Hi everyone! We're currently in a bit of a dilemma as to whether to include sensory warnings (some loud sounds) for our percussion concerts. We'd like to be more transparent about what our audiences can expect in our concerts, but a few of my colleagues are worried that this may 'scare' away potential audience members – the argument here is that there are more quiet moments than loud ones. For context, these concerts are in a fairly small, intimate space. We will be providing earplugs and plan on communicating this.
I'd love to hear about everyone's thoughts on this, as well as your practice around trigger warnings and how you'd word/present the information so that it's representative of the experience? Thank you!
Sharing some of the info that I sent to Anne last week in case it's of interest.
I catch up with a wide group of Autistic friends, we collborate on a few projects though mostly it's social. We're international - North and South America, Europe, UK, Australia and Aoteroea (NZ) and all professional adults from 20-80+ yo just for demographics. I think it's important because adults exist but rarely polled.
They had this to say
I used to play in orchestras. I'd say something like "occasionally, the music includes some sudden drums, cymbals, and rapid changes in volume, pitch, and tempo. For audience members who might find these features challenging, we offer earplugs to allow a more comfortable experience of music." I used to perform in a drumming group* that was very loud for the most part. The actual volume didn't bother me because I expected it and it was a nice round sound. The metal accent instruments were harder though - sharp. The only time it did bother me was when I was already stressed and tired. Although they say they are mostly quiet, that may be subjective and it does not mean that the occasional loud bits are therefore bearable for everyone. If they could provide videos beforehand of a typical performance that may be a way to encourage those who they are worried will be scared away. Also anyone who does feel scared away probably has good reason to be from knowing their own responses. I think "trigger warning" is the wrong term. Is "sensory warning" more appropriate? Maybe "sensory inclusiveness statement"? I feel "warning" is too strong and might set people up for more anxiety around attending than they might otherwise have. For me it's not so much volume but feeling and flow. Discordant is hard. Unpredictable saxophone/trumpet jazz is horrible
I used to play in orchestras. I'd say something like "occasionally, the music includes some sudden drums, cymbals, and rapid changes in volume, pitch, and tempo. For audience members who might find these features challenging, we offer earplugs to allow a more comfortable experience of music."
I used to perform in a drumming group* that was very loud for the most part. The actual volume didn't bother me because I expected it and it was a nice round sound. The metal accent instruments were harder though - sharp. The only time it did bother me was when I was already stressed and tired.
Although they say they are mostly quiet, that may be subjective and it does not mean that the occasional loud bits are therefore bearable for everyone.
If they could provide videos beforehand of a typical performance that may be a way to encourage those who they are worried will be scared away. Also anyone who does feel scared away probably has good reason to be from knowing their own responses.
I think "trigger warning" is the wrong term. Is "sensory warning" more appropriate?
Maybe "sensory inclusiveness statement"? I feel "warning" is too strong and might set people up for more anxiety around attending than they might otherwise have.
For me it's not so much volume but feeling and flow. Discordant is hard. Unpredictable saxophone/trumpet jazz is horrible
* the drumming group was an 8 piece professional drum group and often use drums like the many styles of Japanese Taiko drums among others. Other percussion instruments were also featured
For me personally an example from my last workplace with dance soundtracks at Sydney Dance have been discordant brass sections that I've had serious trouble negotiating, or some more industrial soundtracks over time, which took a lot of mental load. We dealt with that intentionally and equitably. I tend to be good with classical and contemporary to varying degrees. That reaction is tricky to describe but can be debilitating. Experience differs and I'm always happy to go through the inner experience. Coupled with other sensory and mental impinging factors my levels of ability to mitigate it get less. If you think about each of the stressors having a volumn like a glass of water. Their difficulty would have a certin "volumn". My bucket to deal with that is of a certain size and will at some point over flow leading to a Executive Functioning dilema that could take a variety of forms and will take some time to clear.
All the best,
Heath