Outdoor performance captions

Captioning of outdoor (AND indoor!) live music concerts and festivals is relatively new in Scotland. 

At outdoor events, captioning or large TV screen is positioned to the front of acessibility platform, in direct line of the stage.  This enables anyone situated on the platform to view the captions from wherever they are sitting.

A trained live captioner cues pre-prepared song lyrics in time with the performance. The captioner also types the performer's interactions with the audience in real-time,  and indicates when the audience sings along.

Musical descriptions can be added to give deaf, hard-of-hearing and/or neurodivergent audiences members the full flavour of the performance.  

I have experience of providing live captions at large-scale, open air events 

and also more intimate, indoor events.

These include:  

- Harry Styles Love on Tour at BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh (May 2023)

- TRNSMT 2025, Glasgow Green

- Glasgow and Edinburgh Summer Sessions, 2025

- Macy Gray, Edinburgh's Queen Hall, May 2026

- TRNSMT 2026, Glasgow Green

- Glasgow and Edinburgh Summer Sessions, 2026

- Heather on the Hill, Edinburgh, 2026

How do I provide a captioned music performance?

Outdoor events 

A waterproof large television screen will be needed.

Usually the captioner sits in a tent located on the accessibility platform,

with clear sightlines to the stage.

Indoor events

For indoor events, the set up is usually a bit more straightforward.

'Open' captioning, where everyone can see the captions, is usually considered

the best option.  

At the Macy Gray performance at Queens Hall, space was at a premium 

and there was no room for a large TV screen or captioning unit.

As the captions were only requested by one person, I set up an unobtrusive 

tablet and stand directly in front of the client was sitting in the audience.  

They were then able to follow the captions in real-time.

The captioner will need:

- an up-to-date set list of the day's performers as early as possible.

- a headset with stage sound to pick up more difficult-to-hear lyrics or speech.

- access to power and a table.

Other display options:

As well as displaying the text on a tablet for 1:1 captioning, captions can be sent to people's mobile phones via QR code so they can read the captions on their own devices.