Press Release - December 3Rd 2014

PRESS RELEASE - DECEMBER 3RD 2014

Music charityAttitude is Everything celebrates the 100th sign-up to its Charter of Best Practice - The Boileroom in Guildford joins venues & festivals making live music more accessible to millions of Deaf & disabled fans

Attitude is Everything highlights how other small venues can benefit their business by taking 3 simple and cost-effective steps

Brit Award winner Tom Odell joins those backing the measures

Attitude is Everything, the charity that campaigns to improve accessibility at live music events for Deaf and disabled fans is today celebrating the 100th sign-up to its Charter of Best Practice, with the TheBoileroom in Guildford (capacity 300) joining the likes of Glastonbury, Reading Festival, The O2, The Roundhouse and Brixton Academy in being recognised for its commitment to attracting and welcoming disabled audiences.

Campaigners at the charity are now calling on other small venues to followThe Boileroom’s example and enact 3 simple cost-effective steps that could double the number of tickets they sell to disabled fans.

The Charter of Best Practice is designed to encourage event producers to go beyond the legal obligations set out in the Equality Act and implement best practice that provides a fair and equal service to their Deaf and disabled customers.In 2013, more than 70,000 disabled people attended venues and festivals signed up to the Charter - generating £3.5m worth of ticket and concessionary sales.

The Boileroom, which was recently threatened with closure, has hosted performances by acts including Ed Sheeran, Bastille, The Subways, Tom Odell and First Aid Kit and is at the heart of Guildford’s music community. Since partnering with Attitude is Everything, the venue has installed a range of access-friendly measures, including:

Publishing clear and detailed access information on their website

Ensuring staff are trained and aware of disabled customers’ needs

Providing a stage side viewing area for customers that need to sit for a gig,ensuring a clear sightline of the stage

Commenting at a special signing of the award yesterday, Attitude is Everything founder Suzanne Bull MBE said:

“For Attitude is Everything to be awarding the 100th sign-up to the Charter is a real milestone, and I’m particularly excited that we’ve recognised a small venue like The Boileroom. The changes implemented by Dominique and her team may appear minor to some, but for Deaf and disabled fans they will have a major impact. Small venues are the lifeblood of the UK’s music community, and it is hugely important that disabled audiences are not excluded from their local scenes. Music should be without barriers.”

Dominique Frazer, founder of The Boileroom said:

“We are delighted to be the recipient of Attitude is Everything’s Charter of Best Practice. I definitely feel that more can be done to ensure Deaf and disabled fans are made more welcome in their local venues. From a personal perspective, improving The Boileroom's access policy is simply good customer service. It’s important that we are anaccessible venue and by working with charities such as Attitude is Everything we will continue toimprove and evolve our practises and policies to maintain high standards.”

Brit Award winnerTom Odell said:

“Having played The Boileroom early in my career, I know how important small venues are to the success of music in this country. I also believe that music is for everyone, and if other venues could replicate what The Boileroom have achieved that it would make a substantial difference to millions of disabled fans across the UK.”

Helen Sprott, Director, Music,Arts Council England, added:

“Attitude is Everything’s work on the Charter of Best Practice has been instrumental in ensuring more Deaf and disabled people across England can access, enjoy and participate in live music. We are pleased to have been able to support the Charter from the beginning and, as it celebrates its 100th member, we would encourage others to get involved and help to build on the success achieved to date.”

As a result of today’s award, Attitude is Everything is recommending three simple and cost effective steps that small venues across the UK can take to maximise the number of Deaf and disabled fans attending their events:

Ensure access information is clearly stated on their website
To offer free tickets to Personal Assistants
To create a simple viewing area

By taking these measures, Attitude is Everything estimate that a small venue can more than double its disabled audience annually.

According to data from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, more than 3.6m Deaf and disabled fans attend at least one live music event each year in the UK.*

The Department for Work & Pensions recently highlighted that High Street businesses could be boosted by more than £212bn by doing more to attract the so-called ‘purple pound’ represented by the UK’s 12m disabled people and their families.**

In June 2014, Attitude is Everything launched the #MusicWithoutBarriers campaign, winning the backing of artists including Stevie Wonder, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Cure, Franz Ferdinand, Alt-J, Anna Calvi, Belle & Sebastian, Chvrches, Villagers and Enter Shikari.***

For more information, please contact: Adam Webb: 07947 062360 /

ENDS

About Attitude is Everything:

Attitude is Everything improves Deaf and disabled people’s access to live music by working in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry to implement a Charter of Best Practice across the UK. The charity is one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations.

Of their many successes to date, highlights include working with Festival Republic and Ground Control on all of their UK festivals, supporting Academy Music Group and National Arena Association venues to sign up to the Charter, and working with London Borough of Tower Hamlets to use the Charter of Best Practice as an event standard for all festivals taking place in Victoria Park.

Attitude is Everything’s ‘Access Toolkit: Making Outdoor Arts Events Accessible to All’ was awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark, and they worked in partnership with Greater London Authority and London Legacy Development Corporation to make the Cultural-Olympiad and the legacy of the Games as accessible as possible.

Notes:

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