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Chicago’s music community is up in arms over a looming “promoter’s ordinance” that would require independent event promoters putting on shows at venues with fewer than 500 permanent seats to procure licenses that cost between $500 and $2,000 and secure at least $300,000 in liability insurance; they’ll also have to jump through other hoops like fingerprinting and background checks. This would be in addition to the permits and insurance required for the venues where said events are being held. The law, which would make many live events in Chicago even more of a money-losing proposition for promoters that aren’t Live Nation-sized, is in large part a response to a 2003 fire at the local nightclub E2 that killed 21 people and injured more than 50–an incident which, Sun-Times critic Jim DeRogatis points out, could have been avoided if laws currently on the books in Chicago had been enforced. Making constituents pay for the embarrassing screw-ups of their politicians? That’s the American way!
DeRogatis has the full text of the ordinance, and a list of nights that would likely be affected:
• The Nocturna dark alternative dance nights at Metro.
• Chicago Acoustic Underground shows at various venues around the city.
• The Chicago Independent Radio Project’s annual Record Fair.
• The International Pop Overthrow Festival at the Abbey Pub, the Elbo Room, Double Door and other local clubs.
• The Tomorrow Never Knows Festival at Schuba’s.
What with that gamut-running list, the Chicago Music Commission has come out against the ordinance, while at least one alderman has admitted that it might need some work. The ordinance goes up for a City Council vote tomorrow night, but given that the alderman interviewed by Time Out has said that he hasn’t really noticed much hue and cry from the local music community over the proposed law, I have something of a bad feeling about its eventual passage. Here’s hoping someone out there comes to their senses.
Chicago aldermen’s attack on music [Sun-Times]
Why proposed music-promoter ordinance could hurt Chicago’s best clubs [Turn It Up]
Chicago promoter’s ordinance: Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd ward [Time Out Chicago]
Save Chicago Culture [savechicagoculture.org]
