All Access Pass – A Guide for and from the physically challenged concertgoer

Concert Critique: A Compilation

For this post I gathered a compilation of concert critiques. And from that gathering and crowdsourcing three questions came up: should landmark status trump the need for venue accessibility? How could being in the front row of a concert be bad? And lastly do sport events count?

The first question was brought upon by Webster Hall concertgoers Mike and Steve. Webster Hall is not accessible, but the venue does offer to lift patrons and their chairs into the venue. With that being said however, an accessible bathroom can only be found on the second floor of the venue (those venues workers must be strong to be doing all that lifting.) In addition, most wheelchair users won’t trust someone they don’t know with something they rely so heavily on. As a venue Webster Hall says that it can change about the infrastructure because of its landmark status. Granted, but has Webster Hall never heard of removable raps that don’t affect the building at all? Guess not.

The second question was prompted by Zasia Davis who went to see MetLife to see Eminem. She was in the front row which is pretty dope but she spoke about being fearful of crowding. She also noted that they put wheelchair users on an elevated platform so that they could see.

The last question was prompted by Kaela Winn who likes sports as much as I like music, so she spoke on stadiums and parks. Over all she would give an accessibility score of 10, but notes that she feels rushed to leave at the end of games, which is bad for crowds.

Venue Review: SOB’s NYC

For this one I could really do any of the things I suggested in the last post because the venue changed last minute. But I did do one thing go to SOB’s where it stated that the venue was accessible. Before gaining entry I was worried about not being able to see what was going on on stage. But at soon I got in my worries went away.

SOB’s is a small venue so no matter where you are standing/sitting you’ll be able to see and enjoy the experience. But if you are covering an event like I was, you might find a difficulty–taking photos. Because I’m so short it was kind of difficult to take from were I was without smartphone technology. Luckily for me, my fellow concertgoers ushered me to the front as soon as they saw an opening…good looking out.

The only thing that I didn’t get to find out about the venue at the time was were the restroom is located. But I suspect that there may be two, one on the floor and one near the bar which is on an upper level only accessed by stairs. If I’m wrong and the only one available is by the bar then wheelchair users may be out of luck.

Ultimately, SOB’s is a good accessible venue but the bathroom issue needs to be further investigated. Plus the shiw was good as well B.o.B fits No Genre and I mean that in the best way possible.

This Week’s Tour Announcements

The Foo Fighters, Jhene Aiko, and Wale are all heading on the road for tours.Wale’s SIMPLE MOBILE Simply Nothing Tour was the first to hit the net this week.The D.C. rapper will be making 30 concert stops all over the continental U.S. From it’s title one can infer that the tour may focus on his upcoming release Album About Nothing as well as the mixtapes that precede it. Wale will kickoff the tour on New Year’s Day in Maryland and end on February 19th in Virginia. He’ll be hitting NYC on January 10th at Irving Plaza.

This week has also come with news about Jhene Aiko’s Enter The Void Tour. “The Pressure” has announced that TDE’s SZA and Odd Future affiliated The Internet will be joining her on tour. Aiko, SZA, and The Internet will be making 13 stops. This combination should make for a wavey tour. Their NYC stop will be on December 3rd at Best Buy Theater.

Coming off of the release of their latest album Sonic Highways The Foo Fighters have announced a tour that will need a lot of those. The tour will span from the beginning of July to the beginning of October. There NYC stop will be at Citi Field on July 16th.

At A Glance: The Lady with the Pass

I know this blog is supposed to be about concerts and having access to them in the right way but up until now I haven’t really explained why this is even important to me or why you should listen to me. For this post will explore my Instagram feed to find out why.

On a good day I may post a poem excerpt or a funny revelation, but on a very good day there will be something live performance related.

One of my first posts was this one.

http://instagram.com/p/hvAQ7LLuxA/?modal=true

Yeah you read that right Lupe Fiasco replied to me on Twitter. But it more so about what I said in the tweet than the fact that he replied. I missed the other half of his set because I can’t take the train with my wheelchair. So when 11:00p.m. hit I had to leave because the last bus back to BK left at 11:45p.m. If I didn’t leave then I would been stuck in the city, struggling to find an accessible taxi that would probably cost me more than the ticket itself. You guess must be wondering if I sitting front row the next night. Well, the short answer to that question is no. The long answer is even if I wanted to I’d be stuck in the same situation as I was the day before. You may be thinking, “But what about Access-A-Ride?” AAR is no help when the reservation cutoff is 5p.m. the night before.Ultimately, I missed the Tetsuo & Youth preview part but I still got to see Stalley and Dee-1. A concertgoer like me has to look at the glass have full.

This next post gives you a glimpse into why stuff like this is so important to me.

http://instagram.com/p/iffk3wruzG/?modal=true

I’m an aspiring music journalist with a focus on hip-hop who also knows how to rhyme. So although going to concerts may be a leisurely activity I see them as a source of professional development. After all music journalists cover shows.

In this picture of ASAP Rocky I was doing just that.
http://instagram.com/p/imK-cCruxR/?modal=true
I was covering Power 105.1’s Powerhouse at the Barclays Center, one of the most accessible friendly venues I’ve been to yet. One can literally sit anywhere in the venue and be able to see the show. My sister still swears Trey Songz was looking right at her.

The same cannot be said for every venue though. The dude pictured below is The Weeknd. In October of 2013 I went to see him at Radio City Music Hall but once everyone stood up I couldn’t see him at all. $75 felt lost.
http://instagram.com/p/tgNeIVru0z/?modal=true

My friend Janae weren’t letting this experience beat me though. I bought tickets to the King of the Fall Tour, this time he was at Barclay’s and I wasn’t blinded by tall people.
http://instagram.com/p/psjlqELu6B/?modal=true

This next picture captures my love for music and festivals at the same time. That’s Chance The Rapper next to me, one of my favorite lyricists. I had the pleasure of meeting him at GovBall. As a volunteer his set was my first and best set. (I would say that even if I didn’t meet him.)
http://instagram.com/p/pAbBchLuyM/?modal=true

The wristband on my hand in this one is symbolic of how much I love J. Cole’s music as well as of how I drove all the way to the Highline from school and got wet in the rain.
http://instagram.com/p/qhe6chru6t/?modal=true

This picture is about me testing my musical ear. To put it simply Mad Decent is an electronic music festival. It also hoe going to a EDM festival, where being on the ground didn’t scare me.

http://instagram.com/p/rgCxAMLu2b/?modal=true

So there you have it, a little about me through my Instagram feed.

Tips and Tricks: 5 Things to Do Before or After a Concert

Call The Venue

Before you even purchase the ticket(s) make sure to call the venue in regards to accessibility. Then acquire about accommodations. If these are fitting to you buy the ticket, if they aren’t then you have a decision to make. Music or comfort?

Know Where The Bathrooms Are Before The Show Starts

If you know where the bathrooms are before the show begins you won’t have to go through the hassle of finding someone to tell you in the middle of the show, which could prove difficult in dark venues.

For the Power Wheelchair Users Out There CHARGE YOUR CHAIR

This one is pretty self-explanatory, you don’t want your chair to die in the middle of the show. Unless that’s how you measure how awesome the show was.

Always Have Someone to Call or a Back Up Plan

If your chair does indeed die or you miss your ride make you sure you have a back up plan or someone to call to help get your chair moving. Be prepared for the unknown.

Have Ways Of Getting Home

Concerts are notorious for ending late, so be sure to account for that lateness when you’re booking your ride home. You may be asking, “How do I do this?” Well, one thing you can do is call the box office and ask for estimated end time. Also if you’ve been to the venue a few times you may be able to gage when the show will end. If you forgot to call Access-A-Ride or didn’t time it right don’t fret, Google Maps and Wow Taxi are your friends. Google Maps can tell you how to get home using the bus or the train. But if like me ( a non-train user) buses both express and local come in handy. If you’ve missed the last bus, WOW Taxi is your best bet. It’s an app that dispatches accessible taxies to wherever you are. The only thing is that it only picks up in Manhattan but does take you elsewhere.

At a Glance: Terminal 5

The above screen shot is a rating of Terminal from TripAdvisor. The title of the review is in quotes to suggest sarcasm. Although Terminal 5 is accessible in theory the user describes an inaccessible experience. He and his wheelchair-bound friend were told to arrive early so that they could be let in first. Not necessarily a effort to get prime seating, but at as a safety precaution. That didn’t happen. Can imagine trying to propel your wheelchair while avoiding being pummeled? It can be pretty horrid.

He then goes on to talk about where safety precaution should be thought along with show viewings. A rope separated handicapped patrons from the rest of the concertgoers leaving him and his friend with limited viewing. There was also a complaint about somebody not handicapped being in the area. These to problems go hand and hand most times. Physically challenged patrons desire to experience the concert in the same way as everyone else, but many (definitely not all) are also concerned about their safety. To combat this a venue like Terminal 5 should give patrons an option regarding where they sit or find a better place to put patrons like us.

He then mentioned something I have yet to experience. Friends of patrons were told that they were not allowed to sit on the chairs in the area. The reviewer recalls a security guard saying, “the chairs that were there were not for me, that this area is not for you people it is for them.” One would think that would allow friends to sit, but not in Terminal 5’s case.

Looking at it from a glance, it may be safe to say not to set high expectations for Terminal 5 if you’re on wheels, crutches, or sporting a cane. If you don’t care about being able to see, then this may be the place to be.

Relevant Links

Venue Review: Big K.R.I.T Talks Cadillactica at New World Stages for CRWN

Big K.R.I.T., Cadillactica — via WatchLoud

On Oct. 1, two mavens, one in the realm of music journalism and the other in the rap game, came together for yet another edition of CRWN, a music interview series. Elliott Wilson and Big K.R.I.T. (King Remembered In Time) sat down at New World Stages in New York City for an in depth discussion about K.R.I.T’s artistry and his upcoming album Cadillactica.

New World Stages is a venue with a number of theaters. Their elevator, although functional, might prove to be small for some with wider wheelchair frames. Access to the theater was pretty straight forward, however if seated in the handicapped area the patron may become hot because of heat from equipment above. Granted the feeling did go away after a while, but the venue should consider better placement of that equipment next time around. Despite that, the area does allow for a great viewing of the stage but that surely hold true for every other seat in the house.

Which is a great thing because the interview that took place over the next hour was a sight worth seeing, regardless if you’re a hip-hop fan or not. The interview began with a humorous shot at K.R.I.T’s attire and almost immediately delved into Cadilactica. At the basis K.R.IT describes his upcoming studio effort as his conscious mind that manifests as a planet named Cadillactica.

“I take you through the life, from the beginning of life, being young and rambunctious in life, getting to that point in life when you start remembering what being young was like and wanting that back. Then getting to that point where you’re like I’m not young anymore, I need to accept that and start tyrna find what’s my purpose now, ” is how K.R.I.T. explains what the tracks on Cadillactica represent.

He then goes on to explain how some of the songs may seem obscure to long time listeners. The rest of the interview itself focused on how K.R.I.T. developed as a rapper and a man, his use of samples, his reputation in the game, working with legendary musicians like B.B. King, and a bunch more that made for a humbling and reflective experience for those in the audience. Ultimately, Big K.R.I.T. will be remembered in time—his music is timeless.

Watch the interview 2-part interview below and be sure to peep his title track “Cadillatica” below as well.