Exterminate, Exterminate, Exterminate! article 0064 added 07.03.03 words Mr Lingo Well kids, it looks like the head honcho's in Parliament are up to their old tricks again. Not content with making more controversial decisions than even the old 'Thatcher Regime', they have decided in their infinite wisdom that there is money to be made from the modest DJ… I've been a DJ for six years, putting on events back home for mates, making a few hard earned £s, and now trying to fund my degree through DJing at bars around my neck of the woods, which is difficult enough. But GET THIS… The man with the master plan wants to ensure venues that have live entertainment (DJ's and bands, wherever they play) have to be licensed for the 'privilege', and enforce people like myself to declare all earnings for self-taxation, or risk a massive fine. I'm NOT kidding. I know Charo brought this up on the forum about a month ago, but it's not getting any kind of exposure, and the way things are going, we'll be at war, and it will all be too late. These ridiculous measures that are being suggested could mean another nail in the coffin for live music, or maybe it's just a sign that music like this has been too mainstream, and it's time to get grimey and go back underground where we belong?? Keep it underground?? Vinyl junkies being looked at like Skag addicts?? I damn well hope not, and yeah, yeah, this probably is over the top, but this seems what those suits in Westminster are trying to do. This country is home to the DJ, how many superstars are there here; who for better or worse have made their 15 seconds of fame through this art? Owners of bars are reluctant enough to give work to enterprising peeps, who just want to share their skills and talent with the masses on a fri/sat night, needing to know exactly what music you want to play, vetoing, and discriminating against the music that people in London want to hear, without having to worry that they need to make a certain amount of ca$h on the night to cover the licence. So far I've been 'let go of' by two bars who didn't agree with my policy of music, even though I was raking in the punters… their loss, and even so, I've only recently been told by a manager, and I quote… "You don't tell me how to pull pints, I won't tell you what to play." Let me stop right here…. You might get the impression that this is me lookin' out for myself, and the only reason I DJ is for money, right?? WRONG I love DJing, I'll do it for the love, and maybe this is what it needs, having to go back to house parties, getting your 'hood together, and showcasing your shit that way, but this licence would have to be bought for these too, if not, this just gives the fuzz a bit more to do when they come round to close up your house party… P.C Plod: "This your house son?" Me: "Yeah." P.C Plod: "Got a licence?" Me: "Nope." P.C Plod: "Right, 20 grand fine, or six months jail?" You catch my drift…? And yeah, it is the worst-case scenario, but some poor fool is going to come a cropper, loose all their stuff to the bailiffs, and, for once it ain't me…! Sign up on the web petition at http://www.musiclovers.ukart.com/ or bug your MP at; http://www.faxyourmp.com Peas y'all. - Mr Lingo

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