Mission Statement
The Live Music Forum is a group of independent live music
campaigners.
It was founded in 1993 in Hastings to oppose restrictions on
the presentation of live music.
The Live Music Forum introduced the idea of a small gigs
exemption after being contacted by live music campaigners in
Australia and we have campaigned since 1993 for relaxtion of the
UK entertainment licensing laws.
We pledge to continue to represent the interests of musicians
and gig goers.
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The Live Music Forum What You Can Do
Most of all, Live Music needs your support and attendance, for obvious reasons. In an age of home entertainment many people have slipped out of the habit of going out with their friends to enjoy themselves.
When the Live Music Act comes into force on October 1st 2012 there may, potentially, be a lot more live music venues. But, unless there are more people attending gigs, the Act could be a disappointment if venues are promoting gigs that are not sufficiently attended to make them financially viable.
What can be done to encourage more people, of all ages, to attend live music gigs more frequently ? If you have an answer please let us know so we can share your ideas with the wider live music community.
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Check Your Council's Licensing Register
In September 2009 local musicians, carried out a Survey of the Premises License Register of St Albans Council. Their research exposed numerous, apparently illegal, resrtictions attached to Premises Licenses issued by St Albans Council. These conditions ranged from limits on the frequency of live music events at venues, or even, the genre of live music allowed in the venue.
Part of the problems with the Licensing Act is that different local authorities choose to interpret and apply the legislation in different ways. How strictly does your Council apply the Act ? Do they use the legislation inapproriately ?
You can find out by examining their Register Of Licensed Premises, which every citizen has a right to do at the Council Offices. However, as some of our volunteers have already found, Councils are reluctant to make these documents available for scrutiny. Have they something to hide ?
One Council told our volunteer that there was not such a register and that the job would entail sorting through virtually thousands of pieces of paper. That authority is breaking the law according to Section 8 Schedule 3 of the Licensing Act, where the authority's responsibilities are quite clearly set out. See.....
So, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you contacting your Council and asking for an appointment to visit their offices and examine the Register and making some notes. Some Councils (St Albans, Barking/Dagenham,Merton, for example) have their Premises License Register online so you can do the job in the comfort of your own home, if you are lucky. In my case the register wasn't online but the Council sent me scans of all the licenses on a CD. It takes a little time and perseverance but, at the moment, this information can be useful and it indicates the level of control imposed by different councils.
Please email us if you need any assistance or advice in completing this task and, of course, don't forget to let us know what you manage to find out.