FEATURE:
Volume Control
PHOTO CREDIT: Laura Stanley
Why Clubs and Gigs for Neurodivergent People Is Particularly Important
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TAILORING gigs to people…
IN THIS PHOTO: Sensory stimulation at a Disco Neurotico event/PHOTO CREDIT: Wendy Gannon/wo0 Photography
with particular needs it quite difficult. I don’t think a lot of venues have quite cracked it when it comes to providing safe and easy access for disabled people. There are also the needs of women to take into consideration. If they feel threatened at a gig and need a calm space of safety. There are a lot of considerations today. It is a good thing that this is being discussed. Live music should be accessible to all. In terms of adapting spaces so that this is the case, how easy is it? Maybe smaller venues might have a more difficulty in adapting and modifying so that they can support a variety of different people. It is quite hard for neurodivergent people to feel comfortable at gigs. For me, it is the noise of gigs and not being able to be heard. I feel quite nervous and awkward around other people, so it is not that easy and experience going to gigs. I go to the odd gig but, when I do go for one, it tends to be smaller venues to see an artist I know well. I tend not to take risks when it comes to spaces and new acts. It is a pity that it is quite stressful going to gigs as I would like to do it more. It might be impossible for all gigs and venues to cater to neurodivergent people – even though they are a large part of the population. I think there are a lot more neurodivergent people out there than we think. With conditions such as autism or ADHD. The gig-going experience can be daunting for many. I know there are special club nights and gigs that are designed for those who live with neurodivergence. In fact, a recent article from The Guardian investigated the rise of clubs and gigs for neurodivergent people:
“Neurodiverse is the umbrella term for a range of diagnoses and experiences, including but not limited to autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia, and which often occur together – it’s estimated that one in seven people in the UK are neurodivergent. Out of Body Pop is part of a growing clutch of music events geared towards these audiences, many of whom find regular nights out difficult. My own experience as a music journalist with ADHD has been marked by festival meltdowns: sudden bursts of anger or tears after days of sensory and social overwhelm.
“For weeks before I go to a show, I will be stressed out about it and going over every single potential outcome,” says Marianne Eloise, a writer whose book Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking explores the convergence of autism, fandom and fixation. “Everything about it is overwhelming, no matter how many times I do it: travelling there, getting inside, standing around annoying people, finding a space, leaving. I hate every second of a show that isn’t the precise 90 minutes I am watching the band, but that time is so precious and feels so good that all the other bullshit is worth it.”
IN THIS PHOTO: Will Soer, the founder of Out of Body Pop, a ‘neuro-inclusive’ event in London/PHOTO CREDIT: Rita Simao
The aim of neuro-inclusive gigs is to reduce these obstacles, and let autistic fans and those with other neurodivergences access music spaces without such a physical and mental toll.
From dedicated events such as Out of Body Pop and Disco Neurotico to relaxed performances from the London Symphony Orchestra, and queer-centric events like Dalston Superstore’s Spectrum club night, the neuro-inclusive live music scene is as diverse as the people who make it. As charities like Stay Up Late campaign to increase nightlife access for autistic people and adults with learning disabilities, neurodivergent promoters are taking matters into their own hands, informed by lived experience and community research.
“In terms of my own neurodivergence, I feel like I experience things at quite a low level of intensity,” says Out of Body Pop creator Will Soer. “So part of Out of Body Pop is trying to create an environment where you can sink into something in various different ways” – hence the painting as well as dancing.
Accessibility for neurodivergent people often revolves around making spaces feel less overwhelming, and brands are taking notice. Take earplug manufacturers Loop: while their products were initially positioned as an aesthetically pleasing way to prevent hearing loss among concertgoers, recently the brand have made the neurodiversity angle explicit, with their Loop Engage 2 earplugs marketed as “earplugs for ADHD”.
However, many neurodivergent people actively seek out highly sensory experiences, finding comfort or joy through texture, sound or movement. When it comes to music we might be fans of black metal, EDM or the looping rhythm of shoegaze; anything you can lose yourself in. Live, the music and the crowd can block out other mental input and positively overwhelm the senses, leaving little space for the looping, intrusive thoughts neurodivergent minds can be so prone to. “I do also enjoy a pop show and have seen a ton of pop girlies live, but there is nothing like a rock show,” says Eloise. “Something about the chaos, the wall of sound, the bodies crashing into each other – it doesn’t really leave room for getting irritated or overwhelmed. Most of the time.”
But even sensory-seekers may still feel overwhelmed at gigs, fuelled by other difficulties with things such as crowds, expectations and emotional regulation, so the challenge for promoters is how to best serve these often conflicting needs. Disco Neurotico, a reimagined rave series that puts on events for neurodivergent and anxious clubbers across England, are now looking to implement “chaos rooms”: spaces filled with soft-play structures, drum’n’bass and strobe lighting, which will provide a safe environment for sensory-seeking punters”.
It is a good thing that a range of projects are out there for people with various neurodivergent needs. Every punter has different needs. It is complex coming up with a single solution. I worry that regular gigs will alienate more and more people. If we specifically want to go and see a particular artist, it may be far too stressful. I guess you cannot change things radically so that every person feels safe and relaxed. For me, it is bigger and packed crowds that is quite intimidating. A lot of noise. The stress of having to talk over loud noise and a lot of chatter. You can’t really do much about this. It is a shame that so many people with neurodivergence avoid most gigs because they feel like they will suffer so much. I am also routine-based and find it quite intense if I do not get home at a particular time. It is not as severe for me as it is for many, though I do find gigs quite intense and full of obstacles. Struggling to really relax and enjoy things. It is interesting that many neurodivergent people prefer the stimulation of excess. The bodies crashing into one another. The distraction and catharsis that they can find there. Many are the opposite. They go for something calmer and more private. For me and so many others, there is a tolerance level. A certain size of crowd. The largest gig I went to was to see Queens of the Stone Age at the O2 years back. It was quite daunting going in and queuing up but okay when the show started as I was so high up and the volume was not that bad. I was sat down too so it was more like going to the cinema in a sense. Seeing people near the band compacted and jumping around was quite nervy and unsettling. I have been to smaller gigs where you are close to people and it is quite awkward. Not sure how to move, react or emote. I find the volume there is more noticeable and intense.
PHOTO CREDIT: Photo By: Kaboompics.com/Pexels
I do like the fact there are these initiatives and ideas to make live music more appealing and less stressful for people who are neurodivergence. It is going to be very difficult catering to everyone. Neurodivergence is a broad spectrum. Someone who is ADHD has different symptoms and difficulties compared to someone who is autistic or has other needs. Tailoring gigs that much is not going to be feasible. However, as much as I like the consideration going into these bespoke and tailored spaces/ideas, I do wonder about regular gigs. Is it possible to make it more appealing for the neurodivergent?! I am seeing Nadine Shah play at the 02 Kentish Forum next month and I am excited, as she is one of my favourite artists. However, from the nerves of finding the place and getting there on time to having enough space to see the gig and not be crowded, through to the noise and whether I will truly enjoy the performance, there are these things nagging and niggling. Maybe it isn’t really possible to adapt the gig-going experience so that it is truly all-inclusive. As I mentioned earlier, women who perhaps feel intimidated in a venue and fearful of sexual harassment or assault, how do you truly protect and make them feel safe?! The more discussion we have, the more we can make gigs fun and safe for everyone. Also, there is this issue with venues closing at an alarming rate. Quite a difficult time for live music. It would be ideal, in years to come, if we can preserve as many venues as possible and make the gig-going experience happy and comfortable…
FOR everyone.