Save Chicago Culture

Or the comedian tells a joke. Or the thespian acts. Or the poet recites. Or the band plays.

Basically folks, as far as this ordinance goes, it ain’t over.

There’s definitely cause for celebration. We got the city government’s attention and they pulled the proposal from today’s vote and that is an accomplishment. While I did enjoy some champagne last night, our work isn’t done. The ordinance has gone back to the Committee on Licenses and Consumer Protection where they’ll be tweaking it yet again to “ensure that the concerns of Chicago’s music and entertainment industry are examined.”

Don’t get comfy. Daley wants this passed, and this is the man who ripped up Meigs Field in the middle of the night.

According to Ben Joravsky’s Clout City blog in the Chicago Reader, the reason 500+ seat venues are exempt from this version of the proposal is to appease the big arenas. He’s guessing the next round will just serve to remove opposition from mid-size venues like Metro and Martyr’s. Hmm, guess who Alderman Schulter met with yesterday? You got it - Joe Shanahan, owner of Metro; Nick Miller, talent booker for Jam Productions; Ray Quinn, owner of Martyr’s; and Sean Mulroney, co-owner of Double Door.

They SHOULD be protected, but that’s not the end of it. It’s going to be our job - all of us - to make sure not only are the mid-sized venues exempt, but also the smaller venues all the way down to the individual performers.

Don’t let them underestimate our creative community. We’re the same people who won’t rest until we have the perfect phrase or chord or inflection and the people who respect and enjoy that diligence. We cannot rest until our means for exhibiting and witnessing that creativity are no longer threatened.

Passionately yours,

Theresa Carter, The Local Tourist
Michael Teach, Chicago Acoustic Underground
Michael Narvaez, Chicago Acoustic Underground

p.s. Be sure to register with Save Chicago Culture (top right of page) and to get our RSS feed so you can stay informed.

The promoter’s ordinance is being pulled and WILL NOT BE VOTED ON TOMORROW!

I received confirmation from Alderman Schulter’s office that it’s been pulled. They’re going to return it to committee, so we’ll have to keep our eyes open, but this time there will be input from the entertainment community.

Congratulations to all of you who signed the petition (all 5,742 of you!), who called your Alderman, who posted blogs and comments and told your friends and spread the word.

I don’t know about you, but tonight Michael Teach and I are going to go listen to some live music. After having some champagne. Michael Narvaez has rehearsal or you can be sure he’d join us. Especially now that his band can just worry about being a band!

Theresa Carter

p.s. My birthday bash is this Thursday at Fado, 111 N Clark, from 6 until they throw us out. Come join us to now celebrate this grand effort to protect Chicago’s culture. ‘Cause now we won’t need a license for it

WE DID IT!!! THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN PULLED!!!!

For now…

We do need to keep up on this. They’re putting it back in committee for more work. At least this time there will be some input from the entertainment community. Bookmark this site to keep up on the developments!

In the meantime, tonight I, for one, am celebrating!

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Imagine a Chicago with no Metro or Double Door or Schuba’s. Imagine a Chicago with no Royal George or Bailiwick or Athenaeum. Imagine a Chicago where local music is only heard in the suburbs and theater is limited to Wicked and Jersey Boys.

Scary thoughts. But if the City of Chicago’s City Council doesn’t hear your voice by Wednesday, May 14, they can become reality.

On that date the council will vote to approve an ordinance that has the power to stifle creativity in Chicago’s musical, theatrical, and general cultural scenes. With no public discourse or commentary, this proposal has been approved by the City Council Committee and is on the fast track to be pushed into law. It is up to us to let our elected officials know that Chicago’s creative scene is too rich, too varied, and too vital to be regulated in such a blanket fashion.

The details:

The “Event Promoters” ordinance requires any event promoter to have a license from the city of Chicago and liability insurance of $300,000, but that’s just the start:

• The definition of “event promoter” is so loosely defined it could apply to a band that books its own shows or a theater company that’s in town for a one-week run.
• “Event Promoter” must be licensed and will pay $500 - $2000 depending on expected audience size.
• To get the license, applicant must be over 21, get fingerprinted, submit to a background check, and jump over several other hurdles.
• This ordinance seems targeted towards smaller venues, since those with 500+ permanent seats are exempt.
• Police must be notified at least 7 days in advance of event.

For the complete ordinance, check out Jim DeRogatis’ blog on the Chicago Sun-Times.

We are collecting signatures to present to the council voicing our opposition to this ordinance. YOUR VOICE IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE CHICAGO’S CULTURAL SCENE CONTINUES TO THRIVE. Please leave a comment as your expression of disapproval. These will be presented to the City Council and to all Chicago Aldermen prior to Wednesday’s vote.

Thank you for helping to protect Chicago’s Culture.

Sincerely,

Theresa Carter, The Local Tourist: THE Website for downtown Chicago
Michael Teach, Chicago Acoustic Underground
Michael Narvaez, Chicago Acoustic Underground