WE DID IT!!!!
May 13, 2008
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 
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1. joe plummer | May 13, 2008 at 3:15 pm
i just got the news today, and before i could respond, it’s over but YEAAAAAAAAA, anyway!
2. Greg Spero | May 13, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Awesome! I would definitely advise leaving the petition up so everyone can sign it as they hear about it, so when it does come to voting we’ll have as many names as possible. Thank you so much for your awesome leadership in the issue. Peace!
- Greg Spero
3. Theresa Carter | May 13, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Greg - We’ll definitely be leaving this up. For one thing, it’s a great example of how a grass roots effort can really make a change. We also owe a big thanks to the guys from Jam Productions, Metro, and Double Door for meeting with Alderman Schulter and voicing the community’s concerns face to face.
4. Dawn Xiana Moon | May 13, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Great news!
5. David Kav | May 13, 2008 at 4:08 pm
This is the BEST NEWS that I’ve received all day! Power to the people!
Peace, love and LIVE ART in Chicago!
David Kav
6. Jenny Blair | May 13, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Folks, visit chicago-music.org for more updates and “marching orders”. Above all, TALK TO YOUR ALDERMAN. This isn’t over yet. But boy, am I relieved for now.
7. adam devereux | May 13, 2008 at 4:29 pm
i just logged on today and read about this — and i’m really happy to see that this ridiculous/shitty ordinance has been overturned, for now.
let’s keep some semblance of independent thinking and art forms alive and kicking in chicago!..and keep the city council (etc.) from meddling and trying to “regulate” it (read, line their pockets somehow).
cheers!
ad.
8. Hannah Devers | May 13, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Yes! i love chicago! i moved in august n was crushed! i love the city n cant wait to move back soon!!!!! I LOVE CHICAGO!!!!!!!
9. Alicia W. | May 13, 2008 at 4:35 pm
OMG YES!!!!!!! I CANT BELEIVE YOU DID IT (i say you because i didn’t have a chance to sign it, thats actually what i came to do and then found out it had worked!) WHEEEEEEEE!
10. James Holley | May 13, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Great News…Where would we be without our live music.
11. Ramblin' Rose | May 13, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I am totally against this proposed ordinance, which will affect small live music venues. Large venues are fine; however, small venues are intimate, up-close and personal, where you can reach out and touch someone in the audience, where every seat is a good seat…unlike the large venues. In addition, this ordinance will adversely affect many bands/musicians/vocalist livelyhood.
STOP IT! QUIT IT!
12. Byron Durham | May 13, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Fantastic, thanks for putting up this blog.
I did hear back from Bob Fioretti, Ward 2 alderman:
“I have requested that the ordinance be deferred from tommorrow’s agenda, because the ordinance as it is currently written needs to be revised prior to serious consideration by the City Council, and should be subject to public comment and review”.
So again - thanks guys for helping us make this happen!
13. Ramblin' Rose | May 13, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I am totally against this proposed ordinance, which will affect small live music venues. Large venues are fine; however, small venues are intimate, up-close and personal, where you can reach out and touch someone in the audience, where every seat is a good seat…unlike the large venues. In addition, this ordinance will adversely affect many bands/musicians/vocalist livelyhood.
STOP IT! QUIT IT! …..WEEEEEEEE DID IT? Hey! Hey! Hey!
14. Help Preserve ChicagoR&hellip | May 13, 2008 at 4:55 pm
[...] UPDATE: the ordinance has been put back into committee, to get more input from the community. [...]
15. archGFX | Save Chicago Cu&hellip | May 13, 2008 at 4:57 pm
[...] the ordinance has been put back into committee, to get more input from the community. This entry was written by adam, posted on 13 May 2008 at 7:19, filed under chicago, shows and [...]
16. C. C. Trax | May 13, 2008 at 5:01 pm
OOOOOO, HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ISN’T IT GREAT THE POWER OF ONE TURNS INTO THE POWER OF MANY.
TO THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THEM RETHINK THIS INSANE LAW, I GREATLY APPLAUD YOU!!!!!
BUT BE AWARE THAT THEY WILL TRY TO SLIP SOMETHING LIKE THIS BY US AGAIN.
SO LET’S COME TOGETHER AGAIN TO SHOW THEM THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THIS. TO ASK US OUR OPPINION, INSTEAD OF SECOND GUESSIN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE WANT. !!!
ANYWAY, ONCE AGAIN I SAY….THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17. Jed Dulanas | May 13, 2008 at 5:19 pm
After all the years of activist work I’ve done it’s finally good to cry for a victory.I’ve never called my Alderman about anything in my life before either. I can’t remember the last time I cried tears of joy. Thank you I’ll be sure to keep my eyes out for the next ordinance.
18. krisan | May 13, 2008 at 5:45 pm
what a RELIEF!!! i’ve been posting about this like crazy.
19. rachel | May 13, 2008 at 6:00 pm
THANK GOD!!!!
yesssssssssssssssssss
20. JaGoFF | May 13, 2008 at 6:30 pm
As great a city as Chicago is, it is sad that such an ordinance that shows complete disregard for the city’s creative community at large could re-surface (let alone come so close to a final vote). While we understand safety concerns, attacking the creative community is not the solution. It is the creative capital of the community that gives it’s cultural legacy. It would be nice if it were treated as such.
21. Joan Collaso | May 13, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Most working musicians suffer for the art. We don’t usually get easy access to health care insurance, etc. We are self-employed, and there’s no benefit package for us. So we take other jobs to supplement, and we make music because it is necessary, it’s what we love, and it brings such enjoyment and hope into the lives of the people we touch. Of course, we have to plan and be smart with the funds that we do make, but come on, don’t make it any harder for us to survive. So, I commend you all for your tenacity in this matter and I am with you
22. Tommy Z | May 13, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Congrats to all of us that mad e a difference BUT do NOT be satisfied as this will be coming up again so we all must take this “time” to get your voices heard thru the proper channels… contact your local Alderman’s Office and submit him your valued opinion!
Tommy Z & Crew
23. Julia Tsaoussis | May 13, 2008 at 9:26 pm
i bet my fancy-pants comment did the trick xD
naww, just joking.
i’m so happy!
great job, everyone!
24. Gene | May 13, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Great so far, but I must refer you to Ben Joravsky’s Chicago Reader City Clout blog on the city deferring action on the Promoter’s Ordinance (http://blogs. chicagoreader. com/politics/). I agree with Joravsky that this tabling is simply a temporary retreat as King Richard and his pawns circle their wagons while they figure out what to do next. Even though voting for the Chicago Promoters Ordinance is tabled for now, it’s still a good idea to show up at the City Council meeting tomorrow and pack the house, like we’re keeping an eye on them.
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber located on the Second Floor of City Hall, 121 North La Salle Street.
The proposed ordinance was supposed to have been voted on by all the aldermen on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 (meeting starts at 10:00am and is open to the public).
FYI: I called my alderman’s office today (remaining nameless, I’m giving him a chance since I like him otherwise), asking what his position was on the ordinance and got some weasel-worded answer from an assistant along the lines of “well, there’s a meeting going on today to discuss this matter, but you probably called because you don’t support the ordinance, right?” Obviously I don’t support the ordinance and gave the assistant an earful about why.
The thing that ticked me off is they did not have the balls or the decency to state the alderman’s position on the issue and try to defend their position if it was contrary to mine. That’s a blatant lack of accountability when you consider that we’re supposed to have a representative government.
So I’m definitely going to this city council meeting tomorrow, and whether its tomorrow in person or later in the week over the phone, I’m going to demand to know what his position is on the ordinance, because I voted for him and want a reassurance that I did the right thing when I did.
If he or any other alderman can’t state their position on an issue when asked by a constituent, they’re either crooks or spineless and don’t deserve to be in public office.
25. Shirley Vieira | May 13, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I am glad they will not vote in such ordinace to deprive our freedom of expression with our arts. Why not vote to take the guns out of the street and live us the artists make people happy? IThank you all for participating too!! http://www.BrasilviaChicago.com I thank you everyone on behalf of the Brazilian culture.
26. Sykophiend | May 14, 2008 at 1:02 am
I’m glad the ordinance got pulled. They’ve tried so hard over the years to shut down Chicago’s art culture. This goes to prove that we’re not going down without a fight. Great job everyone!
27. John Whitehead | May 14, 2008 at 1:05 am
This is great news, As a CAnadian I am now more inclined to come to Chicago on a regular basis to see/hear some great art at as amn ysmall clubs/hall’s/church basements etc as I can.
This is also a good sign that something like this hopefully won’t come t oCAnada, especially centre’s like Toronto, Vancuver etc.
Small jazz/blus/folk/ punk and artists can now go back to creating and performing there art without having to become there own lawyer, accountant, booking agent and everything else in one.
Chicago can continue to grow there historic place in the world of art adn music.
I will deffinately keep an eye on this site, especially before planning a trip to Chicago.
28. arnie ziffel | May 14, 2008 at 1:35 am
Way to go! Thanks to all. There is only one way to keep the Kings that rule us from abusing their power….Watch them! Yes, you all watched them close enough to keep them from hurting the entertainers and artists. Congrats and let’s hope for a good re-write. :@)
29. w.woody | May 14, 2008 at 1:36 am
Wooooooooo Hooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
30. Richie - 7th heaven | May 14, 2008 at 1:40 am
I am a professional musician that plays over 200 shows a year in the band “7th heaven”.
I think people need to understand how important music/entertainment is to our society as a whole. In a time where people struggle everyday to survive with paying too much for gas, loosing houses to forclosures and being underpaid at their jobs, the NEED for music/entertainment has never been so needed more than wanted. Radio & Record companies have destroyed the business model for musicians to make money. Greed has killed the record industry, consumers have had to turn to stealing mp3’s. Radio has ignored breaking new unsigned artists, so listeners went away and got iPods and radio’s ad value has declined. The ONLY remaining way for a entertainer has ANY possible way to still keep afloat is to go back to the basics and perform live. Being a live performer is something that can’t be hacked, it’s more of an experience… kinda like being at the super bowl. This type of tax can’t be absorbed in this economy and weak health of the entertainment industry.
All types of government need to take some classes on business/money management.. and work with budgets without payoffs and wasting money. Then maybe they wouldn’t need to search for ways to tax more people.. especially in this day and age.
Remember, right now, a lot of people NEED entertainment to numb them for struggling times.. don’t make it harder on the people who are trying to help the cause (entertainers) and also make it harder for those people who need that to get it. (consumers)….. BOTH OF WHICH ARE VOTERS!!!!
Richie - 7th heaven
31. Chon | May 14, 2008 at 7:56 am
Wow! Before I could respond I read the good news. EVERYBODY who loves live music has to make sure another attempt to stifle creative expression without the City making more money should support this.
32. Phil Circle | May 14, 2008 at 6:37 pm
It boggles the mind that this city, where people from all over the globe travel to for its culture, would do anything to squash its life blood. Then again, no great surprise, when you consider the morons who run this place. They haven’t the slightest clue about the people they ostensibly represent.
“Here’s an idea guys…let’s kill all chances at creating any new cultutal avenues in this city, and while we’re at it, we’ll fill in Lake Michigan and make it a garbage dump…fuck the whole notion of having the longest waterfront park in the world.” I’m disgusted, sad and heartbroken, that the city that has nurtured my craft and been an on-going source of pride for me, is pushing me to leave for somewhere that actually cares about its own culture. Someone please shoot me, or to quote Shakespeare–first thing we do is kill all the lawyers–and lets include the one who flunked the bar three times.
33. Robin Hood | May 15, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Did anyone realize that the Chicago Municipal Government started shutting down theatres and art galleries before the Wednesday vote even got delayed? They actually started enforcing a law that didn’t exist and doesn’t exist for now. This has made a mockery of the CPD, by using them as some sort of Gestapo enforcement squad. The City’s actions are disgusting. If you ask me, this ordinance will pass, because King Daley gets what he wants, and bureaucracy will solve nothing as this Municipal Government turned into a Monarchy some time ago. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not declaring violence on this City, its Citizens, or its Public Servants; but if you believe or trust this City and its feudal lords to do the right thing, you’re dreaming. As long as Daley holds office the People will suffer, whether they’re deprived of art, overly taxed, etc. We’re focusing on saving the entertainment industry at the moment, but he’s destroyed other industries for his own selfish purposes in the past and he’ll do it again. He is too arrogant to believe his position exists to serve us. He is as fine a leader as Prince John, who believed he was King and used unlawful enforcement against anyone who dared opposed him. But I state that he is not King, We the People are. If this government refuses to behave as a democracy it is our responsibility as good Americans to replace it.