While the country scrambles to buy tickets to Taylor Swift's Australia tour, Zoe Simmons says delays and dead ends are the status quo for disabled concert-goers.
Image: AAP
Want to buy an accessible concert ticket online like everyone else does? Unlike non-disabled people, those of us with access needs have to call an accessibility booking line, or fill out an online form.
In theory, it sounds great: personalised service to make sure you get the tickets you need in the spots that work best for your body.
In practice, it just makes everything harder.
My last concert ticket purchase meant waiting on hold for three hours before someone helped me. Other times, no one’s answered me at all, forcing me to call multiple times. Any time you want to go to a concert it’s the same story, because most ticket providers – at least in Australia – have the same process.
I don’t know about you, but I have better things to do. And it’s especially frustrating because it never seems to be an issue for non-disabled people.
Unless you’re trying to score Taylor Swift tickets.
Image: AAP
The internet is going wild right now with people trying to get tickets for her latest tour. Imagine how frustrating it is for disabled people. For this particular concert, our only option for accessible tickets is the online form. We’ll be waiting weeks to hear back – and by then, who knows if there will even be tickets left?
It’s an issue recently raised by disabled blogger Amy Evans, who was in the news this week after struggling to get accessible tickets for Taylor Swift’s tour next year. Amy is a wheelchair user who also uses a ventilator, and she needs a support worker to go to concerts.
She contacted Ticketek before tickets went on sale, only to be directed to the dreaded online form. While trying to see if she could book VIP tickets, she was also told her support worker may not be able to come as “companion cards tend to not be valid in VIP sections”.
I’m sorry, WHAT?
How in the heck is blatant discrimination against disabled people who need support to attend concerts ok?
Thankfully for Amy, she and her sister have now secured VIP wheelchair accessible tickets after their story went viral. But we shouldn’t have to go viral to get fair access. It shouldn’t be this difficult, especially when disabled people have to battle for access any time we leave our homes.
I know the devil’s advocate might say we need these processes to stop people from taking advantage of the system. But why does that risk trump our right to access?
Image: Zoe Simmons. Photo by Emma Veness
I went to a drag show recently and was able to book wheelchair tickets online like everybody else – and it was glorious. So simple, so easy.
Which makes dealing with places like Ticketek all the more frustrating. Especially if you also need accessible parking, which also usually requires being on hold for hours, and even costs extra thanks to a service fee.
These barriers mean a lot of people don’t even try to get accessible tickets anymore, like neurodivergent, queer and disabled advocate Sonny Jane.
“I tried getting accessible tickets for a concert last year, because it was standing and not seated, and never even heard back from Ticketek,” they said. “I didn’t even bother trying to get accessible [Taylor Swift] tickets, because I know you don’t ever hear from them.”
My Twitter is filled with oodles of stories from other disabled people who are also fed up with these discriminatory practices.
I’ve filled out my form to get Taylor Swift tickets, but I probably won’t get them.
Do better, Ticketek.
Hireup approached Ticketek for comment and they provided the following background information:
Ticketek does not determine the allocation or location of tickets and VIP Package inclusions. These are set from the Promoter. Customers with accessible needs can buy Accessible tickets to the Taylor Swift The Eras Tour by completing the online accessible booking form. Ticketek prioritises fair access to tickets for all fans, which is why this form is made available on the Ticketek site when tickets go on sale. We will work through these requests in the chronological order in which they are received. A dedicated support line has been made available to assist fans through the process.
Zoe Simmons
Zoe Simmons is an award-winning disabled journalist, copywriter, speaker, author and advocate. She writes to make the world a better place. You can find out more about Zoe on her website, or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn or Tik Tok.