Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Getting Back Out There: Carnival of Crue

It has been several weeks since my last post in the Getting Back Out There series. It would be an understatement that a lot has changed. I am in a transition period with my aid care and on top of that, I have been given more responsibilities at FSA Central. That being said I figured now would be perfect to review a show I went to a couple of weeks ago. On July 16th I attended the Carnival of Crue show at the Reilly Arts Center what follows is a review of the show and the venue itself in terms of accessibility. 

From the beginning, I could tell this night was going to be a particularly enjoyable evening. I once again found myself at the Reilly Arts Center which is a quaint medium-sized venue. For those of you who have been keeping up with my blog, you may remember I reviewed the Lynard Skynard cover band "Nothin' Fancy." That event also took place at the Reilly Arts Center. As with Nothin' Fancy, the Carnival of Crue show was part of a local classic rock radio station's summer concert series. "WindFM Rocks The Reilly is a series that brings elite classic rock cover bands to the Ocala area. Carnival of Crue lived up to my expectations. Unlike the Lynard Skynard tribute show, this time I was with my girlfriend Samantha. It was not only nice to experience this cover band together but it was also enjoyable because it was her first concert. (Unless you count a concert she went to while in the 8th grade) She doesn't like to count that one so don't tell her I told you lol. 

Anyway back to the show at hand. Before getting into the heart of the review I must provide this disclaimer my judgments and/or opinions of the cover band come with no first-hand experience of the original group being covered. I was not lucky enough to see Motley Crue in their heyday so forgive me for what may amount to an insult to every Motley Crue fan out there, but it is my opinion that the cover band was amazing. From the beginning of the night, Carnival of Crue (CoC) started the show with amazing energy which carried through both hour-long sets that they did. Although I was not around in their heyday the show allowed me to experience the development of the band as they played all of their hits from each album. My favorite had to be "Smokin' In The Boys' Room. If I had to rate this cover band I would give them 8/10 however the music is not the only thing that is of concern if you are a person with a disability. 

Seeing as this blog is written by and read by people within the disability community it is crucial that any prospective visitor to the Reilly Arts Center be well informed about any obstacles seen or unforeseen they may encounter. When going out on the town for the evening there are several key factors that people with disabilities need to factor in. In my last review of the Reilly Arts Center, I mentioned there wasn't a "bad" seat in the house. All seats have clear and uninterrupted sight lines to the stage. This in and of itself solves an accessibility problem before one arises. Often, people with disabilities are relegated to the back or sides of most venues, this can create a literal rear view problem. If a venue is too crowded with the seats packed too closely together people with disabilities will end up staring at the backside of the people in front of them. Another often overlooked problem one may encounter is sound sensitivity. My girlfriend has a hearing disorder called Hyperacusis which makes sounds seem louder than they actually are. During the concert, she wore noise reduction earplugs and noise-canceling headphones together. Even though she was wearing both earplugs and headphones she was still able to hear clearly and enjoy the concert. Along with the accessibility of the performance space, there are other things to consider when planning a night out.

Other barriers that affect people with disabilities and their ability to live a "normal" social life include the accessibility of the venue's facilities or something as simple as having a clearly defined curb-cut and everything in between. Although I did not have major issues with external accessibility, I will say I encountered a slight issue with the restrooms. In order for me to use the restroom, I have to bring a caregiver with me. Usually, this is not a problem but it can turn into one if the stalls are not big enough for two people. Without going into graphic detail I will mention the stalls were not big enough for two people. This meant I needed to remain halfway out of the stall while taking care of my personal needs. Not only is this unfair but it can lead to some very significant problems ie the crime of indecent exposure. That being said here is a note to the Reilly Arts Center management next time you go to make renovations to your facilities please if at all possible make the restroom stalls wider.

Overall I would give The Reily Arts Center a B+ in accessibility. Although the Classic Rock series is over for the summer I can't wait till the next time I take in a show at The Reily. Ta ta for now. Your trusted source for all things disability-related.

Jason H.