Hi Mudcat friends,
Can anyone help me with this issue. Yet another venue option is going down because they cannot afford ascap licensing. We can play if we sign a form saying we will pay the fines should the venue receive one. Can anyone answer these questions? Thank you, thank you for any help you can offer.

If a song dates back before 1923, but was on a record after that, is it in or out of the public domain?

If we recorded the song and got permission from the author for the recording, can we perform it? Do we need additional permissions?

Do we need to carry around a book showing any permissions we have to use the material?

Is there any recourse with ASCAP or other music licensing organizations to proove your material is traditional or original?

If you arrangement is your own and it is "traditional" material with no clear author, can we feel safe that it is public domain?

Has anybody had success on this issue and how did you go about it?

THNKS!