After a more than four-hour session Wednesday, the City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection passed the proposed promoters law written about at length in the preceding post. The ordinance now goes to the full City Council on May 14, and if approved there, the Chicago music scene will once again change for the worse at the hands of city officials.
UPDATE: Promoters law passes committee
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what can we do about this?
what time?
Perhaps someone had a good idea about the safety of people.
Perhaps somebody had a scheme about a disguised tax.
Either way, this will just be another layer of incomprehensible gobble-de-gook that will confuse and scare people, and stifle the music scene here in Chicago. Let me ask, for every "underground" perhaps safety challenged event that occurs, how many legal, safe, musically rich events will be perhaps squashed by this kind of oversight?
Jim has any one enquired as to the constitutionality of this ordinance? It may go against freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. It may also violate civil and human rights. Has an injunction from the courts been sought until these questions can be answered?
Geesh, why don't we just sell the City's art and music management to Clear Channel. Maybe we can re-name all of our established venues to corporate sponsor names, and re-name the bands to new cellphone and car models.
I can name at least 45 music venues that will most likely pull the plug on live events if this ordinance passes.
And nothing changes as far as underground shows...because they are UNDERGROUND! The only people hurt are legitimate venues and performers.
Its like, as long as tourists and Gold Coastians and Viagra Trainglists can drink out of a diamond-encrusted water fountain in Millenium Park, who cares about the other 98% of Chicago.
Ordinances like this is why Chicago is becoming a creative brain-drain city.
I moved here to be part of what I thought was a vibrant arts scene.
Since then, I've learned that trying to light a fire while City Hall throws wet blankets on you is no fun.
I've seen legendary venues go under (Jazz Showcase, Hothouse) while watching FraternaFans flock to Cubby Bear to support another blackface "Too White Crew" show.
I've noticed that there is no music scene at all downtown, where the touristas are diverted. Lots of overpriced domestic beer and Chicago Cubs T-shirts though.
No wonder so many people I know move to Austin or NYC.
Apparently these people have already forgotten the hard-learned lesson in 'Footloose'. Hubris.
In all seriousness, this is unbelieveable. I am a musician that often plays in small ensembles in intimate restaurant settings. This new tax (that's all it is) will put an end to these types of gigs for both me and the listening audience of chicago.