The Event Promoter's Ordinance was conceived as a reaction to the terrible E2 Nightclub incident, in which 21 people were trampled to death. E2 nightclub had been previously ordered shut-down by a judge, but poor city oversight allowed this dangerous venue to stay open. Certainly, E2 was a hazard at the time of its eventual close - its owners, negligent law enforcement, and poor city oversight can only be to blame for the events that transpired that unfortunate evening.
But, the negligence of a few should not be the reason so many well-run music venues, independent musicians, and smaller promoters may be brought to the brink of shutting down. Despite the fact that the venues in which all of these events take place are already required to carry comprehensive liability insurance policies, this proposed ordinance would require smaller, independent promoters to carry a minimum of $300,000 in general liability coverage. Additionally, they would be required to purchase licenses from the city that could cost thousands of dollars. Certainly, a strong insurance policy is absolutely important for any event, especially considering the tragic disaster at E2, but the venues in which these events take place are already required to carry these insurance policies. Requiring the promoters to carry similar policies is unnecessary redundancy. This double-coverage would create no net change in actual coverage, but would seriously hurt the smaller promoters and musicians that are the foundation of Chicago's vibrant music scene.
The Event Promoter's Ordinance was to be presented for a vote before Chicago's City Council on May 14, 2008. Mayor Daley, and the ordinance's supporters were rushing to complete the vote with very little input from the Chicago music community. Luckily, negative publicity regarding the ordinance caused the vote to be delayed.
The vote will happen soon (see the Ben Joravsky item below) and it is our belief that the City Council is either not aware, or does not care, of how devastating this ordinance would be to Chicago's music scene.
News articles on the proposed ordinance:
Organizations fighting the ordinance:
