Susan M. LoTempio traveled a relatively short distance as a tourist - Buffalo to New York City - although, for the price of her concert ticket, she could have flown to LA roundtrip.
She writes a "Tale of Two Concerts" - pre- and post-ADA. In the October 7, 2005 issue of the New York Times she recounts her experience as a wheelchair user attending first a Beattles then a Paul McCartney concert in Madison Square Garden. In spite of spending nearly $300 on a front section ticket, she was unable to see either the stage or the giant screens. To make things worse, she recounts:
Too close to the stage to even see the huge monitors overhead, I moved into the aisle to try to get a view. The security guard told me to move back. I asked him where I could go to see around the masses of bodies, and he ordered me to stay where I was.I tried to remain polite, but that painful sensation I get when I'm being dismissed or patronized swept through me and I yelled back, "These tickets cost $300, and I can't see anything."
"Stay there," the security guard shouted, his face just inches from mine. "If you don't like it, you can leave."
For the full article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/07/opinion/07lotempio.html?th&emc=th
I would post this as an isolated exception and unfortunate outlier in the American culture and entertainment scene if I did not know better. Rcently, although at a lower volume, I had a similarly demeaning encounter with the self-designated bouncer at a KQED radio event. Invited to share the evening of honor for a friend disgnated as one of northern California's top Latino community leaders, I was similarly herded into the only vacant spot - directly in front of the auditorium's floor-mounted speakers.
Line staff at events have a hectic job. Customer service is not always their first priority. That is why the fault in both cases lies at the design level. That is why ADA, ADAAG, and human-centered building codes exist.
Posted by rollingrains at November 17, 2005 05:37 PM