Will carol singers require a licence?

Carol singers going from door to door, or just deciding to sing in a particular place, or even turning up unannounced in a pub and singing, would not require a licence, just as drinkers in a public house who suddenly decided to start singing carols would not required license. However, if a business in a shopping mall, for example, arranges for a group of singers to sing carols this will be the same as their arranging any performance of live music and a premises licence or temporary event notice would be required

This to me is exactly the same as applied to sessions, Door to door - would be private property, the rest would be just "spontaneous", the last would be organised sessions, advertised arranged etc.

The outdoor Carol Services held in my area would fall under that exemption and as such didn't require a licence, Likewise when a bunch of us started singing "Come Landlord fill the flowing bowl" and "Poor Old Landlord can't get the Boozers" out after a check on beers at local hostelries the other night. The prearranged sessions and advertised ones are held in venues with a licences (and as usual we leave at 11.00 so we can get our beauty sleep :0)zzzzz)

The majority of venues in this area now have a licence, compared with 15% before, which means more chance for legal sessions remembering that with the 2inabar rule most session (and a lot of bookings) were illegal, so I'm sorry but as far as this area is concern things have improved, and with all the involvement we had with the LA whilst the "War" was going on has led us to a better relationship with advice going in both directions.

I still think there would be a better practise as far as the playing of music and dance is concerned within the provisions of the 2003 license and will still try and invoke changes that would make life easier for people to make music and dance. In the meantime I won't get so involved with "Rights" that it stops me doing what I spent so much time ensuring the new license wouldn't stop.

Let us sing and rejoice because we can.(and if you see that as forelock tugging OK) but although my face might have offended me I can still see, because I have a nose to rest my glasses on :0)

Merry Christmas and may God Bless us One and All

PB

Two bottles of Mulled Wine and 3 mince pies the better off.