Hall of Fame: The Showbox SoDo

This is going to be a bit of a stub, as I unfortunately have not been to a show more recently than about three months ago, so I will update this again when my memory is fresher. But given my recent NIMBY railing against the CHBP, I think it behooves me to bring up an example of a music venue that does it right- the Showbox SoDo.*

If you are familiar with the aforementioned post, you may recall my primary beef with the CHBP is its lack of arrangements for a designated viewing area for patrons with disabilities. These areas aren't just** a matter of making sure we're able to see the stage, they're a necessary safety precaution. In crowds as dense as those at shows, people aren't as aware of their surroundings. Rather, an accepted form of "rocking out" often involves slamming and jostling side to side, or even full on moshing and crowd-surfing. Not only is it easy for someone with a disability to get seriously injured by their oblivious neighbors in a scenario such as this, but it is likewise nearly impossible to extricate them from said oblivious crowd in order to then seek medical treatment.

And should you need a bathroom, may your deity of choice, or lack thereof, help you.

The Showbox SoDo addresses this issue neatly by cordoning off a section of the Lounge for disabled patrons, which is elevated above the show floor (accessible by ramp) and thus has an unobstructed view of the stage. There's a floorplan here, the area sectioned off is usually the tables overlooking the ramp. The view is a bit angled, but due to the height, a lot clearer than you might expect looking at the diagram. (Occasionally, some douchebags will decide to use said ramp as a vantage point to camp out on in order to take advantage of said view, thus obstructing access to, and blocking the view from, the disabled seating section. However, show security staff have noticed this trend and have started posting someone at the top of the ramp to discourage this.)

 The disabled seating section was also able to take advantage of the Lounge food and drink service. Before the show, and between sets, wait staff even came over and took food and drink orders, in case no one was able to navigate the crowd in the Lounge to get up to the bar. Outstanding!

The Lounge also has easy access to the bathroom facilities, which are located on the other side of the ramp entrance from the disabled seating section, and are equipped with accessible stalls. And as the Lounge does not get quite as crowded as the main floor during shows, I was even able to use said facilities. Afterward, I thought I might have hallucinated this experience, as a result of the excellent cocktails my brother kept buying me. But no, that actually happened.

I cannot over-state how amazing that is. I have never been to a show elsewhere where I was able to negotiate the crowd mid-show to make use of the bathroom- I always had to go before, and then wait until the crowd thinned out after.***

The set-up in this area is so sweet, that when friends join me in the disabled seating section, this is seen as a privilege. If the section is getting crowded and you brought a bunch of friends, you may have to split the party; but for the most part, the SoDo staff try to be flexible about letting friends stay together. None of this "one companion only" stuff that makes you feel like somebody has to draw the short straw and babysit to keep you from feeling bad, while everybody else runs off to party it up on the dance floor. No, man, here you get the VIP section. The short straw is reserved for those banished to the main floor to make room.

Do note- in order to avoid complications, you need to specifically buy an ADA ticket. Note that this has changed; it used to be that all tickets were general admission. Now that they have a specific seating section, though, they have to factor in its limited capacity. That said, it has yet to be my experience that it even half filled up- though that very well may change once word gets out that the Showbox SoDo is not only a safe venue, but a swank one.

Also note: if you have medication that you need to bring with you, even though this is a bulky PITA, you need to bring it in its original prescription bottles, or they won't let it in. Water bottles are also verboten. You can get a cup of tap water, but it will take you backed-up bar lag time to get it. I recommend arriving early and getting lots of water right away, so you won't have to mess with it later. I... honestly have no idea why eye drops are forbidden. Maybe some kind of drug thing? If you get a doctor's note and call ahead, they probably won't hassle you over that.



* Incidentally, The Showbox at the Market is pretty good too, but their older building imposes some architectural challenges that warrant a more detailed review, at a time when my memory is fresher. Sadly, while still accessible enough, a Hall of Fame-er it is not.


** As though that's a trivial issue, or asking for some kind of special privilege, which it is not. We paid to be here too, and we are not equally equipped to fight for a position in the crowd. And when you are in a wheelchair, unless you are right up front, pretty much all you get is a view of everyone's stupid skinny jeans falling off their ass and a bunch of elbows to the head.


***That said, between sets there does tend to be a pretty epic, and non-navigable in a wheelchair, crowd lined up for the women's restroom. Because of this, if you have to go, I recommend going during the set. Guys, on the other hand, should have less difficulties.