This Wednesday, 14th May might just be a critical day in the cultural history of our city.

That is when the City Council will vote on the proposed Chapter 4-157, known as the "Promoter's Ordinance".

This is a revised version of an ordinance first introduced last year. Unfortunately, it is one that is still entirely too vague to weed out the bad apples whom it targets, and hurt (if not destroy) the good ones.

If passed, anyone from a guy who hosts a stand-up comedy night at your local tavern, to something like a benefit concert to help offset medical bills for an injured musician will have to pay an outrageous licensing fee and carry oodles of liability insurance (among other requirements) in order to stage the event. Scary, huh?

Sure, I completely understand that this ordinance is targeted at some clown who wants to throw an illegal party at a run-down, dangerous building, while selling alcohol and going over capacity and doing who-knows-what-else illegally. And that's fine. We all want to attend events and know that we're safe, and that everything is on the up-and-up. But unfortunately, the people that will be hurt by this are the ones who are promoting events in established, licensed, safety/liquor/building code-abiding, and insured venues. Trust me, venues already pay out the wazoo to be in compliance. In a way, the city looks to collect twice, for the same event.

Part of the problem is that many of the people that this would effect have not been able to voice their opinions or concerns because of the city's fast-tracking of the ordinance. Hell, I am VERY much involved in the music scene of Chicago, and my ear is quite close to the ground, and I've just heard of this today, only 48 hours before voting. Officials are insisting that they have taken opposing views into account, but most of the people I'm hearing from seem to say that they haven't had any input, or that their input was ignored.

Here's a break-down of the consequences, should this pass:

http://savechicagoculture.org/2008/05/09/stop-the-promoters-ordinance/

I implore you to email or call your Alderman or Alderwoman and voice your concerns, and help keep Chicago the cultural treasure chest that it is. You can find which ward is yours and who you need to speak to, here:

http://www.chicityclerk.com/citycouncil/alderman/find.html

Read the proposed ordinance, and the response by the Chicago Music Commision here:

http://chicago-music.org/promoters.php

The vote takes place in the Council Chamber located on the Second Floor of City Hall, 121 North La Salle St., starting at 10 a.m. on May 14.

Here's to keeping the music playing,
pogo