Toms River Fest/ Handicapped

First let me say that the Artists were ALL wonderful!! Now with that said, I was extremely dissapointed with the way Toms River Fest security and set up for the disabled was set up. They had the handicapped section off to the side and pretty far from the stage. I personnally bought a ticket for $75.00 and am a member of the official fan club so I thought I would get to sit where I paid to sit. I have been to 6 concerts this year including the CMA awards to see Martina and this by far was the worst as far as seating for the disabled. I thought if you paid for the most expensive tickets you would be seated in that section even if you did have a disability. That was completely not the case. Security told you if you were in a wheelchair OR even on crutches to go sit in the section "they" set up which was actually in the $40.00 section. Then to top this all off, they towards the end of the concert told anyone to go up to the stage,sooo, if you were not able to do this you then had to struggle to see over the people who were now standing in front of the stage and some with kids on top of there shoulders. I love Martina and would have paid almost anything that I could afford to see her, however I will never attend the Toms River Fest again unless they change there policy on handicapped seating. If they were in wheelchairs or even on crutches (put yourself in someone elses shoes) I am sure they would feel the same way! I can almost guarantee that if Martina knew how the disabled were treated at this concert she would have been very dissapointed. On a positive note they did provide golf cart transportation to those who were on crutches. Martina you are an increadible woman with the voice of an angel. I will forever be a faithful fan!!!

Ellen, this is a concern for pretty much all venues and not the first time I've read about someone not being happy with the seating area for the handicapped. You really should check with each individual venue before you arrive (or even buy tickets) to see what their policy is. Especially if the venue has fixed seating as there's no way to make room for a wheelchair and you certainly can't sit in the aisle due to fire code restrictions. Some venues have great locations for handicapped seating and some have fairly poor locations. As you said, the artist has very little control over this. I don't know why you'd buy a more expensive ticket if you know that you won't be using that seat, again, checking with the individual venues before you even buy a ticket is probably the best thing to do.

-Darren

Hi Darren:

I always buy tickets the same way everyone else does. I have a disability but I am usually allowed to sit in the seat I purchased even if I am on crutches. This time they told me that because of the way the seats were set up I would have to sit in the area they set up. As I stated before I have always been treated with the utmost respect and care in the past with anyone running a venue to help me get to the seat I paid for or sit in an equal accomidation, until I attended the Toms River Fest. Is there a different way to buy tickets if you are disabled. I was actually one of the lucky disabled people at this concert as I could get up on my crutches too see. The people who were in wheelchairs were not so fortunate. I am not asking for special treatment...just equal treatment. If I pay for a ticket to sit in a seat for 75.00 and can get into that seat...don't tell me I have to move to a different section just because it is inconvienient for others in my isle. Also it really is not fair to allow people to rush the stage and stand in front of the people who paid to be in those seats which they paid for so they could see. I hear what you are saying, and I know every venue is different, but a little common courtesy goes such a long way. Thank you for responding to my message and as I said I will ALWAYS be a faithful Martina fan and continue to follow her as much as I can. Ellen

Ellen,

I am with you 100% I dont know you if you saw the martinafest pictures, but in the group pic I am the one in the wheelchair. I have had these problems more than once so I know exactly how you feel. And yes I am one of the ones that unfortunately cannot stand! I agree that it is probably best to contact the venue first, but that should not be nessasary. Venues should have handicapped seating in EVERY section so that if you pay for a 75$ ticket you get to sit in a 75$ seat. Most places I have been to they have been very accomadating with handicapped seating, and actually you might consider doing this, but a concert I went to last summer, the handicapped section was like 10th row on the main floor and OF COURSE everyone stood up so I barely could see! I was soooo upset so I called the venue and very calmly discussed my dissapointment with them and they were VERY responsive. The manager returned my call, thanked me for my feedback and said that he would make sure that didnt happen if i came there again. He looked in the computer and noticed my next concert there was going to be... MARTINA, and he would have been more than happy to accomadate me but I ALREADY had 2nd row! But at Martinas concert he came up to me and made sure everything was ok and apologized again for my previous experience. I agree that we shouldnt get SPECIAL treatment but I think equal treatment is fair and if you pay for an expensive seat you should get the expensive seat! lol Ok i HAD to put in my 2 cents because this topic really hits home for me, and I wanted you to know, that I know how you feel! I would really call that box office if I were you and ask to speak to a manager, and tell them about your experience and who knows they might make up for it somehow! worth a shot!:)

P.S. I agree if Martina knew fans of hers were getting that treatment, she would probably be dissapointed!

Thank you for your input and I just might call them as you suggested. I was actually one of the lucky disabled people at this concert as I am on crutches and not in a wheelchair. I was able to stand on my crutches to see unlike the young girl who sat in her wheelchair next to me with her mom. She was such a sweet young lady and I had some Martina sheet music with me so I gave it to her. I hope she enjoys it and gets better seats at her next concert too! We are at least all equal in Gods eyes!

God Bless you all!

Well I'm not handicapped, but I commented more than once at the shows I attended about how crappy the seats in the handicapped sections were. I really feel bad for you guys. I wholeheartedly believe that you should get equal treatment and that if you buy a ticket (regardless of whether it's more expensive or not) in the section close to the stage then that's exactly where you should sit!!! I know it's easier said than done, but I always thought it's unfair that handicapped people are made to sit in those crappy sections. Sitting there should be your choice if you for example don't feel comfortable moving around the "regular" sections or something, but nobody should make you sit there.

Anyway, that's what I think. I know that a couple of people from this board have had similar problems, so I'm sure they'll be able to offer some more insight into the issue.

This post has been edited by Ania on Aug 1 2006, 04:20 PM

I can imagine there is a lot of frustration for wheelchair seating, especially in cases where the artist performs in an older or more prestigious type of hall and wheelchair seating was not properly considered when the building was designed.

I guess the best advice I can offer is to contact the venue before tickets go on sale and see what they can do for you. That may help you judge whether or not you decide to buy a ticket.

It does help to voice your concerns on a board like this, but at the end of the day where an artist plays will probably end up being a business decision. A case in point is the recent Casino Rama shows where Martina could not do the timeless show because of how the Casino formats it's event programming.

First let me say that I am very sorry about what you went through and I empathize to your situation. I was one of the people standing up in front and I apologize if I got in your way at all (even though at 5’1’’ tall I didn’t even come up to the top of the stage). My only question is, how are venues supposed to accommodate everyone so that everyone is satisfied? Yes, I agree that you shouldn’t have paid $75.00 for a $40.00 seat, that fact is indisputable. You paid for a $75.00 ticket so that is where you should have been seated. But I guess everyone can come up with a reason that his or her seat wasn’t ideal. There’s the people that like to stand up and dance and sing (like me), but sometimes feel like we can’t because everyone else around them is sitting down and we would then be in someone’s way and receive dirty looks...even when Martina herself is telling people to stand up (of course there are exceptions like yourself that I would have no problem staying seated if I were sitting in front of). Also what about the shorties (like me) that always get stuck seated behind the 6’3’’ person, so that even sitting down they are tall…it has happened to me at every Martina concert I went to, including Toms River Fest, before I got up and went to the stage. Should there be a standing only section? A sitting only section? Short and tall people sections? How do the venues determine where it is fair for these sections to be? Martina also has such a wide age-range fan base that there are going to be such polar differences in how people would like to enjoy the concert.

Please, I am not trying to anger people with this, believe me! I’m not trying to be cold-hearted, because I’m not that kind of person. It was just a couple thoughts I had when reading your post. I really am very sorry for what happened to you and hope you were still able to enjoy the concert…how could you not? It’s Martina!

PS – If you were to call the “venue” your best bet is to contact Toms River Board of Education.

I think there should be a handicapped section for the people who have no choice but to stay seated near the stage front. Then if people who can and want to stand up behind them and dance there hearts out want to they can! Believe me if I could have been dancing, I would have been the first one doing it! When I am not on crutches I also am 5'1 and know the delemma of being vertically challenged. This was not my point. My main point is that I with a little assistance could have at the very least been allowed to sit in the seat that I paid for. Also I do think if you are in a wheelchair you should be allowed to sit in a section close to the stage as I stated before. I fortunately thanks to God do not need a wheelchair, but it is just common courtesy not to stand up in front of a person who is and block there view. So you might not get to dance at that concert...be thankful that you CAN get up and dance at all! I am sure that when Martina says to people to get up and dance she does not mean for people to get up in front of people in wheelchairs to dance and block there view. Maybe I am wrong but I am pretty sure she would agree with that statement. I love Martina McBride and any concert I attend is great, but it would definitely been better if I and the rest of the disabled people who attended were treated as equals instead of second class citizens! As I stated before at least we are ALL equal in Gods eyes!

This post has been edited by ellen on Aug 2 2006, 06:33 PM

I guess this part of my post didn't happen like I thought it would. Next time I'll keep my thoughts to myself. I'm sorry to have angered you....it wasn't my intention.

I am not angry. Just a little frustrated and trying to get a important point across to Toms River Fest administrators as well as anyone who needs a reminder of how lucky we are to be here on this earth and have body parts that allow us to function in a way that is easier for those who can walk and dance and just function normallyas opposed to those who are not able. You never truly understand until you try to live in someone elses shoes. I am not angry with you, and it is good for you to speak your mind. You did not intentionally block someone in a wheelchair, you were just enjoying life as you should. It is up to the venues to be more responsible and caring when it comes to people with disabilities. To be honest this was the first time I was ever treated in this mannor for being disabled but I am also more aware of that this has happened to others more often in the past. People will never learn if we do not speak up. Things will never change if we become complacent. Keep dancing as God has given you this gift!

Ellen,
Hi, it's hwfmk (aka Briana the girl who sat bext to you in the wheelchair.) As we disscussed you have been on your crutches for only two weeks.
I have been in a chair my whole life so compared to other venues I thought the seating was great.
However, I do disagree with the fact that you could not sit in the seat you paid for.

Now I have some questions.
Did you get to give your gifts to Martina?
Did you wind up getting to sit in your seat eventually?
Did you get your silver bag back?

Please respond. I am very curious for the answers to these questions and once again thank you for the sheet music!

No I did not get to give her the gift. Someone said they would give it to her but I have no idea if she did get it. No I never did get to sit in my seat that I paid for. I understand you have been in your chair for your whole life. And like you there was another girl in a chair for her whole life next to me at the second place I was sitting and she could not see at all. I might have only been on crutches for two weeks this time but as I discussed with you I suffer from a chronic disease and this has been going on for years not two weeks as you are leading people to believe with that comment. I too have at times been in a wheelchair and in quite a bit of pain that is ongoing. I am making this stand not just for me or you but for ALL people who are disabled. I am very happy for you that you thought your seat was great, but not everyone felt that way. And no to the third question as well, I was not able to get past the huge crowd that were watching the fireworks to get my bag sooo, I left without it. Luckily it was not that big a deal. I felt bad that someone had to throw it away for me though as I hate to litter. I thought you and your mom were very nice and I was happy to meet you! I hope you get to enjoy the sheet music I gave you and maybe some day you could even get Martina to sign it for you. One really funny thing happened that night...remember the story I told you about my daughter going to a concert and her teacher being there...well she was there at Toms River too and I saw her after I left you and your mom.LOL Well good luck with art and the upcoming football season and I hope to see you again some time. Ellen

Hi Ellen:
I am not sure what this venue has for a policy for wheelchair and handicapped seating, but if you have done your research and you know that you have a valid complaint, here's what I would consider doing:
I would write a letter to the guest relations department of the venue and put in writing the nature of your complaint. You may also want to point out other background factors like, how much were you charged for parking, how far you drove and other costs you incurred to make it to the show. I would also send a CC of the letter to the office of Martina's Management Company. The reason for the letter to the management company is twofold. The management firm may find it useful if some of the venues have poor guest relations with the concert goers are exposed. Also with the venue seeing a CC to a management company, they know something should be done.

A couple of years ago, I had an error in the ticket I bought for the show here in Hamilton as my ticket was not in the area of the map as it should have been. I got moved to a better location. They next day I called the venue box office and they resolved my complaint with not only a $50 credit, but they also allowed me to buy a pair of tickets to another show there without paying all the ticketmaster surcharges.

good idea Grant! and it DOES work, the squeeky wheel gets the grease!