Rock 'n' Roll Signer: What It's Like to Be a Performing Arts Interpreter

By Tim Estoliz

Most audiences at music concerts never have to worry about hearing the lyrics of their favorite artists. After all, the sound systems are loud and the singers belt out their songs pitch perfect for everyone in the vast crowd to hear and enjoy.

However, there's a segment of the audience that's often enjoying the concert in a totally different and uniquely nuanced way. The deaf or hard-of-hearing get to enjoy the concerts of artists such as Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen and Justin Beiber thanks in large part to a talented group of professionals known as performing arts interpreters.