One day I will be able to go to a concert and not have an access problem, but it seems Friday was not that day.

We arrived half an hour before the start of our concert to learn that our group of three had been split into areas, despite clarifying on the phone that we would only purchase the tickets if our group could sit together. We were told that the three of us would be able to sit together, if we were happy to squeeze into an accessible space for two, and this in itself would not have been a problem, if it was the only problem.

The space we were shown to had a camera placed in it, as the event was been live streamed, a picture of this is shown below. It seems this space was double booked as accessible seating and press.

It took more than 20 minutes for the staff to find somewhere else for us to move into, which resulted in us missing the first songs of the supporting act, who I was specifically looking forward to seeing.

I don’t think this would have happened for the non-accessible seating, as able paying guest would be unlikely to loose there seating to camera equipment. Our treatment at the event was there fore ableist and I am in the process of putting in a complaint.

Disabled show goers, already do not get to choose where we want to sit, we already have to compromise by sitting in the accessible seating area, that is usually near the back. We are told this is for our safety. But I personally believe it is to stop the event organising being sued. I personally wish that I could sign some sort of waver that would allow me to sit nearer the stage.

This specific event had seating near the stage, so I don’t really understand any of the logic as to why I had to sit near the back anyway. But at the very least I deserve to sit in the space I have booked.

I will let you know how the complaint goes.