Here’s a guest blog from Divya, Director of Why Not People and friend of BBS………..
LAUNCH EVENT – Tickets Now on Sale!…
15/06/15
Hello all you fabulous people! Oddly enough, this blog comes to you from the exact same place as the first – on the sofa in my living room. I feel oddly compelled to commit this as my blog spot, exclusively from this nicely sunken in bum mould I have claimed as my perfect spot.
I have already introduced myself, my professional and medical history and shouted from the roof tops how proud I am to have started Why Not People with Jameela and Charlie. This post is going to be all about the incredible things we have lined up this month and some exciting announcements! I am going to apologise in advance for how long it is, there’s just so much to tell you and it’s all so important!
For you to be able to understand just how ground breaking our initiatives are, I feel it only right that I set the scene for you. Ways of the past: Disabled people have had a very different experience accessing live music than you might think. There is no online system to order their tickets, no choice of seats…. The disabled seat allocation is fixed and only available by calling a separate phone number (sometimes premium rate!). Sounds pretty painful and inefficient right?! And that doesn’t even touch on the experience that is had once you get there! This is no one’s fault and there will be no negative uproar… it’s just time for change.
The way for the future: Today Why Not People launches what we believe is the UK’s first online ticketing system (thanks to the guru’s behind the screens at Evolve UK) that allows EVERYONE to book their tickets in the same place, easily and efficiently. Just select the type of seat you need – Wheelchair, Carer, Sensory, Non-restricted or Non-member and the cherry on top I hear you ask?! You get to select the seats you want for you and your mates! (Not to toot our own horns… but TOOT TOOT!) Head to www.whynotpeople.com/tickets-explained for more details and to book your tickets for our launch event on the 1st July!
Now, it has been said that I could sell ice to an eskimo, but let me assure you, those skills are not needed on this occasion. Coming to our historic launch event is a no brainer (not that I am biased or anything)! For £35 a ticket – we are putting on a festival line up of incredible talent, all hosted byJameela Jamil and our ambassadors. The evening promises musical excellence from Aluna George, and Tinie Tempah; a giggling fit courtesy of genius comedian Romesh Ranganathan; and show stopping performances from the very incredibly hot men of Flawless and the F2 Freestylers (trust me, I am NOT exaggerating!) Something for everyone? What do you recon?!
I believe this is the perfect time for some announcements
• We are opening the tickets for our launch event to the general public! We kept to our promise and will always prioritise our disabled members and their guests. But inclusion is so important, and if we can do both… why wouldn’t we?! We want to all party together! Click the link above to find out more and get your tickets.
• The wonderful SAM SMITH has been given a clean bill of health, and is performing a very special headline (did I tell you It’s sold out?!) set at Thetford Forrest on 3rd July. This wonderful and genius musician wants to make sure that ALL his fans have access to his music… and so has given us 20 tickets for WNP members !! We will be holding a draw for them as we don’t think that first come first served is fair… everyone works at different speeds. Watch out on FB and Twitter for the announcements!
• Last week, we hosted a meeting with some of the biggest game changers in the disability world. No, I mean it… really! Disability Today, Dreams Come True, Disabled Go, Euans Guide, Changing Places, Create, Certitude, MCD Trailblazers, Ten Alps, Hyper Mobility Syndromes Association, Scope ,Access Card and Blue Badge Style. I am not just trying to name drop, but I just cannot explain how excited I am to let you be a fly on the wall for a minute! We are all banding together to form a coalition, and bring access to the front of everyone’s agenda. Together we are going to do BIG things…. BIG!
• Another great relationship that we should tell you about is with the wonderful team at Attitude Is Everything. We have been speaking with them for a while now in the back ground and have had lots of advice and guidance on best practice for the launch event and beyond. Thank you guys! We love you 🙂
• Another meeting with the UK’s most accessible taxi service app HAILO was also extremely fruitful! To show their support of Why Not People, they are offering members a £10 off on your fare on the 1st July just another way to add to the experience we are building for you all.
That’s definitely all I have got for you this time folks… Till next time! Divya xxx
Ditzy me! I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t just add one more thing! It’s pretty crucial… The entire Why Not People family are asking for your help this one last time. We need our launch event to be a storming success, delivering the ground breaking evening promised! But to do that, and to make sure we have enough money to put on the next gig… please please share this blog, or our website with all your friends, family, colleagues … anyone really who enjoys Live Music, Comedy and Dance. We’ve got 2 weeks to go… we are almost there! This is the final hurdle and together, we can make this dream a reality. Because…Why Not, People?