With as much money as that city pulls in every year from the tourist, vacations....buttloads! They need to license musicians for a few more shekels to add to their mountain of money. Not to mention wasting police resources enforcing this. I think a thorough audit of city finance is in order. I guarantee there's some bad spending going on, if they can't make it on the money they take in. A boycott is in order. No vacations or live music from musicians and their supporters.
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My county, Albemarle County, VA, started enforcing their business license last fall. It was annoying that I pay for a CPA to do my taxes and neither one informed me of the license and tax requirements to do business in Albemarle county.
Albemarle's law looks just like Myrtle Beaches - it applies to all businesses - but the only crack-down I've heard of is on musicians! All of the musicians who file got hit with the requirement to get a license if they made between $5000 and $100,000. The license only costs $50 though. There is also a tax on business equipment for everybody, no matter how much or little you make. Over $100,000 and you pay extra based on how much business you actually do. My wife is self-employed and they did not target her with a letter, just me! They made me pay for back licenses and pay back taxes. Now I regret letting the accountant depreciate my amp purchases from a few years ago.
Anyway I don't make over $5k/yr in music, so I don't need a license. But I *do* have to pay tax on my equipment. If I ever use any piece of gear, even once, at a gig, it is taxable. The phrase was if it is used even 1% for business, it is business equipment.
Now I need to know what I paid for each thing and when I bought it. I am not sure I kept accurate records for all of it; I never intended my pedals to be part of the business, I always considered them personal items. Like a guy who uses a nice pen his family bought him for Christmas in his business - but they're saying no, if you use it at all it is taxable. The county is kind enough to depreciate the gear for me on some schedule of their own and send me a bill.
But now I am worried if this will affect how my homeowners insurance protects my gear from fire and theft while stored in my house. My insurance agent told me a few years ago that it would be covered as long as it is in the house, or in my car in the driveway or garage of my house. But now that the county is depreciating the value of my gear to 0, how much is it insured for?
So anyway they're definitely going after musicians for the most part - why, I don't know. We don't make that much money! It's not like this is going to add a lot to the county's coffers.
Albemarle's law looks just like Myrtle Beaches - it applies to all businesses - but the only crack-down I've heard of is on musicians! All of the musicians who file got hit with the requirement to get a license if they made between $5000 and $100,000. The license only costs $50 though. There is also a tax on business equipment for everybody, no matter how much or little you make. Over $100,000 and you pay extra based on how much business you actually do. My wife is self-employed and they did not target her with a letter, just me! They made me pay for back licenses and pay back taxes. Now I regret letting the accountant depreciate my amp purchases from a few years ago.
Anyway I don't make over $5k/yr in music, so I don't need a license. But I *do* have to pay tax on my equipment. If I ever use any piece of gear, even once, at a gig, it is taxable. The phrase was if it is used even 1% for business, it is business equipment.
Now I need to know what I paid for each thing and when I bought it. I am not sure I kept accurate records for all of it; I never intended my pedals to be part of the business, I always considered them personal items. Like a guy who uses a nice pen his family bought him for Christmas in his business - but they're saying no, if you use it at all it is taxable. The county is kind enough to depreciate the gear for me on some schedule of their own and send me a bill.
But now I am worried if this will affect how my homeowners insurance protects my gear from fire and theft while stored in my house. My insurance agent told me a few years ago that it would be covered as long as it is in the house, or in my car in the driveway or garage of my house. But now that the county is depreciating the value of my gear to 0, how much is it insured for?
So anyway they're definitely going after musicians for the most part - why, I don't know. We don't make that much money! It's not like this is going to add a lot to the county's coffers.
As someone who has launched and succeeded with political action campaigns, this really TICKS ME OFF. These government folks sit in their offices, without doing any research, and come out with these ridiculous rules that are for their own convenience. In my area, we have local commissioners who are elected by the people. I always work through these people whenever I can. Government employees suddenly become cooperative. "Policies" cease to exist. The truth comes out.
They may balk at what I want to do, but in the end, I can say that on two occasions I have "beat city hall" with petitions and firm political action working through elected officials. Once, they had an advisory board and I killed proposed laws there.
Consider taking out a 123 contact form. (Do a search on that website). YOu can create a simple online petition that autosubmits to a bunch of email addresses. Put it on a free website using weebly.com or yola.com, and have it auto-submit to the local commissioner's office, and whoever manages the department that is creating this RIDICULOUS rule. Send it to the mayor too. Government employees get nervous when the elected officials get involved. Change.org can also give you a place to do this.
Make sure the people who submit the online petition certify they are who they say they are, and better yet, get petitions that have a combination of boilerplate language, and also a comment from the petitioner that is respectful, but firmly against this STUPID law. You can give suggestions about what to write, but they should write it themselves.
It took about 150 petitions in our county to kill a special events policy that would have cost a non-profit I started $5000 to hold an event at a public park. And to give you an idea of the crazy attitudes some of the government employees have, they indicated outright, they didn't care about our costs, considered us a business on public land, and were haughty and disrespectful of our volunteer efforts. I spoke at one of their meetings and ripped their arguments to shreds....they recorded it even, presumably for the elected officials.
If this permitting thing doesn't die, you just aren't going to see live music anymore. It already doesn't pay, and now, we want to add $100 per person to even get started? In markets where it's hard to get club owners to squeeze out even a few bucks for live music?
The other thing that gets me -- active nighlife, music at events, etcetera -- that all helps the local economy, and the government steps in an tries to regulate it the point THEY HURT THEIR OWN MUNICIPALITIES.
One thing I would do, is encourage every musician who performs ast government events to jack up their prices (double) to compensate the musicians for the increase in fees, and administrative hassle these non-thinking people dream up to supposedly "improve" their municipalities.
Fight it, Fight it, Fight it, as municipalities borrow from the policies of other municipalities when creating their own rules. And rules, yes, they will create. I wish I lived there. I'd get out and crawl over broken glass to show the depth of commitment i have to making these people think before they enact stupid laws like this.
They may balk at what I want to do, but in the end, I can say that on two occasions I have "beat city hall" with petitions and firm political action working through elected officials. Once, they had an advisory board and I killed proposed laws there.
Consider taking out a 123 contact form. (Do a search on that website). YOu can create a simple online petition that autosubmits to a bunch of email addresses. Put it on a free website using weebly.com or yola.com, and have it auto-submit to the local commissioner's office, and whoever manages the department that is creating this RIDICULOUS rule. Send it to the mayor too. Government employees get nervous when the elected officials get involved. Change.org can also give you a place to do this.
Make sure the people who submit the online petition certify they are who they say they are, and better yet, get petitions that have a combination of boilerplate language, and also a comment from the petitioner that is respectful, but firmly against this STUPID law. You can give suggestions about what to write, but they should write it themselves.
It took about 150 petitions in our county to kill a special events policy that would have cost a non-profit I started $5000 to hold an event at a public park. And to give you an idea of the crazy attitudes some of the government employees have, they indicated outright, they didn't care about our costs, considered us a business on public land, and were haughty and disrespectful of our volunteer efforts. I spoke at one of their meetings and ripped their arguments to shreds....they recorded it even, presumably for the elected officials.
If this permitting thing doesn't die, you just aren't going to see live music anymore. It already doesn't pay, and now, we want to add $100 per person to even get started? In markets where it's hard to get club owners to squeeze out even a few bucks for live music?
The other thing that gets me -- active nighlife, music at events, etcetera -- that all helps the local economy, and the government steps in an tries to regulate it the point THEY HURT THEIR OWN MUNICIPALITIES.
One thing I would do, is encourage every musician who performs ast government events to jack up their prices (double) to compensate the musicians for the increase in fees, and administrative hassle these non-thinking people dream up to supposedly "improve" their municipalities.
Fight it, Fight it, Fight it, as municipalities borrow from the policies of other municipalities when creating their own rules. And rules, yes, they will create. I wish I lived there. I'd get out and crawl over broken glass to show the depth of commitment i have to making these people think before they enact stupid laws like this.
In my state, businesses that have a reputation for some kind of past abuse need a license, or who need to be policed somehow need a license. Or if they can hurt people in the process -- booking agencies, hairdressers, general contractors, real estate agents etcetera. There is some value in ensuring that a person isn't using their residence as a place for the entire city to come for a service of some kind, as it can disrupt the neighborhood, but a musician who simply stores their stuff at home, or maybe has a rehearsal that doesn't break local noise ordinances? I see no benefit. It will jack up the costs to bar owners and club owners, and make the whole experience even less of a positive thing.
As soon as government gets involved things get way complicated.
I guess that would mean any visiting out of town road bands would have to have each member buy a license before they can play their gig.
Sounds like the end of live music in Myrtle Beach. Must be somebody in the local government is a DJ.
Sounds like the end of live music in Myrtle Beach. Must be somebody in the local government is a DJ.
like the punch line of that old joke about dogs, municipalities do stuff like this _because they can_.
(perhaps unlike dogs, it would be better if they _couldn't_...)
(perhaps unlike dogs, it would be better if they _couldn't_...)
Lest he's a M.B. municipal judge. If it ain't specifically unconstitutional or already conflicts with another ordinance, then good luck. Work the free speech angle and that you are being discriminated against as musicians vs other types of entertainment.
When I was interviewing for a teaching position at a law school, I suggested that students should be made to produce a list of every license, tax, regulation, and similar obstacle to earning money in local jurisdictions, for the benefit of local business. I earnestly believe the only reason we have any businesses at all anywhere is because people ignore most of them.
Myrtle Beach can kissmyass. Scratching that destination off for vacation this year.
Is this in addition to a business license from the city, or is only this one license is required for musicians?
Decades ago, I applied for a business license in the city I was living in for my band. It was only $35/yr and Costco had just built their first store in the area. The band did not last as long as the license though. I did get a Costco membership with it.
The hassle was I had to fill out multiple forms. One for approval from the city planning office since it was a home-based business. Second was for using a fictitious name. And the third was the application for the license itself.
Decades ago, I applied for a business license in the city I was living in for my band. It was only $35/yr and Costco had just built their first store in the area. The band did not last as long as the license though. I did get a Costco membership with it.
The hassle was I had to fill out multiple forms. One for approval from the city planning office since it was a home-based business. Second was for using a fictitious name. And the third was the application for the license itself.
So annoying.
I wonder if the bureaucrats (mayor, councilmembers) have to buy any licenses to work themselves???
I wonder if the bureaucrats (mayor, councilmembers) have to buy any licenses to work themselves???
Nightmare scenario - band needs a sub for a Myrtle Beach gig, you go and instead of getting paid $75 or whatever, you get a $1065 fine.
I'm old enough to remember when the musicians union used to make the rounds checking for cards. It was a gotta do here abouts in the 40s and 50s..Less so in the 60s. Petered out in the 70s.
- Jun 11, 2012
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It sounds like it would depend on the tax situation. If you play with multiple bands, each band would need a license. I'm not too sure. It also means that even if you are a solo act, you would need a separate license.
What I got from my reading is that it is a way to tax earnings that were not taxed in the past. That they make it retroactive to 2014 is an outrage. The club owner does not get fined so it is at your own risk . I have not heard of any instances of enforcement but, if they are going to enforce it, they will do it this summer. Licences are issued in May.
Just explain to the venue owners that you have to add a $10/band member surcharge to cover your license. Let them put a stop to it.
Bar bands needing alittle piece of paper and being paid by check. That's not very rock & roll........Another sign of the Apocalypse.....
