It was a new-to-me-venue, The Paramount in Huntington, NY. I always get antsy going to a new place. People don't always react positively to you when they see you're in a wheelchair. I've gotten the "oh, great, more work for me" look too many times to count.
Not the case here. I was escorted to the elevator, then to the stage area downstairs. They have a separate area blocked off to the side just for the disabled. Front row seat, baby! At Madison Square Garden, for example, front row can mean getting caught in a bunch of people clamoring to get as close as possible without getting arrested. Ironically, I saw a couple on Saturday that I had met two years ago at a Keith Urban concert at MSG, where they protected me from the mosh-pit. Small world, right?
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| Keith Urban at MSG |
It was very orderly. I introduced myself to the security guard, as I usually do. He and his fellow guards even moved the ropes to the side to give us non-walkers a better view, as it meant I didn't have an amplifier in my face the whole time. Because of this kindness, I got some great pictures!
The main reason I hate trying a new place is usually the bathroom. A location might have an elevator or a service lift, but have the smallest "handicapped" stall you ever saw in your life. The Paramount has a separate bathroom just for handicapped women, which they keep locked. I actually had to find someone with a key! No having to cut lines, no hoping I could even fit in the stall, nothing. And the bathroom itself?You could eat off that floor! A female security guard was on hand to bring me back to my seat. Yes, I can be lazy sometimes (okay, all the time).
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| I couldn't be closer unless I was onstage |
I commend the security team for keeping things calm and organized. No one got drunk and caused a scene. I didn't feel like a burden on anyone, including the venue staff. I will definitely come again.
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