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Sensory Friendly Show – Matt Hoffman
August 19, 2023 @ 11:00 am
Free
Enjoy music in a sensory friendly environment with Matt Hoffman presented by Swallow Hill Music and Developmental Pathways.
At a Sensory Friendly Concert, we keep volume lower and the lights on (but not bright or strobing.) We’ll have a calm room and fidget sensory items available.
Matt Hoffman is a Denver-based songwriter and producer who has written and published songs as a member of Strange Americans, as New Mexican (solo), and as Matt Hoffman.
The music on the New Mexican debut album Take It On Our Shoulders (2018) is dusty, sandy, a little tired, the characters simple, honest, and quietly desperate. Hoffman is making a new version of something old, somewhat territorial and disagreeable.
In various projects Hoffman has shared the stage with acts such as Chris Stapleton, Langhorne Slim, Old 97’s, Shakey Graves, Guided By Voices, Water Liars, Cory Branan, Jeffrey Foucault, Sean Rowe, and Marco Benevento.
What is a Sensory-Friendly Concert?
The Kennedy Center defines sensory friendly performances as being “designed to create a performing arts experience that is welcoming to all families with children with autism or with other disabilities that create sensory sensitivities.”
In practical terms that means we turn the lights up and the sound down so individuals and their families can move around, dance, and sing along in a fun, judgment-free environment.
Some Common Elements You Might Find at a Sensory Friendly Concert
Our friends at Developmental Pathways shared with us what she thinks are some common, and essential, elements of a sensory friendly concert.
- Dim lights instead of bright lights or the lights being turned completely off. This helps lessen light contrast sensitivities.
- Medium or lower volume levels. This helps help mediate abrupt or overall loud noises. This also includes finger snaps instead of clapping because they create less noise.
- Flexible outside open space like a corner or a side room is provided. This helps provide a break area so one could calm down if they get overwhelmed, or not worry if they’re too loud.
- Wider space between rows or aisles This helps everyone maneuver in and out more easily.