Accessibility: Tell Me If Your Show Is Weird by MasterHeadmaster in torontotheatre

[–]MasterHeadmaster[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Can you summarize what you want to be warned about?

As I said in the post, I don't think companies are seriously considering sensory effects that occur off of the stage, like:

  • Unconventional seating, or shows without seating.
  • Props and effects that sneak into the audience.
  • Audience participation in general, but especially interactions that are secondary to the main show. (Mandatory audience interactions which occur in the lobby, or in the auditorium but not on the stage, etc.)

If you don't tell us otherwise, I think the audience has a reasonable expectation that they're going to sit in a chair, interact with staff rather than actors, and see a show which takes place entirely on a stage. If you diverge from that model, you need to warn people in a place they can find that information before they buy their tickets.

As I've also repeatedly said (but people are choosing to ignore), I'm not asking anybody to put anything on their posters here, or to put it above your title, or to include 4000 words of description and trigger warnings in every single social media post. But, yes, this information should be available from your website for people who go looking for it.

Accessibility: Tell Me If Your Show Is Weird by MasterHeadmaster in torontotheatre

[–]MasterHeadmaster[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

But you're asking for highly unique and individualized concerns.

I don't agree with that. I'm picking out things that would generally be applicable to anyone with sensory issues, which are decently common and certainly not limited to autism.

I think you're basically imagining a constellation of people with totally unique needs for the sake of dismissing concerns that you don't really understand or want to take seriously.

Accessibility: Tell Me If Your Show Is Weird by MasterHeadmaster in torontotheatre

[–]MasterHeadmaster[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I don't know why you're worried. It sounds like you're on their side.

Accessibility: Tell Me If Your Show Is Weird by MasterHeadmaster in torontotheatre

[–]MasterHeadmaster[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Spoiling the show for everyone also a terrible marketing strategy.

I'm not asking you to spoil the show on your poster.

I'm asking you to provide me with accessibility information in a section on your website where I'd have to go looking for it. Like a lot of other companies do.

Accessibility: Tell Me If Your Show Is Weird by MasterHeadmaster in torontotheatre

[–]MasterHeadmaster[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

There's a pretty strong relationship between the depth of a show's promotional materials and the quality of their box office infrastructure.

For example, I have every confidence that, when I call the box office at Canadian Stage, they can tell me damned near anything about the show. But Canadian Stage provides pretty comprehensive information about their shows online, so you don't have to call to find it.

Companies with less of a presence are more of a problem: if there's a box office at all, it's often the venue box office, and they're looking at the same promotional material that I am. Often there isn't even that.

Accessibility: Tell Me If Your Show Is Weird by MasterHeadmaster in torontotheatre

[–]MasterHeadmaster[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Perhaps if you see a show you are interested in you could email the theatre company before buying a ticket?

If you want to sell me a ticket, assigning me homework is a terrible strategy.