Let customers know you’re accessible before they book
People with hearing loss want to feel confident about what they will be able to access at the theatre before they book. This information can be hard to find, even for people who know what they’re looking for.
I tried to look up what was available on their website. But didn’t see anything. Now, I may have been looking in the wrong place. It certainly wasn’t intuitive, let’s put it this way.”
– Person with hearing loss, using hearing aids.
More detail on their website about exactly how that technology works and what you would get on the night. For example, I am aware that some theatres have captions, but I don’t know whether I would be able to see them well enough to read them. I don’t really feel like gambling the price of a theatre ticket only to find out that I am sitting too far away or the captions are too small for me to read.”
– Person with hearing loss and tinnitus, using hearing aids.
“[We] should be able to book appropriate assistive listening support (or captions/ BSL interpretation) when booking tickets. No extra steps required, one straightforward process.”
– Deaf person with cochlear implant
We worked really hard on our website to try and make that as comprehensive as possible. But we’re always trying to update it and make sure that our information is correct.”
– Groups and Access Sales Manager, Everyman Cheltenham
Read more about communicating and promoting your assistive listening system.
Let customers book any seat
Previous assistive listening systems may have had practical constraints, limiting how much of the auditorium could be covered. This creates friction in the booking process and frustration if those seats aren’t available.
If there is a sweet spot in the theatre where the kit works best, make sure we can buy tickets for those seats please!”
– Deaf person with hearing loss and tinnitus, using hearing aids
A well-specified assistive listening system can provide full equity of access, allowing customers to sit anywhere.
Being able to see captions or a sign language interpreter during an accessible performance is important, so it’s helpful to provide information about which seats give the best view. But, it’s important to allow customers to make the final decision of which seats they book.
They [theatre staff] shouldn’t be deciding themselves where deaf people should sit to access the BSL interpreter or captions or whatever it is they need. You know, it should be from the perspective of the deaf person.”
– Deaf person with tinnitus, using hearing aids