This strikes me as a worthy cause. It's a petition against recent licensing laws, including I presume, the abolition of the two-in-a-bar rule, which meant that previously two musicians/performers could do their thang in a pub, without the owners needing a license.
There is a government move to make it very difficult for musicians to perform live in small venues, or for schools, pubs and charities to raise money for causes through musical events. The new legislation will inhibit the central role music making has in our lives and communities.
The recently introduced changes in licensing law have produced an environment where music and dance, activities which should be valued and promoted in a civilised society, are instead damaged by inappropriate regulation. We call on the Prime Minister to recognise this situation and take steps to correct it.
You can sign the petition here:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licensingMore info here:
http://www.yorkshire-folk-arts.com/info/archive/2007/petition.htmlSeems to me that the idea of this petition is to make a statement that people are unhappy with the licensing laws and the effect they are having on live music. It's a first step.
It may even lead to a new draft of the license guidelines (see bottom half of above website)
