[Dixielandjazz] Let's be realistic about seating for EVERYONE

[JBruno868 at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/16/2006 12:11:48 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
Vaxtrpts at aol.com writes:

Sorry  Judie, but as a festival director and concert promoter, this may in   
fact be some obscure law, but it is ridiculous and IMPOSSIBLE!  We  people  
putting on concerts might as well shut the doors, if we were  forced to have  
handicapped seating in EVERY ticket range.  It  CAN'T be done for many  
reasons, many 
of which have to do with fixed  seats in an auditorium or  theater.  I have 
NEVER in 40 years of  producing and performing, seen  handicapped seating at 
every  level.  Come on, be realistic.  Most  venues and concert  promoters do 
their 
very best to accommodate handicapped  people, but  what you are asking is 
absurd.
Mike Vax



------
 
First of all Mike, the American With Disabilities Act,  is not an obscure law 
and if not complied with, you would be dealing with the  Department of 
Justice.
 
With fixed seating in theaters, there are sections set  aside for 
Wheelchairs. In small theaters, like movie theaters for example, the  sections are 
usually put in the center but with large theaters, under the law  and most have 
accommodations now, you must offer any and all seating to  wheelchairs at the 
prices offered to the general public. This can work in a  variety of ways.
 
For example, the San Diego Sports area doesn't have  elevators or ramps to 
get into the "cheap" seats, so seats must be offered at  the Cheap prices and 
the Wheelchair sections is on the floor with the expensive  seats. I have seen 
many concerts there paying $25.00 and seating right behind  the $300 seats. It 
is the Law
 
This Festival though had movable seating so it  is not be difficult at all to 
make spaces for Handicapped Seating as most  are.
 
BTW, that is not every level of seating, but every  price level. Meaning if 
someone buys the most expensive ticket, you do have to  make arrangements for 
them at that level of seating.
 
Another case in point is here in the Desert at a  Concert Theater. There is 
again no way to get a wheelchair up as the whole  theater is steps except for 
the very front, any price range bought by a  wheelchair and companion, gets 
Front Row seating.
 
The San Diego Thanksgiving Jazz Festival has only one  price range and they 
have put Wheelchair sections, roped off, in the center,  actually closer to the 
front, on both sides of the main isle. This works very  well and I have no 
complaints with the way they do this. Actually, I wrote a  post here, on the 
DJML List complaining about the seating for  wheelchairs, all the way in the back 
and those in the know here, took it up  and made these changes which are very 
good but for those festivals who offer  different price ranges, without 
assigned seating, they must offer seating in all  price ranges.
 
Again, it is the law and again with the age of Jazz  Fans getting older all 
the time, more and more are needing help of wheelchairs,  scooters and walkers 
to get around.
 
As a Producer you need to learn and make  accommodations before you do get 
sued but then most theaters now have these  accommodations for the Handicapped 
here in the US.
 
 
 
Jazz  Hugs

Judie