Let me put on my Grumpy Cripple hat on for a minute, it's green.

I use a wheelchair and go to a lot of concerts and I have seen many international artists. I am sick of being stuck at the back when I go to shows in New Zealand. I imagine that the experience is worst when you have trouble with vision. This has gotten so annoying that I have started purchasing General Admission tickets, this solves the problem.

Venues should provide more flexible areas near the front for people in wheelchairs. For some shows you can't even pay to be near the front and it is practically second class seating. Before replying with fire safety half the time I am upstairs which means you cannot use lifts, the stairs would be crowded so I would argue there is minimal safety benefit from being upstairs if any benefit. Crowded stairs sounds like a recipe for disaster. As long as we're not blocking escape paths there shouldn't be any problem. Having flexibility is also important as if you fill up all the wheelchair accessible tickets but still have public seating available some people may view it as discrimination. I was in this situation today as write this. It's not a good feeling.

Having flexibility is also important as if you fill up all the wheelchair accessible tickets but still have public seating available some people may view it as discrimination. I was in this situation today as write this. It's not a good feeling.

Unfortunately, the Bruce Mason Centre had the worse seating ever. I was stuck at the back and there were people standing on a platform just below me. The result was an appalling view. I couldn't really see anything. The people eventually lifted me on the platform but it was by no means wheelchair accessible.

I realize that you get what you pay for at concerts but a lot of times you don't even have the option to be closer. That should change. I know that I will continue to buy General Admission tickets from now on.

 

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