USA What are the chances?

Subject: USA What are the chances?
From: GUEST,Folkies from UK
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 06:08 PM

What are the chances of an unknown UK duet touring the folk clubs in the States or part thereof, singing contemporary, and a little traditional folk songs from this side of the pond. We have three kids-14yr old girl, 9yr old boy and an 18yr old girl that plays appalachian fiddle. We'd like to come and make friends on the way! Who cares about school, let's get out and have some fun for a while!

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: SharonA
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 06:22 PM

I'm not sure how the truancy laws in the US apply to children who are "on tour" as you describe, but I think it would be wise to check into them before you get yourself into any kind of legal trouble for not having the children in school.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 06:31 PM

For how long? Doubt that the rules allow you to play for money.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Morticia
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 06:33 PM

I do know the truancy laws.....and it's three weeks max unless you can prove some cultural need (such as visiting your 'homeland'). Check it out with the headteacher or you could find your kids without a school place when you return,especially if it's a popular school.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 07:02 PM

Absolutely, you *could* play for money. Plenty of people tour overseas and get paid for it. But, you'd need to do the legal legwork to find out what is involved, and it would be a good idea for you to line up your gigs *before* you got stateside. In many areas, you could busk without going through all the hassle of having to get a permit, or having to go through the hassle of contacting pubs/events/venues or legal permission to work in a Country with which you are not familiar.

I imagine some of this hinges on how good you are as well. If you could send a demo tape or the like to an agent in the US, and let *him* handle the legalities and logistical crap, that might save you some headaches, but I suppose that would depend on how much the rep thinks he could get for getting you gigs and publicising you. If the answer is that it would be questionable, then likely as not, the answer would be "sorry, all booked up with clients right now".

Good luck with the journey...it sounds like an interesting trip, if you can make it happen.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 07:41 PM

In my city, you must register to busk, and the permits are few. Clubs will not accept non-union musicians except on amateur nights, which no longer exist here.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: michaelr
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 10:29 PM

Dang, Dicho, where do you live? I've been playing here in California since 1985, and no one ever asked me if I was in the union.

Michael

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 10:55 PM

I've never been asked if I was in a union, either. I'm in Virginia. In what states do you have to be a member of a union to play?

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 11:31 PM

Canada. I've been told this by performers who want to play at the better spots. Haven't looked into it myself, so I may have been mislead.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 01:08 AM

In the US, at least, a parent or legal gaurdian must be present for under 21 yr olds to play in a bar/pub. In some states, even then not. Alchohol/licensing laws in the States are very weird.....they vary from state to state and even from town to town.

Get an exact itinerary and then ask each town. Bars/Pubs are almost always the best places to book gigs for money--either up front or for a "tip jar".

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: MMario
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 08:56 AM

you also run into restrictions - I beleive currently that 14 year olds would not be allowed to work more then three hours a night; no working after 10 pm and I believe would be restricted to a total of 18 hours a week. Again - different laws for different states -

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: jeffp
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 09:27 AM

And frequently there are exceptions for family-owned businesses. I suppose a family band might qualify?

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: JedMarum
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:00 AM

It'll take a lot of organization - may be best to start with a good agent. You'll also have to resolve the 'right to work' issues - I rarely work a location that doesn't take all the tax information before they pay me ... and in many cases every time they pay me.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:34 AM

In the area of the country where I live, a lot of kids are "home schooled". If the UK has such a program, then maybe you could "home school" them while on the road, thereby addressing issues on both sides of the pond. You can purchase the independent study workbooks to carry around with you in case anyone bothers you.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: SharonA
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:19 AM

I don't know about that, Bobert... they'd be home-schooled by someone who just said, "Who cares about school"! *G*

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:33 AM

Hmmmmmm, SharonA. Ya' got a point there. But my son and his mother don't care about school either and he was home schooled for several months, even though his mother wasn't even at home. He had his "independent study" books there just in case someone checked on him. But I know what you mean... there would be a certain irony, indeed... But it would keep the beaurocrats of 'em.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: MMario
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:34 AM

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: lardingo
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:47 AM

Silver Dollar City, Near Branson, Missouri has festivals all the time in which crafts and music from foreign countries are celebrated. Often children are among the performers. It's been a long time since I performed there, so I don't the procedures for tryouts, etc., but you could look them up on the web and find out. I would say, however, that in SDC's case, the performers have long since been selected for this season.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: pattyClink
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 12:13 PM

What about putting together a little circuit of slots in small festivals on several consecutive weekends during the summer? You could then fill in impromptu in local spots once you met some locals.

Subject: RE: USA What are the chances?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 01:08 PM

I asked my son-in-law who plays gigs with a bluegrass band (he is a consulting engineer by day) what the rules are. He said it "depends." Many musicians will not play with non-union players. Many clubs are only open to hiring union musicians. Work for any event covered or hosted by the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp., a government network) requires a union ticket. You can usually play in rural areas without a ticket, but members of his group have tickets to avoid problems.
No one under the age of 18 (must have ident. card) is allowed in any public venue where liquor is served.
Busking in Calgary is by city approval only.