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Beyond the Stage Lights: Creating an Inclusive Music Experience
Canadian singer-songwriter Christina Martin is leading the charge in adopting inclusive, sensory-friendly performances, both at her in-person and online shows. In this blog post, she shares insights from her journey to making her music more accessible. Christina answers a series of questions about the challenges she faced, the steps she took toward inclusion, and the impact of her training and certification with Sensory Friendly Solutions.
What has made inclusion and becoming sensory-friendly important to you as a musician?
In Real Life:
The fact that some fans told me they could not get inside my event. As a result, this made it important to learn more about accessibility, inclusion, and sensory-friendly events.
Moreover, at some of my shows, I feel there are still barriers for individuals. For example, we still perform at some concerts that have staircases. In fact, some don’t have accessible toilets. My approach now is to talk to the venue about what their accessibility plan is for the future. Furthermore, I also consider accessible venues when we return to a location or area in the future to perform at public events.
Sometimes there are no low-cost ways to make events sensory-friendly performances. For instance, I was performing at a venue in Amherst, Nova Scotia called Trider’s Craft Beer. Trider’s had a lip at the entrance of the venue which made it difficult for someone using mobility devices to access an event. However, Trider’s was extremely open to working with StopGap Foundation to bring a portable accessible ramp in time for our event.
Moreover, if my intention is to connect with more people with my music, it makes sense to try to make shows more inviting, welcoming, comfortable, and safe for all. But, I’m still working on it. I try to encourage my fans to reach out before the shows if they have any questions. Finally, I think it’s important to let your audience know in advance what to expect. This applies both to online and in-person events. The details are important. That way they can make up their mind if it’s a comfortable atmosphere for them to attend.
Online:
I have some fans who support me online. But they live with intense anxiety and crowds don’t feel like a safe place for them. This made me see the importance of embracing the online community.
It made me start to do Facebook Live events and to create new online content for fans to enjoy from the comfort of their own homes. I started that even before Coronavirus.
Arts and culture are at the forefront of creating sensory-friendly virtual events; even The Andy Warhol Museum has them!
As you learn about inclusion, becoming sensory-friendly in your shows, what has surprised you the most?
I was surprised at the number of great resources available to musicians online.
This was a great first step to learning more about hosting more inclusive events. A resource I like is attitude is everything.
I continue to be pleasantly surprised at how open venues are to want to make positive changes to their events. Also, if you ask people for feedback on ways to improve events, they are very generous with suggestions. Most healthy humans and businesses want to grow and make public events more safe and successful.
What has been the easiest thing to do/action to become more inclusive as part of what you learned from Sensory Friendly Solutions’ training and certification?
- Asking fans for feedback is easy. They will tell you what helps!
- Asking venues about their inclusivity and sensory-friendly strategy is easy.
- Posting more information about the kind of event you are hosting is easy.
- Start time and end time.
- Any sensory-friendly performance information.
- Contact information if people have questions.
What do you think has to happen for other musicians to adopt sensory-friendly performances?
I think almost all musicians would want to adopt sensory-friendly performances. The biggest barriers to incorporating more sensory-friendly practices are education, perceived financial barriers or limited resources. However, there is a lot that can be done for free, by educating yourself and/or consulting with experts.
What is the biggest barrier you encounter in becoming inclusive at performances as a musician?
Sometimes we perform events that are not all-inclusive. I feel financial pressure to tour as much as possible and to tour in many different types of venues. For example, some venues have age restrictions. Some concert venues are still not accessible for individuals with mobility or sensory issues. Some venues struggle with the financial barrier to make their venues more inclusive. I would like to try doing more events that are all-inclusive in the future. That means I have a lot to learn because there are so many music-loving people who have very specific needs.
Unmute the Music: Creating Sensory-Friendly Experiences for All Fans
At the 2023 Sensory Integration Education Conference, the Sensory Friendly Solutions team presented a poster about Christina Martin, showcasing how live performances can be adapted to meet the needs of fans with sensory sensitivities. Music and live shows are a powerful part of life, but they can be overwhelming for many—especially for those who experience sensory overload. That’s why we’re committed to helping artists and venues create more inclusive, sensory-friendly experiences.
Christina has made significant adjustments to her shows, ensuring her music can be enjoyed by all fans, regardless of sensory sensitivities. You can support Christina’s ongoing efforts to make music more inclusive by becoming a patron on her Patreon. Through Patreon, you’ll gain access to exclusive content and insights directly from Christina herself as she continues to lead the way in sensory-friendly music.
To learn more about Christina’s journey and the experiences of others, we encourage you to watch our short documentary, Too Busy. Too Noisy. Too Bright. This 5-minute film dives into the realities of sensory overload and highlights champions like Christina who are committed to creating more inclusive environments. It’s a quick, insightful watch that sheds light on why sensory-friendly performances matter.
In Christina’s own words, “Making my performances more sensory-friendly wasn’t just about changing the environment—it was about changing the experience for my audience. I want everyone to feel comfortable, welcome, and able to enjoy the music.”
And if you’re ready to take your own performances to the next level, consider getting trained and certified—just like Christina did—through Sensory Friendly Solutions. Certification can help you adapt your performances, ensuring that everyone in your audience, no matter their sensory needs, feels included and valued.
From Stage Lights to Sensory Sanctuary: FAQs on Creating Sensory-Friendly Music and Performances
How can I make live performances more comfortable for people with sensory sensitivities?
Reducing sensory overload is key. Check out our blog, Bringing Down the Curtain on Sensory Overload for practical tips on adapting live performances to be more inclusive for everyone.
How can I make virtual shows accessible to all audiences, including those with sensory sensitivities?
Creating an accessible online performance involves thoughtful adjustments. Learn more in our blog, Open the Mic to All: Making Online Shows Accessible, for tips on making virtual performances more welcoming.
What are relaxed performances, and how do they make shows more inclusive?
Relaxed performances are designed to create a more welcoming environment by making adjustments to sound, lighting, and audience expectations. Discover how to implement them in our blog, Demystifying Relaxed Performances: A Welcoming World for All.
How can I find funding for sensory-friendly initiatives?
Explore creative solutions in our blog post, Making Inclusion a Reality: Funding Your Sensory-Friendly Transformation.
Where can I find real-world examples of sensory-friendly design in different experiences?
Dive deeper into our library of case studies and explore innovative approaches to sensory-friendly design in diverse environments. From conference to art galleries, and to restaurants and co-working spaces, we showcase real-world examples that empower everyone to participate. Let’s unlock the power of inclusion together!
Keep the Music Playing: Sensory-Friendly Solutions for Your Success
Start with Sensory-Friendly 101
Learn the essentials of creating sensory-friendly environments with our Sensory-Friendly 101 Course, designed to help you make any space more inclusive and comfortable.
Create Inclusive Performances with Our Sensory-Friendly Performances Course
Ensure your shows are accessible to everyone. Our Sensory-Friendly Performances Course provides the tools you need to adapt performances for those with sensory sensitivities.
Watch Our Founder’s Short Video
Hear from Christel Seeberger, founder of Sensory Friendly Solutions, on how our training membership can support your journey to creating more inclusive environments.
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Explore fresh insights and tips with our latest blog posts, offering expert advice on sensory-friendly practices for various settings.
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Christel Seeberger, BSc. O.T., is a regulated health care professional with over 30 years of experience in sensory disorders, disabilities and adapting environments. As someone with a hearing disability, Christel brings her personal lived experience with an invisible disability, sensory sensitivity and sensory overload to her work. In 2016, she founded Sensory Friendly Solutions to create a more sensory-friendly, accessible, and inclusive world through training, certification, product licensing, and product recognition. Christel’s expertise has been featured in guest blogs, as a radio and podcast guest, and in interviews with numerous media outlets, including CBC, CTV, Global News, AMI, Yahoo Life, the Globe and Mail, and local Fox TV/News.