Unique campaign against hearing damage: “Order a drink? Only in Flemish Sign Language!”

— Go straight to the tutorial on our YouTube channel! —

A unique concept at Reggae Geel this year. The bar in the Dub Forest – known for its impressive bass and towering sound system – will be run by an association of deaf and hard-of-hearing people on Saturday. Drinks can only be ordered using Flemish Sign Language.

Actors on site, signs, and online videos will clarify how this works to the audience.

This original approach is a win-win: the volunteers raise funds for their organisation, the festival raises awareness about hearing damage, and the deaf volunteers can enjoy the music. After all, you can literally feel the dub in the Dub Forest in your body.

Inclusive festival all the way

“Ordering drinks at the bar in our Dub Forest will indeed only be via Flemish Sign Language this year,” explains Toon Verbeeck, head organiser of Reggae Geel.

“Volunteers completely run our festival. This year, for our dub stage, we specifically sought out an organisation of deaf and hard-of-hearing people. We want to highlight the risk of hearing damage to festivalgoers in a way that benefits everyone. It’s also a logical step. People with disabilities have long been an integral part of our team. We also involve the deaf community and their Flemish sign language in our festival.”

Crash course in ordering in sign language: how it works

Today, visitors can find videos on the Reggae Geel Youtube channel: a crash course in ordering drinks in Flemish Sign Language. This way, they can prepare in the weeks leading up to the festival. Those who want to refresh their knowledge on-site can scan QR codes at the bar.

On Saturday from 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM, actors will help festivalgoers master Flemish Sign Language even better through interactive micro-workshops on the festival grounds. This way, everyone can place their orders confidently – you don’t even have to talk over the music.

“I can already tell you that ordering a pint in Flemish Sign Language is not just raising your pinky,” laughs Toon Verbeeck. “You can discover what it is on our socials and website.”

Reggae Geel has always been aware of the risks of hearing damage. For years, in collaboration with CM and Safe’n’Sound, free hearing protectors for children and earplugs have been distributed to visitors. This campaign is an extension of those efforts.

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