Ok, so what's the big deal about the Event Promoter License that the City of Chicago wants to enforce?
Here's the deal. I consider myself an Event Promoter. I might only put on 2 concerts a year and 1 dj night a month but that's considered an Event Organizer/Promoter.
So now, if this license passes I have to pay $2,000 a year in order to do what I like to do, at this point, as a hobby. Even though my events are within legitimate venues that have all the permits and licenses that are required. Even though I haven't made any money at all doing this in the past 2 years. In fact, I've given money away for these things to happen.
Technically, this effects every person that puts together any type of an event. A dj night, a concert, an art opening, any type of event that charges a cover at the door.
Well, they did change the terms of the license since last year.
Last year this license went all the way across the board. It effected every single person that ever put on a show. Here's one of the major ways it changed.
The license fee before was $2,000 for every 2 years, for everyone. For the little people like me all the way to the charity organizations and up to major organizations like, everyones friends, JAM Productions.
Here's how the license fees changed.
License fees, payable every two years, would range from $500 to $2,000, depending on the size of the venues in which the promoters operate. The city, non-profit organizations promoting their own events and promoters at "fixed-seating" venues with at least 500 seats, such as the United Center, would be exempt.
So here's a quick thought. Last year the license got shot down. You know why? Because places like the United Center, JAM Productions, the Rosemont and all the other major players said they'd take their business to the burbs. An action like that would culturally crush the city of Chicago. Not to mention the amount of money the city would lose out.
So now the city is listening to the major players and they decided that they shouldn't have to pay for this license. Even though, out of all the people that will be effected, the major players are the only ones that could afford such a ridiculous fee.
Here's another thing that I noticed from the Tribune's article. It's in regards to the E2 incident that happened almost 5 years ago.
Months after the stampede, an independent panel that reviewed the disaster and emergency response concluded that inadequate city inspection procedures and lack of city agency coordination allowed the club to stay open months after a court ordered it shut.
So wasn't it the city's fault that all this happened? Oh yea, the city doesn't do anything wrong.
If you want more information on this please follow these links.
Chicago City Council panel OKs licensing plan for event promoters
Chicago's promoter's ordinance: What the city wants, the city gets?
Jim DeRogatis' Blog
Chicago Music Commission's site
Rules inspired by E2 stampede approved
If you are an event promoter please contact your Alderman and express your concerns BEFORE Wednesday May 14th.. If you don't then don't feel bad that you have to leave the city to do the events that you like to do.
The floor at this meeting is not open to the public. It's a hearing for the Aldermen to vote on whether or not to impose the license.
This site will help you find out who your Alderman is and how to contact them.
http://www.chicityclerk.com/citycouncil/alderman/find.html
Go there, find them and contact them. Let them know your concerns and let them know how it will effect you.
If you can, appear at the hearing. Maybe if enough people show up to boo down the license they'll listen.
The hearing is on Wednesday May 14, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber located on the Second Floor of City Hall, 121 North La Salle Street.
No comments:
Post a Comment