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18 Mar 05 - 01:23 PM (#1437763) Subject: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: YorkshireYankee "Any Questions" is in Sheffield tonight (sold out – but I have a reasonable chance of getting a seat anyway, due to no-shows). If I do get in, I'll be hoping to be permitted to ask a question – and my question will be about the ridiculousness of the PEL situation. No guarantees my question will be used, of course, but I want to be ready with a *good* one, just in case the opportunity actually arises. I am thinking of asking something along the lines of: "Under the PEL legislation now coming into effect, a license is not required for venues which play amplified dance music, nor for venues that show football to large crowds on a widescreen TV, but is required for venues which feature acoustic music, or a group of people singing together. How does this serve the public interest?" However, I'd appreciate any suggestions concerning improving that question – or even scrapping it, if you think there's a better question to ask. Only thing is, I have to leave the house (and therefore, Mudcat) by 7 pm UK time, so any responses need to be in before then. |
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18 Mar 05 - 01:43 PM (#1437776) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: Richard Bridge The DTI says there will be no PEL at all under the new law, so the question should start "Under the new Licensing Act" "Licence" is so spelt. It is only licensed (so spelt because it is a verbal formation) premises that escape the need for amplified recorded music - on the basis that it is incidental, without reference to how loud it is. They will need a licence for dancing. But ALL venues with wide screen TVs escape regulation. Conversely, even in licensed premises, if unamplified (or amplified) live music benefits from attention then the minister's view was that it would not be "incidental" (no matter how quiet) and so would need a licence. Unless, if it was unamplified music, it was the accompaniment to morris dancing. There is a partial relaxation for unamplified music that makes no sense either but it is harder to understand. So I think you may wish to ask: - "Under the new Licensing Act, pubs and other venues that show broadcasts (whether of soccer, music, or other things) will not need a licence for that, no matter how big the screen nor how loud the amplification. Pubs will not need licences for juke boxes or discos, no matter how loud, so long as the music is "incidental". But any venue permitting unamplified music, whether provided by entertainers or made by participants for their own amusement, will need a licence for that music. Nonetheless it will not need one for unamplified music the accompanying to Morris dancing. How much sense is that?" |
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18 Mar 05 - 01:45 PM (#1437778) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: YorkshireYankee Thanks Richard – a big help! Gotta leave sooner than expected... like *now*! Fingers crossed... |
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18 Mar 05 - 01:49 PM (#1437782) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: Bunnahabhain Let's hope they use it. It's the kind of common sense issue that costs nothing to fix that we should be able do something about... Bunnahabhain |
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18 Mar 05 - 01:53 PM (#1437788) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: Keith A of Hertford I will listen in hope. Good luck |
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18 Mar 05 - 02:08 PM (#1437801) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: The Shambles BBC had a spot this morning on how few premises had actually applied for the extra hours or how few had indeed applied for the new licence. Perhaps a question on these lines and one pointing out that no live music at all without being detailed in these applications - and asking if any measures are in hand to address this - would be seen to be topical enough to be chosen? Any (unchanged) applications made before the August deadline will be OK but any made after this will be seen as an alteration. |
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18 Mar 05 - 05:56 PM (#1437973) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: YorkshireYankee Well, I got in... but – as those of you who listened will already know – my question was not selected. I guess it was not considered topical enough. For the record, the question I submitted was: "Does the panel think that acoustic music in pubs should need a licence while "incidental" loud recorded music and television do not?" Richard, I hope you feel I didn't lose the essence of your question, but I figured if I didn't make it as "short & sweet" as possible, my chances of it being selected would be miniscule. Thanks to everyone who responded. Shambles, wish I'd been able to see your post before I had to leave; tying it in with the spot you mentioned might have made the difference. I guess I should have posted something earlier this week – but I wasn't at all sure of my chances of actually getting a ticket. For anyone who might be in a similar position in the future, you might find it useful to know that, while I was told I was on a "waiting list" for tickets in case of returns, I have concluded that this list was notional (at best). Basically, even if they are sold out (as of at least two weeks ago, when I first heard AQ was coming to Sheffield), if you just go there on the night in question, your chances of getting in are pretty good (it looked to me like there were about 20-30 empty seats); there didn't seem to be many (if any) other folks showing up on spec. Also useful to know: they set out a box for questions; it is removed at 7.30 (to give Richard Dimbleby & the producer time to read through all the questions and select which ones to use) – which is why I had to leave earlier than I'd anticipated. |
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18 Mar 05 - 06:02 PM (#1437981) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: YorkshireYankee P.S. "Licence" is so spelt. Thanks Richard – duly noted... I'm usually pretty good about adjusting my Yankee spelling(s) for British eyes, but licence is one of those that had escaped me (up to now, anyway). ;7) |
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19 Mar 05 - 03:52 AM (#1438189) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: Richard Bridge Licence/license is easy - all you have to do is substitute the word "advice" (noun) or "advise" (verb) where you can hear the difference! Yes, I agree we live in a culture where short is often regarded as better, whether it is wholly accurate or not. As a lawyer it drives me mad! |
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19 Mar 05 - 07:15 AM (#1438238) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: YorkshireYankee Richard – after reading your first post, I *did* actually think, "I wonder if Richard Bridge is a lawyer..." Just something about how very precisely worded the post was. I'm a bit surprised you referred to yourself as a lawyer rather than a solicitor – I thought the word "lawyer" was an Americanism not really used over here (or did you use it for my benefit? ;^) ) Anyway, don't know if you listened to the show, but if you did, you may have noticed that almost every question asked was quite succinct. So it goes... |
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19 Mar 05 - 09:53 AM (#1438304) Subject: RE: PEL question for 'Any Questions' tonight From: Big Al Whittle Best of luck! |