Variety artists call on Equity to lobby parliament over smoking ban

Published Tuesday 13 May 2008 at 15:50 by Alistair Smith

Light entertainers are calling on Equity to lobby government to demand changes to the current smoking ban, which they claim is having a “catastrophic effect” on working opportunities for variety artists.

According to performers, the new legislation, which was introduced in July 2007, is causing clubs and pubs to close, creating a knock-on effect for artists who had previously been booked to perform in them. They claim opportunities for work are dropping by up to 50%.

Kevin Smyth, director of the Club and Institute Union, which represents working men’s clubs - one of light entertainment’s biggest employers - said he “totally understood” the calls for Equity to lobby parliament. Smyth has previously complained that the smoking ban has caused the rate of club closures to increase dramatically.

He added: “Within the next month, the CIU is sending out a questionnaire to all our member clubs. Amongst the questions they [club officials] will be asked is what their takings are now compared to a given date before the smoking ban and if they feel their takings are down because of the smoking ban.

“I have accepted an invitation from Equity North East Variety Branch to attend a meeting at which we will talk about the smoking ban to their members.”

Equity’s North East Variety Branch has submitted a motion to the union’s Annual Representative Conference calling on Equity to take up the issue with government. The ARC will take place on May 18-19 and a full report on the event will appear in next week’s edition of The Stage.