May 13, 2008 The Edge Comedy Club
Help Stop Bad City Legislation
Event Promoters Law...
Chicago tries to KILL "undergound" and DIY promoters...
The City of Chicago is trying to crack down on what they term "underground" event promoters. They are attempting to pass legislation that will make it virtually impossible for any legitimate promoters that aren't the size of Jam Productions, the folks behind Lollapalooza, or LiveNation to put on shows across the city. This potentially not only includes music events, but also comedy, theatre, art, spoken word, and practically any other gathering of people.
Read more about this potential legislation on a blog by Jim DeRogatis on the Chicago Sun Times site by clicking here and here. You can also find more about the legislation and find some ways to protest it along with the Chicago Music Commission by clicking here.
Voice Your Concern
You can help stop Chicago from slaughtering the city's arts and culture scene by contacting your alderman to protest this legislation.
Who is your alderman?
Click here to find out who your alderman is and get his or her contact information.
What should you say?
Let your alderman know that you don't approve of the city stifling the arts and culture scene in Chicago with this legislation. Here is an example, a letter that Robin from Best Nest Media wrote to Alderman Gene Schulter:
Alderman Gene Schulter, Mayor Daley and other City Council members:
I am writing in opposition to the proposal that recently passed in City Council regarding new regulations for city event promoters. As someone who helped organize a DIY festival to benefit rape victims in 2007, I know that we would not have been able to raise as much money as we did or generate as much community outreach without the help of small event promoters and clubs who will no longer be able to operate under the expensive and outrageous new regulations proposed in the ordinance that passed Wednesday.
Being a member of the media, I was shocked at how little I heard about this ordinance until it was relatively too late, and when I spoke to friends and colleagues about it, they were as outraged as I am. It was Mayor Daley who said, "It's the whole idea of what a city should be: the appreciation of the artistic community. That's the soul of a city."
This ordinance shows a complete disregard for the artistic community and appears to be drafted by people who are out of touch with those who stay in this great city because of its thriving independent art and music scene.
Already, Chicago has a scarce independent art and performance community represented within the city limits. The Museum of Contemporary Art rarely features local artists and the lucrative venues and companies that can afford these new limitations and meet these new requirements are discriminative towards independent art and music genres and un-sponsored events. Placing these restrictions on DIY promoters and small groups alienates the very art community the city relies on to assist with cultural diversity and neighborhood development (i.e. Wicker Park, Pilsen, etc). What's more, entrepreneurs are greatly affected as this ordinance will discourage business owners from providing press and promotions services.
Please reconsider this ordinance before even more of our artistic community leaves Chicago for the city support of Brooklyn or LA.
Respectfully,
Robin W.
Best Nest Media
13 May 2008, 10:13 am
