As far as I'm concerned, now the bill's all done and dusted, we can only hope the EFDSS and Musicians' Union etc. can have some influence on the "Guidance". Alternatively we could wait for a Tory government to repeal this appaling right-wing legislation.

I'm principally involved in (in each case I organise these, so I'm likely to really catch it!)

Sword Dancing (rapper)
Mummers Plays
Pub Sessions

Only the latter is safe in our case, as we definitely are incidental to the main purpose of the pub we're in.

As regards Rapper Sword Dancing, that is not covered by the "Morris Exemption" as it's not in the open air, and Mummers Plays will also be clearly illegal. In both cases, these have been questionably illegal up till now but our local authority have been happy to see it happen and to look the other way as appropriate.

I suspect we'll continue to do what we do illegally from whenever the act takes effect. I don't think this will be a fantastic handicap to us as either the Local Authority will continue to turn a blind eye (or convince them,selves it's legal for some reason) or prosecute me ... at which time the fun WILL BEGIN.

If we don't look like being prosecuted, I'm still being tempted by the idea of deliberately drawing the attention of the police, as I think we can win the Human Rights argument and now it's US vs THEM because it's the organiser who's doing something illegal.

I'd like to see us start up a fighting fund so that we can have a single test case. Perhaps EFDSS or someone else could supervise this. I'm happy to fundraise ... especially if the fundraising activity is itself illegal.

I think it's probably time the worm turned. If we were prepared to do this, it could be King Blare's equivalent of the Poll Tax.

:-)