- Tickets straight from venue have never "really" been a problem, but ushers can be clueless.

I'm going to try for 10C seats eventually -- but my gut says prolly better going through the public/venue system. One more twist, I love that 10C sets up group rates at local hotels, we tried that with the Se Hotel in San Diego -- their ADA room consisted of a wheelchair accessible peephole in the door. No rails in the bathrooms (toilet or shower); no bench in the shower, no nuthin! I looked at 3 different "handicapped" rooms before throwing my hands up -- but she was taking her life in her hands every time she had to pee! We almost ALWAYS use the Hilton who have never let us down.

And I wish Pearl Jam had never written Light Years, Parachutes, Just Breathe or The End ... they're as hard for me to get through as listening to Eddie sing Trouble!!! And yet, best therapy in the world for me....