Licensing Live Music in Balto City?

In another blatant money-grab, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the Balto City Council are looking at the prospect of charging bars a licensing fee of $1500 per year to have live music. That's right, in addition to all the fees now paid by bar and club owners, they may have to pay for the honor of having live music, too.

From a musician's perspective, this is awful. It's already next to impossible to find places to play in Baltimore that pay anything at all. Now, clubs' and bars' live entertainment budget will be eaten away by the mismanaging city council.

Once again, we see that those in government not only don't have a clue about business, but also don't care a whit for the little guy, unless that little guy has enough money to give them a kickback. Corruption? No, it's the business of government. Right, Sheila?

Let me give them a clue: do what you can to improve the business's gross, and you'll make up tax revenue in spades on the other things that are taxed and regulated to death (like alcohol, property, the business itself, income of all working in the establishment, and other things). When is enough enough?

So hold on, kiddies; if you're a musician, your pay just took one in the pants.


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