City Council Tables Ordinance Restricting "Promoters"

BY Carrie Kaufman

The news went viral immediately after it was reported by Jim DeRegatis in the Chicago Sun-Times. The Chicago City Council was scheduled last Wednesday to vote on an ordinance that would put tight new rules—and expenses—on live event promoters. The ordinance was aimed at people who owned nightclubs—like the infamous E2. But, said the blogs and e-mails, it was so broad in scope that it would affect all live music venues—including places like Schubas or The Red Line Tap—as well as theatre companies.

A simple reading of the ordinance—simple as long as you speak legalese—quells the theatre threat. Mostly. Non-profits were exempt from the proposal. As were spaces that already have PAV and PPA licenses. Good news, as the proposal would have reinstated many of the onerous requirements (such as fingerprinting and background checks) that the PAV got rid of.

Still more questions remained, though. The ordinance specifically said that venues with “fixed seating” were exempt. But it didn’t define “fixed.” Many theatres have chairs on the floor. Theo Ubique performs at the No Exit Caf?, where the audience sits at tables. Same for Second City. And ComedySportz. And iO. And what about site specific shows? Would a toilet or the back seat of a car fit the definition of “fixed seating?”

Fortunately, those questions are moot. Aldermen listened to their constituents, who warned both of unintended consequences and lamented the small time allotted for public discussion. The proposal was sent back to committee. Music and theatre producers will get more of a chance to educate the City Council on their specific needs.

The League of Chicago Theatres will also be keeping tabs. Board member, and city employee, Julie Burros has been representing the theatres’ interests since the League got wind of the proposal. Burros declined to talk about the ordinance, as did Efrat Stein of the Department of Business Affairs.

Meanwhile, everybody else involved in Chicago theatre and music was talking about it at the beginning of last week. And misinformation was running rampant. Not only do theatre and music producers need to educate City Hall about their needs, but the city—and the League—need to get better at communicating in this digital age—where panic can be induced with the push of a send button.