Navigating the Concert Jungle: The Untold Struggles of Disabled Music Lovers

Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour at Gillette Stadium on May 20, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

As a wheelchair user and partner to Canine Companions® Pico, I cherish the excitement of live concerts. However, my experiences are frequently marred by an under-the-radar struggle: securing accessible seating. This problem, largely overlooked by mainstream media, affects numerous individuals in the disability community. While Ticketmaster frequently garners attention for mishandled public on-sales or excessive fees, leading to an unusual apology in January, the hardships faced by disabled concert-goers rarely draw attention. This reality became glaring during the recent Taylor Swift Eras Tour.

The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that approximately 1% of a venue's seating should be disability-accessible. Yet, ticket brokers often abuse this policy, disadvantaging those of us with a genuine need for these seats. During the Eras Tour, disabled fans found themselves competing for a meager 0.005% of seats. As disability rights advocate Amy Webb accurately predicted to Cosmopolitan before the public on-sale, "For the disability community, it's going to be nearly impossible."

When rain fell at Gillette Stadium Saturday, Swift decided to persist with the show. While this might have augmented the spectacle for some, it jeopardized the safety and well-being of disabled fans. Our electronic medical equipment, much like Swift's piano, isn't designed to endure a downpour. Disabled fans found themselves in a no-win situation.

The struggle for accessible seating isn't simply about securing a place at a concert. It's about our right to partake in public life and enjoy the same experiences as everyone else. It's about acknowledging that accessibility is a right, not a privilege.

The ADA exists to ensure that we can access venues and live our lives as the varied individuals with diverse interests we are. However, the reality often deviates from this ideal. Laws designed to protect us from unnecessary disclosure of our disability status paradoxically open the door for abuse. It's not uncommon to see disabled seating suddenly appear on third-party sites like Vivid Seats and StubHub at inflated prices following a public on-sale. With little recourse, the only deterrent to such behavior is a guilty conscience, as these folks knowingly exploit fans who often live on fixed or limited incomes. Profit margins often overshadow these considerations. The lack of enforcement and systemic abuse of this honor-system policy by ticket brokers suggest that we have a long road ahead.

Artists, venues, and ticketing platforms must do more to ensure that everyone, regardless of physical abilities, can enjoy live music. The industry must transition toward inclusivity and accessibility for all.

As Webb fittingly said, "When systems fail us, it's the community that steps up."

#Accessibility #LiveMusicForAll #TaylorSwiftErasTour #ConcertAccessibility #DisabilityRights

Junk Fees Hit Disabled People Too

The disability community is heavily impacted by the Crip Tax, whether it’s in the form of so-called junk fees or simply a higher cost of living. The toll is physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially exhausting simply fighting for our right to exist.

"President Biden dedicated quite a bit of airtime in his State of the Union address to the Junk Fees Prevention Act, a push to limit hidden fees and surcharges in a number of industries. The proposed legislation would curtail companies from overcharging on things like extra resort fees at hotels, service fees at concerts and sporting events, and added costs charged by airlines so that family members can sit together."
Deepa Shivaram, Emily Olson–NPR

President Biden talked extensively about the Junk Fee Prevention Act in his State of the Union Address. While the White House cited research from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlighting the racial disparities of added fees, the disability community is also adversely affected. We routinely pay the colloquial “Crip Tax” simply to level the playing field.

Consider the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation that found airlines mishandled 941 wheelchairs or scooters in November of 2022; or roughly 1.5% of mobility equipment. While that number may seem small to non-disabled people, if those were your legs, you’d be more cautious.

Uber settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice last year over the illegal practice of wait time fees— disproportionately affecting disabled passengers.

Our hotel rooms often come with increased costs, too. The ADA prohibits charging more for accessible rooms, yet hotels and travel sites try to get away with it anyway hoping uninformed travelers will simply not know the law or be too exhausted to contest the rate hike. I recently lost hours on the phone with American Express resolving excess fees associated with booking an accessible room through their travel portal at Virgin Hotels.

The Biden administration talked about excessive ticketing fees for concerts. Here again, the disability community faces added expenses. We often pay more for our seats because venues do little to verify that the limited quantity of accessible seating goes to disabled patrons rather than scalpers charging a premium. I’m working with local venues in Washington D.C. including Capital One Arena to help address this challenge.

These are just the simple things. Pricer items like healthcare, transportation, and medical equipment are essential, which is why I was glad to see the administration tout a proposed rule change simplifying reporting requirements for the more than 7 million disabled people who receive monthly Supplemental Social Security Administration benefits.

The disability community is heavily impacted by the Crip Tax, whether it’s in the form of so-called junk fees or simply a higher cost of living. The toll is physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially exhausting simply fighting for our right to exist.