Still, in 2025, disabled people are treated like second class citizens when it comes to attending live events like concerts, comedy shows, theatre shows and festivals. We are asking both venues and promoters to make the experience fairer and more inclusive. 

Talking to many disabled people, as well as my own experience as a wheelchair user who also requires BSL interpreters; disabled people are not able to experience the same as able bodied people when it comes to attending live events. Issues include but aren't limited to:

• Finding it hard to work out how to buy accessible tickets. Each event makes it really easy for able bodied people to see how to buy tickets, however it is always different and often complicated for disabled people. We often have to sit in the same virtual queue as the able bodied tickets even though we are buying different tickets. This makes no sense and just means systems crash more and we struggle to buy the few accessible tickets on sale. Or by the time we have worked out how to buy, like signing up for accessible tickets if we haven't bought from this venue before, the few accessible tickets for sale are gone. 
• There aren't enough accessible tickets for sale at events. With 11 million people with disability in the UK  of which an estimated 1.2 people are wheelchair users, an estimated 9 million deaf or hard of hearing, almost 2 million are blind and nearly 1 million people believed to have learning disability in England alone, demand always out strips supply by a large margin. (source https://www.disabilitysport.org.uk/facts-and-figures-about-disabled-people-in-the-uk.html For one UK music tour, I spoke to over 75 disabled people who missed out on tickets for the same tour from positing one comment on one group! This shows just how many people potentially require accessible tickets, yet often the percentage of accessible tickets to able bodied tickets is tiny and they sell out in seconds. 
• The majority of venues only let 1 person sit with the accessible ticket holder and it is nearly always labelled as a 'carer' ticket. This means groups including families are split up, with some venues even making under 16's sit on their own because the disabled person and their parent/ guardian are sat together, but their siblings can't sit with them. It also means disabled people can't go out with groups of friends/ families and if they are with 3 or people, their group is split up. 
• Many venues struggle to provide seating that is both accessible for wheelchair users/ those who can't climb stairs and also close to the BSL interpreter or captions. On more than one occasion I have been asked if I need both and if I can just "turn one disability off" in an un-ironic fashion because the venue can't facilitate an accessible space close to the interpreter/ captions board. Sadly and shockingly, I am not alone in being asked if I can "turn off" parts of my disability to accommodate a venue's inflexible seating.  
• Theatres and comedy shows that only have 1 BSL interpreted show for the whole run don't provide additional accessible seats, so if there aren't any accessible seats left, you can't see that show. Equally even if you don't need an accessible seat, if you can't make that 1 date (over 3-4 months of dates for the show) you can't see that show. As they are often midweek, this rules entire runs of shows out for people. 
• Events often sell VIP tickets, whether that is exclusive merch that comes with the ticket, a special area that only VIP ticket holders can enter or meet and greet and the majority of the time, this option isn't given to disabled people. Even when the VIP perk could easily be accessible, like handing the merch bag to us in the accessible seating area or having someone take us from the area to the meet and greet area after. We shouldn't have to miss out on the option to buy VIP because we are disabled. 
• Equally, we never get to pick where we sit. It is always a 1 space option. We can't choose to pay more to sit closer to the stage or pay less for a seat further away. Especially in venues where this could easily be accommodated. 
• Finally entering and exiting events at the end is often really hard for disabled people. Crowds ascend to the lifts and people push past, there is no accessible route when escorting crowds to the nearest station so we have to go into the crowd and be surrounded. This is scary for those who are wheelchair users (I have had people fall onto me and push into me so hard I have been injured) and those with mobility issues. Equally those who can't cope well with crowds really struggle too. An event I went to recently put on accessible shuttle busses to nearby tube stations, but none of the ones they went to were step free. So I had to sit in the rowdy crowd in the dark being pushed around and knocked into. The same when entering, often there is no dedicated accessible line to queue in or advance information on where best to enter if you have a disability, meaning we have to wonder round to find it ourselves. 

Often I have found myself having to contact the managers of the artist/ band/ comedian/ show when it has either been impossible to buy accessible tickets or the venue/ promoter won't provide an interpreter etc and they have been shocked to hear how hard it is and done their best to provide tickets. It shouldn't have to be the way to get tickets or interpreters though. When I have spoken to the artists about the above issues they are always shocked and angry that their fans with disabilities are not able to experience their shows like everyone else. I'm sure every artist/ band/ comedian out there would be equally shocked and angry on behalf of their fans with disabilities knowing that this issue is wide spread and we are also calling on them to make sure venues they preform at and promoters they work with ensure that shows are as inclusive and fairly accessed for everyone. 

Therefore we are calling on venues and promoters to make the following changes to make live events fair and inclusive for everyone by doing the following:

• Make websites easier to use and see how to book accessible tickets and provide more than 1 way to book tickets so that those who are visually and or hearing impaired as well as those with disabilities that make buying through the only way available hard have different options. For example buying online, phoning, text phone, BSL video calling and email. Also make it clear if any sign up is required when buying tickets and allow us to do this prior to tickets sales. 
• Have venues provide more accessible seating and various options for accessible seating. Including wheelchair spaces, step free seating, audio described, BSL interpreter and captioned tickets and seating where those with additional needs can get up and move around without disrupting others or risk of being asked to leave the venue. Especially for venues where the seating is set up and taken down especially for that show, where they can be a lot more flexible in providing more accessible seating. Or like one event I've been to, sell every ticket as normal regardless of access requirements and once sold, ask people for their access requirements and design the seating around that. That way everyone has a fair chance of getting a ticket, regardless of their disability or need. 
• In addition to the extra seating, provide more seating for those to be able to sit with their friends and family and not be split up. Disabled people are parents and siblings, who want to sit together as a family. Or friends who want to go out with their group. Allowed up to 3 others (or more if small children) to sit with them means families and groups are forced to split up and we can be like everyone else out for the day enjoying ourselves. Too often venues and promoters assume we are only ever out on our own with just a paid carer accompanying us and not off for a day out with the family or a trip with friends. Both happen and both should be accommodated.
• Shows that only have 1 BSL interpreted performance, 1 captioned and 1 audio described show, provide more accessible seating for those dates and ensure some of that is close to the interpreter/ captions board OR provide more than 1 show with these provisions, especially if it is a popular show. 
• Let disabled people have the option to buy VIP tickets. Whether that be to access exclusive merch, buy meet and greet or accessible special VIP areas. Often in festivals these areas could easily be made accessible and would make more space in the standard accessible area. Also give up options on where we can sit. When you add extra accessible seating areas, provide them at various price points, so we can choose to pay extra and sit near the stage or pay less to sit further back.

Please sign to make venues and promoters see that in 2024 disabled people should be able to access live events more easily and how they need to be made more inclusive and why. We may be disabled but we still want to access live events with our friends and family and enjoy ourselves like everyone else.