[wildfyr]

This is a partial copy/paste of a forwarded email I just received this morning (headers removed). I wasn't aware that this was happening and maybe others don't either.

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Dear friends,


Please take a look at the following ordinance scheduled for vote this week by the Chicago city council. It will greatly affect every performance that takes place across the city, and make the many informal events that make up the chicago cultural landscape effectively illegal without jumping through umpteen bureaucratic hoops at city hall, including fingerprinting. Please, Please, Please write your alderman to express your opposition!!


Links to the ordinance, aldermanic addresses, etc. are below.


thanks,


dave






yakuza





The City of Chicago is trying to pass an ordinance this Wednesday (May 14th, 2008) that could severely damage the live music and theater scene.




In summary:




The 'Event Promoters' ordinance requires any event promoter to have a
license from the city of Chicago and liability insurance of $300,000,
but that's just the start:


* The definition of 'event promoter' is so loosely defined it
could apply to a band or singer-songwriter that books their own shows
or a theater company that's in town for a one-week run.
* 'Event Promoter' must be licensed and will pay $500 - $2000
depending on expected audience size
* To get the license, applicant must be over 21, get
fingerprinted, submit to a background check, and jump over
several other hurdles .
* This ordinance seems targeted towards smaller venues, since
those with 500+ permanent seats are exempt
* Police must be notified at least 7 days in advance of event.




The first link gives a summary of the proposal, and the second is a
petition (Chicago Acoustic Underground is one of the sponsors of the
petition). Please read the links and contact your alderman before
Wednesday, when the City Council will be voting.


http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/...he_prom_1.html


http://savechicagoculture.org/2008/0...ers-ordinance/


Find your alderman:
http://www.chicityclerk.com/citycoun...rman/find.html