The Stage

Campaigners say proposed small gigs exemption “does not go far enough”

Published Thursday 22 October 2009 at 15:31 by Lalayn Baluch

Campaigners and opposition politicians have criticised the government’s proposed licensing exemption for small venues, warning the move will not go far enough to protect the UK’s live music scene.

The Licensing Act 2003 is due to be debated in Westminster Hall this afternoon. It is expected that licensing minister Gerry Sutcliff will announce that the government is to undertake a consultation looking at whether venues with a capacity of up to 100 people should be exempt from licensing laws.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport had previously rejected calls for an exemption for small venues.

However, the news was criticised by campaigners including Equity and the Musician’s Union, as well as Conservative MP John Whittingdale, Liberal Democrat peer Tim Clement Jones and Liberal Democrat shadow culture secretary Don Foster.

They have long been fighting for venues of up to 200 people to be freed from the licensing regime – a call that was reiterated by the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee in its recent report on the licensing act.

Whittingdale, who is also chair of the CMS committee, told The Stage: “We took evidence and very clearly recommended an exemption for venues of up to 200, so 100 in our view does not go far enough. The other thing is, we don’t see a necessity for a consultation. There has been ample evidence produced, and this debate has been going on for a very long time.

“Another consultation means that the likelihood of the government to be in a position to do something before the general election is very slim. In our view the law should be changed now.”

Ahead of today’s debate, Equity and the MU organised a demonstration – attended by about 100 performers - outside the Houses of Parliament to put pressure on the government to relax live music licensing laws, and to submit an open letter to the government.

Speaking during the demonstration, Equity assistant general secretary for theatre and variety Stephen Spence said: “We don’t know why the government, suddenly after it said it couldn’t do anything, thinks 100 is appropriate. It’s like a figure that has been picked at random.

“We want them to pick up on the select committee’s recommendation and give an exemption for venues of under 200. It sounds like the kind of thing you say when you know there is a demonstration about to happen.”

Meanwhile, MU general secretary John Smith said the union would continue its campaign for an exemption for 200-capacity venues.

“What they’ve done is indicate that smaller venues are effected by the act. We might discuss it with them, but we don’t think it is [going far enough],” he added.

For more, see next week’s print edition of The Stage.

Musicians at the demonstration speak out

Jazz violinist Mike Piggott: “I think it is criminal that you have to have a license as a duo in a small venue. It is effecting work opportunities. My girlfriend plays as part of a duo, and is facing all sorts of problems - having gigs booked and then cancelled because venues haven’t got a license.”

Double bass player Jonny Gee: “This act is catching out inappropriately small, inappropriately quiet, and inappropriately polite venues. All noise and public disorder problems are already covered by existing legislation. This is completely superfluous and makes it criminal offense to perform music live. [An exemption for] venues up to 100 people is really very small, it is smaller than the average wedding. I say they go for 400 or 500.”

Charlotte Collingwood, singer and bandleader: “I have had numerous small gigs cancelled. One restaurant I was worked at used to have music from Wednesday to Saturday, but then didn’t get a music licence. Within a few months the business closed down because they lost 40% of their business. That was our bread and butter.”