At Unapologetic Shows, we hired a few people at each show to take on the role of “Space Hosts”, “Active Listeners” and “Accessibility Ushers.” These are people who look out for audience members, and make sure the space is as accessible and comfortable for folks who attend as possible. Here are some notes from one of our shows that we asked Space Hosts to keep in mind:
*Notes originally compiled by Matthew Chin.
ROLE OF SPACE HOST:
ROLE OF ACCESSIBILITY USHER
accessibility needs can move around the space”
chemical sensitivities/injury and people of color
people with chemical sensitivities in the first two rows”
ROLE OF ACTIVE LISTENER
and even then your identity will not be used)
*Notes originally compiled by Matthew Chin.
ROLE OF SPACE HOST:
- Feel free to approach audience members and welcome them
- Keep in mind that people have different ways that they liked to be approached
- Some people will walk into the room and it looks like they don’t want to engage with and
- With other folks if they seem open to it you can say hello and welcome them to the show
- Is this your first time here?
- Let them know where the bathrooms are?
- Can I help you with anything?
- Before the show you might want to practice or come up with small talk questions etc.
- You can also ask if they would like to be introduced to other people you might now
- When you leave an interaction you can let them know that they can come talk to you if they have
ROLE OF ACCESSIBILITY USHER
- Please make sure to keep the aisle clear so that folks who have mobility issues, using mobility
- You might have to ask people to get out of the way or ask them to move their belongings
- You can say something like, “Hi welcome and thanks for coming to the show. Unfortunately,
accessibility needs can move around the space”
- You can also come up with your own phrase that you want to use
- The first two rows of the show are reserved for people who need to have access to the ASL
chemical sensitivities/injury and people of color
- Please do not assume people’s right to be in these rows
- At the same time you might have to ask someone to move from these two rows (or from the
- You can say something like “Hi, I’m so glad you’re here to enjoy the show. Unfortunately I
people with chemical sensitivities in the first two rows”
- Decide among the space hosts team who will keep an eye on the room in case it begins to get too crowded and begins to impede the ability of folks with accessibility needs to move throughout the room
- Please communicate with a show organizer if you see the room getting too crowded; they will pass on a message to the MC to make an announcement to the audience
ROLE OF ACTIVE LISTENER
- People may approach you because they want to talk about something happening at the show
- You can ask them if they want to go to quiet/less crowded space to talk
- Let the person know that what they tell you is confidential and you will not talk about this
and even then your identity will not be used)
- If you see that a lot of people want to talk to you, you can set a time limit
- E.g. “I can talk to you for X number of minutes. Does that work for you?”
- There is no right or wrong way to listen. You can ask them if they how they would like to be
- Some people just want you to listen to them
- Others want you to talk with them and find it weird if you’re not saying anything
- At the same time, sometimes silence is okay, you do not have to fill silence just because it
- It may be helpful to use non-verbal communication to show that you are listening e.g.