Accessibly Yours

 Scooter @ OVO Arena Wembley 8/11/2024 I can honestly say that seeing Scooter at the OVO Arena Wembley was the most fun I've had at a concert to date. The performance and atmosphere were incredible, and it was all brought together by a wonderful and easy experience with accessibility, right from booking the tickets to the care and consideration on the night. It was very clear to me that everyone I came into contact with had been trained very well when it came to looking after guests with hidden disabilities. Booking tickets wasn't simple to start with, but after the initial obstacle, the experience improved drastically. Tickets were supposed to be bought through Ticketmaster, but after clicking on the accessible seating button, it said I had to phone to purchase tickets. Ticketmaster giving phoning as the only option isn't accessible because not everyone is able to communicate on a phone. Phoning to purchase tickets being the only accessible option is something I've com...

  The Surfrajettes @ New Cross Inn 17/10/2024 I was really intrigued about going to see The Surfrajettes because they were a band I didn't really know that much about. They were also performing at a small venue, which I always enjoy attending because I love to see how small venues can adapt to make the most of their space to accommodate guests with accessible needs. Booking the tickets was easy enough. This was done directly through the venue's website. Because the New Cross Inn is a smaller venue, I decided to contact them first before purchasing my ticket, as I needed to find out that access to a chair was possible, as it's predominantly a standing venue. After I had sorted access to a chair, I went ahead and booked my ticket without any issue. On the night of the concert there were no issues entering the venue, as there was no queue because I was there quite early and it was a very small concert (probably less than 100). When I went up to the front desk to get my ticket ...

 Missio @ The Underw orld Camden 19/6/2024 I was super excited for this concert, as I had wanted to see the support act The Haunt for years. I'd not seen them since they supported Palaye Royale many years earlier, and given this concert wasn't long after the disaster at Oslo Hackney, I was a little worried that this too wouldn't go well. But I was wrong. Booking tickets was simple enough, they were booked through Dice, and then I was to contact Underworld Camden directly to organise accessibility needs. I contacted the venue and spoke to a lovely person who got back to me in less than a day. In order to request accessibility, I had to provide my ticket number and proof of disability, which is normal for requesting accessibility at venues. I was very impressed with how quickly this was sorted out for me and without any issues. Getting to the evening of the concert, I had already had an accessibility issue en route to the gig, so I was really hoping that this night would go w...

Luke Black @ Oslo Hackney 7/6/2024 First off, I need to start by saying that this one is going to be kind of hard to write; I've been dreading it, but it needs to be done so that people are made aware. To this day, unfortunately, Oslo in Hackney in London has been the worst experience I've had when it comes to accessibility. Usually when I have a small issue, I eventually let it go and get over it. But this time I ended up writing to the venue to let them know about the bad experience I had. Booking the ticket was easy enough; I just bought a regular ticket and then contacted the ticket provider, as stated on Oslo Hackney's website about accessibility requirements. I'm not a big fan of sorting out accessibility requirements with the ticket company over the venue because there are questions that can't be answered or are answered wrong, as you're about to find out, and then there is always the chance that your information doesn't get passed over to the venue. ...

  Gary Numan @ O2 Academy Bournemouth 30/5/24 Here I am again back at the O2 Academy in Bournemouth attending a Gary Numan concert, exactly how it all started 2 years earlier. This is now my 3rd time at the O2 Academy Bournemouth, and by now I never worry about attending events here, as I have full faith in the staff and venue. Once again, booking my tickets was nice and simple. I spoke to Becky, and she was very helpful and quick to respond to my emails as usual. On the night she greeted my mum and me, she was friendly as ever. This time round she was also looking after someone's service dog, who was with her behind the counter. So if you have a service dog and wonder where they hang out during the concert, they take up a job with Becky at the Box Office. The seats were the same as the previous Gary Numan gig, upstairs on the balcony, cordoned off, manned by security and with a brilliant view of the stage. The concert was sold out just like last time; however, this didn't caus...

 YONAKA @ KOKO 19/3/2024 I am very excited to write this blog entry because it will be the first concert I write about that didn't take place at an O2 venue (Palaye Royale at Eventim Apollo Hammersmith was booked through the O2 Academy Brixton, as that was the original venue for that event), so the method of booking an accessible ticket is a little bit different. For this event I bought a regular standing ticket and then emailed the venue where they asked for proof of disability; this is standard for most venues. So I emailed them a copy of one of my PIP letters; however, KOKO and most other venues will also accept other forms of evidence, such as access cards, for example. After I sent them a copy of my PIP letter, I waited to hear back from them. It took 2 weeks to get a reply, and it was on the day of the concert that they did get back to me. However, they did apologise. It was the night of the concert, and I arrived at KOKO slightly late, halfway through the first support act, ...

  Electric Six @ O2 Academy Bournemouth 4/12/2023 Here we are, back at the O2 Academy in Bournemouth, and I'm super excited to see Electric Six. They are a band I had always wanted to see but just never got round to it, and I was even more excited because I would be returning to a venue that I know has good accessibility. Booking tickets for this event was very simple, as I knew they'd have my information on file, as this was the venue where I registered previously. So I booked my ticket, contacted the lovely Becky, the same lady as before, and she quickly sorted me out with a companion ticket for my friend. The night of the concert came around, and although I had been to this venue before, things would be a little bit different this evening. This event wasn't sold out; I'd say it was about 2/3 full, and because of this, they had closed the balcony off, which is where the accessibility seating area usually is. Because the upstairs was closed off, the new accessible seat...