Petition against performance licensing

Subject: Petition against performance licensing
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Dec 02 - 07:48 AM

Hello all, I've copied and pasted this from an email that I've just received (i'm not Michael Fields, the original sender!). If you've already seen this, I hope you signed up!




>From:
>To: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
>Subject: Licencing Legislation. Delete if you have already signed a petition
>Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 10:11:13 -0000
>
>
>
> > Dear Music Lovers,
> >
>Please forgive this bulk mailing. I suspect most of you will have already heard about it, but as I feel it is a really important issue, I don't mind risking the repetition. Perhaps attending to it and making our voices heard is just about as important as anything else we might be doing in the spirit of Christmas. I assure you it is a thoroughly kosher petition, unlike most that circulate on the net, and signing it will be a way of making your opinion heard.
> >
> > The Government is intending to introduce new licensing laws governing the performance and rehearsal of music in public buildings, a move that will drastically affect the whole culture of music-making in England and Wales. Essentially, what they are also trying to do is legally
> > redefine the notion of "performance" to include "performance and/or rehearsal". They want all venues (and this includes any church holding rehearsals or performances not directly related to the religious function of the building) to be subject to a Public Entertainments License. Currently they haven't published a fee but leaks to date have suggested that this fee will be between £500 and £1000 per annum.
> >
> > Clearly this will do a lot of harm to both amateur and professional music, drama, and dance - informal rehearsal venues will be a lot thinner on the ground as smaller organisations that play host to choirs, amateur theatre, musical groups, and concerts will simply not be able to afford the license. It will be illegal even to burst into song spontaneously in the pub, as the current two-in-a-bar rule will be abolished, and any "entertainment" at all, however informal, will require a license. Failure to comply? Currently suggested penalties include a £20,000 fine or a 6 month prison sentence.
> >
> > It's worth noting that not only the administrator of an unlicensed venue but also any musician performing in such a venue would be criminalised. If you want to read the whole Bill (great fun, I can assure you!), it can be found at
> > http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200203/ldbills/001/03
> > > 001.107-111.html#j1s1.
> >
> > This threatens the whole spectrum of musical performance, from a production of Dream of Gerontius at Worcester Cathedral in the Three Choirs Festival, via school performances, music at weddings, and hospital concerts, right through to folk sessions in the local pub (a spontaneous activity encouraged in Scotland and Ireland). Closer to home, the fundraising work we do through concerts in our local churches will no longer become a tenable way of
> > supporting our local charities, and reduces the role the Church can play in the local community.
> >
> > There is a petition on-line, to be found at
> > http://www.petitiononline.com/2inabar/petition.html
> > (the wording of this is taken from an early day motion, the text of which
> > can be found at http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=331) -
> > when I checked five minutes ago, this had over 7000 signatures, more than
> > double the number there yesterday!. If you are a musician, or feel strongly about
> > this, please can I urge you to sign this petition, and also forward this
> > message on to anyone you can think would be affected or would care about
> > the issue.
> >
> > With my best wishes for a happy and musical Christmas. It may be our last!
> >
> > Michael Fields

Subject: RE: Petition against performance licensing
From: Mr Happy
Date: 20 Dec 02 - 08:02 AM

guest,

theres an existing petition on this issue with already about 8000 signatures.

have a look at www.musiclovers.ukart.com

Subject: RE: Petition against performance licensing
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Dec 02 - 08:03 AM

Please post to THIS THREAD

Spaw