'Event Promoters' ordinance

[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.

*****************************


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

[Will Bozarth]

Does that just include the CITY of Chicago, or does that include Mokena and the other suburbs, as well?

[wildfyr]

From what I gather it's just for the City of Chicago.

[GateXII]

As quick as it came...it went away!

Heard on the radio yesterday that this ordinance has already been suspended indefinitely.

Apparently someone with a brain stepped in & put the smackdown on the most ignorant idea in Chicago history...OK, maybe not THE most ignorant in Chicago history.

[wildfyr]

Ok. As I mentioned earlier I wasn't aware of the issue at all prior to reading the email this morning, and I wasn't sure where it stood since I didn't have time to look into it before leaving for work this morning. I thought it might be something requiring immediate action by city dwellers so I posted it. Sorry about that!

[Cheiron]

And people thought the mafia was bad!

That's hillarious.

What's next? I remember some weird story about some kid being fined for operating a lemonade stand without a license.. or some shit like that.

[GateXII]

Originally Posted by wildfyr

Ok. As I mentioned earlier I wasn't aware of the issue at all prior to reading the email this morning, and I wasn't sure where it stood since I didn't have time to look into it before leaving for work this morning. I thought it might be something requiring immediate action by city dwellers so I posted it. Sorry about that!

Nothing to apologize for. Actually, I'm glad you posted it...to show how greedy politicians are & how close Chicago came to completely screwing over independent promoters & therefore many bands in the process.

[skyrefuge]

Also, it's not like it's entirely dead. It just went back to committee for "fine-tuning". It could still come back in a month and be a terrible law, so it's worth keeping awareness up.

I just thought it was funny how this story was breaking around the same time as that Chaoswave/customs thread. The Man sure is out to get the musicians these days!

I have seen some people elsewhere saying that the law could actually be a good thing for the suburbs, because bands would go play at suburban venues more often instead of going deep in the city. Surprised no one here brought that up...I'm sure the Pearl Room management was all for it!

Neil

[booB]

Originally Posted by skyrefuge

I just thought it was funny how this story was breaking around the same time as that Chaoswave/customs thread. The Man sure is out to get the musicians these days!

Does that mean we should vote for The Woman instead?

[wildfyr]

Originally Posted by skyrefuge

Also, it's not like it's entirely dead. It just went back to committee for "fine-tuning". It could still come back in a month and be a terrible law, so it's worth keeping awareness up.

I just thought it was funny how this story was breaking around the same time as that Chaoswave/customs thread. The Man sure is out to get the musicians these days!

I have seen some people elsewhere saying that the law could actually be a good thing for the suburbs, because bands would go play at suburban venues more often instead of going deep in the city. Surprised no one here brought that up...I'm sure the Pearl Room management was all for it!

Neil

Good point, Neil. However, what would stop the 'burbs from eventually following suit if it passes in Chicago? I think we just need to look at the smoking ban and how that progressed to get an idea.

[Will Bozarth]

well, that was pretty close to giving the Pearl Room even more business