San Luis Obispo (“SLO” to the locals) is a small college town in Central California. In 1990 it earned a place in environmental history as the first city in the world to have a comprehensive public smoking ban. The 2015 SLO Jazz Festival did it again with the first “quiet area” at an outdoor music festival accessible to hearing disabled Americans with hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound).
The Festival had a limited number of tickets to a Premiere VIP Section for “those who don’t want their music too loud,” adjacent to the historic Mission Church. When I reached out to Executive Director Scott Andrews, he immediately made it available to the hearing disabled at no extra charge, and I got the Festival some positive PR. Their press release is a model of how to address disability access in an inclusive manner:
We were honored to have the 2015 SLO Jazz Festival mentioned in Hearing Health Magazine for providing a special ADA listening area. San Luis Obispo has often led with innovation. We obviously do not advocate banning music or being overzealous with ordinances, as one person’s noise is another’s nirvana; however, we do recognize that both people who’ve performed around loud music, or been in loud situations (drill saws for my father, inherited hearing loss for mother, or in my case the receipt of a slap to the head by being in the wrong place at the wrong time), or exposed any number of things can have hyperacusis – sensitivity to loud sounds, including music.
We believe it is a loving thing to consider that some noises are difficult or even unbearable for some jazz listeners – yet, these listeners STILL WANT TO HEAR GREAT MUSIC IN A LIVE SETTING. Thus, we provided an area at SLO Jazz Festival that people who might fall into that category could take delight in the ability to HEAR and COMFORTABLY ENJOY the music. We’re planning to expand ADA attention – if we missed anything or can improve, let us know.
It was a triple win: increased access for hearing disabled, positive PR, and increased revenue with an audiology clinic as a new sponsor. Unfortunately, the SLO Jazz Festival had struggled since COVID, and is hoping to return in 2024. Regardless, it has earned its special place in the history of ADA accommodations, and the eternal gratitude of hearing disabled Americans.
Copyright John Drinkwater 2024 All Rights Reserved
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