creating a welcoming concert space

Inclusive performances:

Presenting a concert that is inclusive and accessible for a multitude of listeners is easier than you think. Here are several questions you can consider:

• Who is my intended audience?  

• What traditional conventions might appear during this event (lowered house lights, no clapping between movements, expected silence during the performance, no movement during performance, dress code)? Are they necessary? Will my audience understand them? Should I include a section in the program notes that discusses these conventions or speak at the beginning about what the concert will entail? 

• Is this venue accessible for people with mobility limitations?

• Is there an easy way for text to be understood by those who process better visually, rather than audibly, or who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing?

• Does this program contain subject matter that could be considered sensitive or triggering? Can I note this in my marketing materials and in the program?

The most important is the first one: who is your intended audience? Every person in your audience should feel welcome. If you are presenting to a different community than your own, collaborate with and source knowledge directly from that community. 

OUR CONCERTS

Concerts in the Amplify Series are intended to welcome a broad range of individuals on a neurodiverse spectrum. Here is how we present our work, as guided by autistic individuals, parents of neurodivergent youth, and special education professionals:

• Our concerts take place in large concert halls, where we anticipate many empty seats. We want there to be enough space for everyone to spread out and be comfortable.

• There is no dress code.

• Texts are projected on a screen.

• At the beginning of our programs, we discuss very broadly the music being performed. We don’t change the music at all for our concerts--we simply let patrons know what to expect (For example, to expect a broad range of registers and dynamics). We also let them know that some of the texts may contain emotional or sensitive topics.

• Patrons are welcomed and encouraged to enter and exit the concert hall at any time.

• We leave the lighting at the same level for the whole concert, rather than dimming the house lights.

• We welcome and encourage any vocalization and movement necessary for the comfort and engagement of our patrons. 

• We create a sensory-relief area outside of the concert hall where patrons can go to use available sensory items. These items depend on who we are partnering with for the concert, but often include bean bags, fidgets, and weighted vests.

• We create Social Stories for individuals to use prior to coming to our events.

• Headphones and fidgets are always welcome in our concerts. We invite people to come as they are most comfortable!