crip the gig

date of gig	01/01/23
access	2/5
view	3/5
staff	0/5
transport and parking	/
BSL	/
covid safety	0/5
toilets	1/5
overall	1/5

Arrival at the venue was fine, the staff escorted the group of us to the access area which was accessible down a lift. The area itself is TINY and we were all packed in with hardly any room to move. My friend is a wheelchair user and the height of the barrier in front of them was directly in eye level so they couldn’t see. I use crutches and cannot stand (this was told to the staff on my application for access and also on arrival) and when I got to the access area there was no seat provided and I had to drag a metal barrier myself in order to allow us access. Another person in the access area who was a PA went to tell staff that I needed a stool, and I waited 45 minutes until someone turned up with one. During the performance my friend who is a wheelchair user climbed onto the barrier and sat (safely) up there until the last couple of songs where a member of staff came over and forcefully tried to drag them down, almost dislodging their feeding tube. It took them, myself and their PA shouting at the staff member to make them let go, and then they threatened that they would kick them out. Its really not an accessible venue, the view from the access area is okay if you’re not a wheelchair user and they actually provide a seat, however it’s horrible and unsafe in almost ever other aspect. The photo included is the view from access

manchester club academy – 01/01/23