Band Licences

[Music Attorney]

Not baffling at all...you gave a clear and concise explanation to the situation averting the need for further exposition or debate. Most of the rest is venting of opinions and seeing as we are dealing with musicians, it is to be expected and to a degree probably healthy.
On the other hand if the text is the one I think you are referring to, you will note that it is driven primarily by 2 or 3 members who seem to take pleasure in personal insults, twisted logic and the expression or self professed intelligence.

I appreciate the kind words, but, for the sake of clarity, I was just teasing

And your reply is probably a good indicator as to why I should stick to legal analysis and forego any comedy writing

MA

 

[Spearsy]

I appreciate the lucid responses on legality. It seems reasonable to expect this type of licensing will be coming to more towns soon enough. I'll be interested to hear about actions that prove effective in slowing the spread of this stuff. Although, I'm not optimistic ...

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I appreciate the kind words, but, for the sake of clarity, I was just teasing

And your reply is probably a good indicator as to why I should stick to legal analysis and forego any comedy writing

MA

Talkbass statute R2D2 requires that all persons who post humorous statements or who otherwise engage in jocularity or good natured ribbing, or any variations thereof, shall include smileys with the post in question, to allow the reader an opportunity to fairly assess the intent of the person authoring the post.
The Fake Law Firm of Dewey, Cheetem, and Howe. "Specializing in Alternative Fact Law since last week."

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Personally, I’m just baffled that a thread with sexting, forbidden fruit, moral high ground, soul mates, and band dynamics gets 4 times as many views and replies as does my scintillating legal analysis of a city ordinance about taxes in a small beach town affecting a relatively small number of musicians.

SMH.

I only have low hanging fruit.

 

[jeffbrown]

Well said, Old G-B. And I have no doubt pols will term a new tax a "fee" to get around the "T" word. PC, and all, ya know?

But I wonder if venues will end up paying more to compensate for the fees. Band pay in general has certainly not kept up with inflation, so I doubt the clubs will, either. I see a dearth of live music to come in the places that charge "fees" like this, unless, as stated, bands revolt. One place to start might be to picket city hall. Community activism at its finest. Placards state: "City Hall hates live music!" "Vote out music haters!" Let potential pub and concert-goers know that if things don't change, there may not be any live music in town for the foreseeable future, unless....

Hehe - I'm just an old rabble-rouser.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Well said, Old G-B. And I have no doubt pols will term a new tax a "fee" to get around the "T" word. PC, and all, ya know?

But I wonder if venues will end up paying more to compensate for the fees. Band pay in general has certainly not kept up with inflation, so I doubt the clubs will, either. I see a dearth of live music to come in the places that charge "fees" like this, unless, as stated, bands revolt. One place to start might be to picket city hall. Community activism at its finest. Placards state: "City Hall hates live music!" "Vote out music haters!" Let potential pub and concert-goers know that if things don't change, there may not be any live music in town for the foreseeable future, unless....

Hehe - I'm just an old rabble-rouser.

Well I've been known to rouse some rabble from time to time myself.
In this case though, I think joining forces with the venue owners is your first, best plan.
It gives you more bodies in front of the city at the outset. Poly-tick-Ian's do pay attention to large numbers of people. Registered voters and venue owners who pay a part of their pound of flesh in the form of sales tax receipts, which depend on sales, gets the city fat cats attention.
Save the March on Myrtle, and the negative placards for when playing their game by their rules fails.
Find someone who can put together an accounting of the financial impact to the city if this law passes.

Explain to the venues that they would have to share in the cost of licensing when the bands have to charge a bit more. The other option for venue owners is to book lesser bands at lower cost. So the venues end up with nothing but crappy old garage bands to play for them. Crappier bands leads to fewer customers, fewer sales, less sales tax revenue, for MB.

If MB relies on good entertainment to get customers and tourists, (bringing in outside money that goes to other businesses as well) to the area, or more importantly to maintain a repution as a great place to visit, that might get their attention. Always play the money angle. It's the only language the politicians seem to understand.