ACCESSIBILITY INFO

  • Everyone has access needs, whether they identify as having a disability or not. TBF is committed to inclusion and equity. 

    At TBF, we understand that inaccessibility often works in a cycle that perpetuates the exclusion of disabled performers, audiences, and creatives. Many events are set up so that disabled people cannot participate. As a result, disabled people cannot attend these events, which creates a lack of visibility and presence of the disabled community. Consequently, disability is regarded as a rarity because of this absence and remains unconsidered in future event planning. TBF aims to curate events that break this cycle whenever possible. 

    Performers will be asked for any anticipated access needs in their tech forms ahead of shows. Crew members will be asked of their access needs in their call sheets. We will also include a space in ticket buying for audience members to identify any access needs they may have.

    We will do everything in our ability to ensure the access needs of performers, staff, and audience members are met. When we cannot meet a community member’s access needs, we aim to offer suitable accommodations. 

    Producers will also check in with performers on show days to see if their access needs are being met. Designated TBF representatives will also be available to help with anything that comes up, should a producer be unavailable.

    We are committed to hiring accessibility consultants to work with us to ensure every aspect of the festival is as accessible as possible for the greatest number of community members.

    We are also committed to the hiring of disabled performers and showcasing their work. There will be a space on performance applications for performers to identify as being a member of an equity-seeking group, including disabled or chronically ill. 

  • Our exclusive venue for TBF 2024 is the El Mocambo at 464 Spadina Ave.

    Accessibility can be lots of different things and we aim to be as accessible as possible to both festival goers and performers.

    El Mocambo is physically accessible for both performers and audience members.

    There is barrier-free access from the street level and an elevator which allows access to all levels of the venue. The stage is 24 x 14 feet, and has 4 steps up and a handrail. To make the stage accessible, we have access to a lift for those who need one. 

    There are buttons for automated entry on all interior and exterior doors, and elevator access throughout as needed.

    El Mocambo has four levels which will be in use throughout the festival     - the main floor (Starlight Lounge), second floor (the main space, Under The Neon Palms) and third floor (Mezzanine VIP area, which overlooks the main space), and the basement, where we’ll have our main green room.

    All shows will take place on the second floor in the mainspace. The Starlight Lounge will host the opening night VIP Cocktail Reception & photography retrospective on Thursday, October 3rd. It also will host our vendor marketplace on Friday, October 4th and Saturday, October 5th, as well as our pre-show, high tea brunch on Sunday, October 6th.

    The Starlight Lounge will be open throughout the festival shows with cozy seating options for those wishing to have a bit of a quieter experience or take a breather from the mainstage festivities. Ample screens within the Starlight Loungewill be simulcasting the show going on upstairs so you won’t miss a beat!

    From the entry to the second floor of the venue (performance main space), there is one flight of stairs or elevator access. All stairwells have handrails. The VIP area in the Mezzanine on the third floor has an additional set of stairs and elevator access.

    There are accessible washrooms on each level of the venue. For performers - there are additional washrooms in the basement (which is also our main green room area) can be reached by one flight of stairs down, or an elevator ride.

    All washrooms will be gender-neutral throughout the festival with amenities (stall, urinals, accessible stalls, mixed, or single stall) listed on signage.

    The festival will provide amix of standing room and priority accessible seating for those who need it    . If you require reserved seating or require any other accessibility-related accommodations, please email us. 

    El Mocambo has a brand new HVAC system which cycles air every 90 seconds. We also have additional HEPA filters in backstage areas. Our festival is a mask-friendly event and free N95 masks are available at the door. 

    Live streaming will be available for all festival shows this year.

    We are also pleased to offer ASL interpretation services at all our shows throughout the festival. 

  • Further Accessibility-related commitments include: 

    • Producing shows in venues that are physically accessible for both audience and performers

    • Hiring ASL interpreters and audio descriptors for shows and educational events 

    • Having ticketed video live streaming available for shows and educational events 

    • Event spaces having high-grade air filtration systems and HEPA filtration in backstage spaces 

    • Making anti-viral nose sprays available to all performers, staff, and crew 

    • Ensuring COVID-19 rapid testing of all performers, staff, and crew and making high quality masks available for all 

    • Posting access information on all shows social media and ticketing sites about the physical specifications of the show space including any barriers

    • Designating priority seating for those who need it

    • Ensuring all bathrooms are gender-neutral and/or single-stall washrooms are available

    • Declaring shows as scent-free zones 

    • Including a list of some possible accessibility provisions/asks on all TBF related documents (so performers don’t have to ask) 

    • Whenever possible, having food and drinks available in green rooms which meet numerous dietary restrictions (e.g. free of most common allergens, gluten-free options, veg options, Halal, Kosher/Pareve, etc.) 

    • Minimizing or eliminating the use of strobe lights/strobe effects in shows 

    • Having backstage staff trained in first aid and administering of Naloxone

    • Whenever possible, providing esignated outdoor areas for use of prescribed medical cannabis 

    • Including content and trigger warnings in show programs and before acts that include common trauma triggers

  • Please email us if you require reserved seating or other accessibility-related accommodations.