|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
OT: It might be more expensive to tour Canada
OT: It might be more expensive to tour Canada
Page:
1
nacoran
7080 posts
Aug 30, 2013
7:21 PM
|
http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/fees+international+touring+musicians+threaten+smaller/8842759/story.html
http://www.change.org/petitions/canadian-government-don-t-ruin-live-music-with-425-00-charge-per-international-artist-per-performance-in-canada
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
|
nacoran
7081 posts
Aug 31, 2013
7:43 AM
|
Many bar owners, booking agents and promoters are bemoaning changes to the federal regulations surrounding foreign workers entering Canada which will see them hit with heavier financial burdens that could deal a crippling blow to live music at the club level.
The new rules, which quietly came into effect July 31, will double, triple or even quadruple the cost of bringing in international artists to perform in bars, restaurants or coffee shops, affecting such local venues for music lovers as The Palomino, Ironwood, Broken City, Blues Can, and the Ship & Anchor, and their counterparts across the country.
The regulations require that any venue with a primary business other than music but which also books bands or performers must now pay an application fee of $275 per musician and those travelling with the band (tour manager, sound person, guitar tech, etc.) when it applies for a Labour Market Opinion, or LMO, to allow those outside workers to perform and work in their establishment. That’s also in addition to an extra $150 for each approved musician and crew member’s work permit.
Prior to the changes, the fee was simply $150 per band member, maxing out at $450, and that was a one-time fee for them to simply enter the country, which allowed venue owners across Canada to share the nominal cost or book them separately at no extra charge.
(continued in links above.)
|
bluemoose
919 posts
Aug 31, 2013
9:56 AM
|
Because of the many exemptions, some Canadian promoters are playing down the potential impact of the new fee.
"It's business as usual here," says Dan Burke, a veteran Toronto promoter, who notes that most touring artists from the United States play LMO-exempt venues here.
In response to the furor over the new fees, the government has noted that the new system only levels the playing field.
"For a Canadian band to enter the U.S., the paper work is burdensome, there is a substantial fee, and some of the visas have numerical caps," explained Alexandra Fortier of the Office of the Minister of Employment and Social Development. "So, Canada's system is still quite fair and generous."
Still, some think the fee sends the wrong message, exemptions or not. Michelle Cable of Panache Booking in the United States believes protectionism is wrong.
"It's not about taking jobs from Canadian musicians. It should be about bringing other culture into the country and being receptive to that idea. The stricter it becomes to cross borders, it is sending a message that, 'We don't want you here.'"
MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
|
nacoran
7082 posts
Aug 31, 2013
6:42 PM
|
When my county raised the cabarete tax the big venues actually liked it. It was an effective way to squeeze out the venues that only had music occasionally.
"For a Canadian band to enter the U.S., the paper work is burdensome, there is a substantial fee, and some of the visas have numerical caps," explained Alexandra Fortier of the Office of the Minister of Employment and Social Development. "So, Canada's system is still quite fair and generous."
Fair and generous to who? Okay, I don't know the rules coming the other direction, but just because the rules are similar doesn't make them fair, except maybe in terms of trade wars.
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
|
Post a Message
|
