{"id":22087,"date":"2013-03-05T07:32:10","date_gmt":"2013-03-05T12:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=22087"},"modified":"2013-03-07T19:01:00","modified_gmt":"2013-03-08T00:01:00","slug":"for-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-the-joy-of-live-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/03\/05\/for-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-the-joy-of-live-music\/","title":{"rendered":"For Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Joy of Live Music"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Joy of Live Music<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barbie Parker signing in 2011 at a performance by Bright Eyes at Lollapalooza in Chicago.<\/p>\n

By KATHRYN JEPSEN<\/p>\n

Published: March 2, 2013<\/p>\n

On the last night of the 2012 Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, the sun set over a crowd of thousands who had stood for hours waiting to see Jack White, the headliner. A figure strode onto the stage, setting off a cascade of cheers.<\/p>\n

But it was not Jack White, the singer-guitarist, it was Barbie Parker, the festival\u2019s lead sign language interpreter.<\/p>\n

Ms. Parker, a Texas native, and members of her Austin-based company, LotuSIGN, had interpreted more than 20 bands\u2019 sets for deaf and hard of hearing festival attendees that weekend. As evidenced by the positive reception she received, her interpretations had won over a good part of the hearing audience as well.<\/p>\n

At live music shows, Ms. Parker, 45, does not just sign lyrics \u2014 she communicates the entire musical experience. She mouths the words. She plays air guitar and air drums. She jams along with the bands.<\/p>\n

\u201cMusic is such a large part of who I am,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to be able to open up that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms. Parker was bored in her accounting job and had two young children when she enrolled in her first formal American Sign Language class at San Antonio College about 20 years ago. She became fascinated with interpretation after reading a book about it at her local library and, in a chance encounter just hours after reading it, met the sister of a friend who happened to be an American Sign Language interpreter.<\/p>\n

Ms. Parker is now an integral part of Austin\u2019s deaf community. Her two adult sons are proficient in A.S.L., and her company has provided sign language interpretation at music festivals across the country for several years. Next week, she and other LotuSIGN interpreters will take the stage with artists at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin for the sixth year in a row.<\/p>\n

The number of deaf and hard of hearing music fans taking advantage of interpretation at free shows held at Auditorium Shores as part of SXSW has risen noticeably in the past few years, Frank Schaefer, the officer manager for the festival, said in an e-mail. The increase can be attributed, at least in part, to a growing number of interpreters who specialize in that kind of work.<\/p>\n

A good interpreter is adept at signing, but Ms. Parker also wants her team to impart the emotions and feelings music conveys. Lauren Kinast, 44, who lost her hearing gradually, attended a Rolling Stones concert signed by LotuSIGN interpreters. Ms. Kinast had listened to the Stones growing up, but when she saw Ms. Parker and a colleague interpret their music, she came away with a greater appreciation of the band.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything made it different, better,\u201d Ms. Kinast typed in an interview. \u201cHaving the songs interpreted in my language, understanding the emotions behind it, the meaning behind it, and being a part of the concert experience just took my love for them several notches up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms. Parker first gained recognition in the mid-2000s for interpreting music at the funeral of the parent of a well-known member of the deaf community in Austin. At one point during the service, she needed to sign an emotional musical performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe singer got inspired, so the interpreting had to get inspired,\u201d Ms. Parker said. The signing seemed to further stir the singer, which further moved Ms. Parker. \u201cThere was a kind of reverb,\u201d she said. \u201cThe deaf audience was just \u2014 I just saw these jaws drop open like, \u2018Oh, that\u2019s what it\u2019s like.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

After that, she began receiving requests to interpret at weddings, children\u2019s recitals and, of course, live shows. In 2007, she started her own company, Alive Performance Interpreting, which in 2009 became LotuSIGN.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re five-star interpreters,\u201d said Stacy Landry, the program manager for the local government\u2019s deaf and hard of hearing services in Travis County. (Ms. Parker has obvious clout in the field \u2014 her traditional interpreting services were used in January when she intepreted President Obama\u2019s Inaugural Address in Washington.)<\/p>\n

LotuSIGN interpreters specialize in analyzing lyrics for the artist\u2019s intent in a song. But sign language interpretation, no matter where it takes place, is about more than translating words into gestures and signs. The interpreter must communicate an overall experience by expressing the speaker\u2019s tone, the meaning behind phrases and idioms, and even if someone\u2019s cellphone interrupts an otherwise-silent lecture hall.<\/p>\n

One year, Ms. Parker interpreted at a Sheryl Crow concert held to celebrate of one of Lance Armstrong\u2019s Tour de France titles. He was asked to take over on the drums for one of Ms. Crow\u2019s songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Ms. Parker said, \u201che wasn\u2019t any good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms. Parker let the discomfort show on her face as she imitated Mr. Armstrong\u2019s uneven drumming. She nodded subtly to assure perplexed members of the deaf audience that she was indeed doing this on purpose.<\/p>\n

As the audience reacted, Ms. Parker saw a deaf man elbow the hearing man next to him and cringe. The hearing man nodded and made a similar pained face.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey had this shared experience,\u201d Ms. Parker said. The deaf man was truly part of the crowd.<\/p>\n

LotuSIGN is working to mentor others in the hope of expanding access to live events. \u201cYou can\u2019t do it without a lot of experience,\u201d Ms. Parker said. \u201cIt is the hardest work I have ever done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kathryn Jepsen is the deputy editor of Symmetry magazine.<\/p>\n

SOURCE:<\/p>\n