Law may threaten San Francisco music scene.

It appears that Chicago's music and creative communities are not the only ones in danger of falling victim to ridiculous proposal's like the Chicago Promoters' Ordinance.
The city of San Francisco is holding hearing on Monday at City Hall, based on findings from a so-called, ""Night-time Safety Summit".

This is not good news and shows that similar laws are making thier way on to the radar to other cities. All the more reason to stay aware of the issue facing us and not let it "parking meter" it's way into our lives.

You can find out more on the San Fran issue here:

Here is an excerpt:
"A vocal group of ultra-conservative neighbors have banded with the anti-alcohol and anti-entertainment elements in the police department and the state alcohol control department to shut down night-time entertainment in San Francisco. This is a real threat. These people have come to hearings at City Hall and blamed night-time entertainment for ... society's problems. We need you to show up at Monday's hearing and/or send an email of support now. Again, the hearing is next Monday, Oct 19 at 10am in room 263 at City Hall."

TONIGHT: Chicago Promoters Ordiance Interview on WHPK 88.5FM. Tune in or Stream it live.

JaGoFF is going to be INTERVIEWED TONIGHT on WHPK's "Underground Dance Show' w/ DJ Snooze. We'll be touching on various topics, including the CHICAGO PROMOTERS' ORDINANCE. Should be a great time. The show runs from 10PM-12AM (Chicago Time), you can stream it LIVE from WHPK's website or tune into 88.5 FM if you live in Chicago.

You can stream it from here:
WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago - University of Chicago.
http://www.WHPK.org

Watch the new video documentary "200 Lincolns"

200 Lincolns Art Exhibit Presented by The Chicago Art Department
Featuring the artwork of 200 Chicago Artists
A Documentary by JaGoFF

This is the video from the "200 Lincolns" exhibit that JaGoFF took part in at The Chicago Art Department last month. With all of the planning that we had to do for the Promoters' Ordinance panel disussion for last week's event at Old Town School, we kind of fell behind on the editing for the art exhibit documentary video. Nonetheless, here it is. The video covers both the set-up party and opening night festivities. JaGoFF had two pieces in the exhibit, which you can view here. We also posted the photos of the evening which you are free to view. Enjoy.

Documented here are:
(00:00 - 12:32) CAD: Art Drop off/Set-up party on Feb 6th
(12:33 - 31:46) CAD: Opening Night Reception/Art Exhibit on Feb 13th

Background Story:
In comemmoration of Abraham Lincoln's Bicentennial Birthday, the Chicago Art Department invited the creative community to submit 200 pieces of Lincoln inspired work. The walls, floor and ceilings of CAD were dripping with Abe and an Abe in every medium: skateboard art, video installments, commemorative stamps, modified dunnies, a crucified Abe, a recreated Mutoscope (circa 1895) and even an Abe of the edible variety.

This documentary includes several artist interviews and overall set-up and party footage. Many thanks to everyone who participated. The night was amazing.

Special thanks to the amazing folks at:
The Chicago Art Department
ChicagoArtDepartment.org

Produced and directed by JaGoFF (Sir Real & Mofo)
Filmed live in Chicago by Sir Real.
Edited by Mofo.«

Join us Friday March 6th: Stop the Chicago Promoter's Ordinance! Free Speech First Friday

Free Speech First Friday
Stop the Chicago Promoter's Ordinance!
Friday March 6th 6:30 pm
The Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave

On March 6th, members of Chicago's music community come together to create action that will stop the Chicago Promoter's Ordinance from killing our thriving music scene. Come to Free Speech First Friday to learn what you can do to help!

Free Speech First Friday includes an ongoing screening of the documentary 'The Chicago Promoter's Ordinance Kills Independent Music', and a Free Speech Jam. There will also be an an open forum for all to offer empowering ideas about what actions we can take to stop the ordinance. Jim DeRogatis (Sun Times), JaGoFF (creators of the documentary/TheRecordIndustry.com), Paul Natkin (Chicago Music Commission), and more Chicago musicians and activists will attend.

Please join us!
6:30 Free Speech Song Circle (with Cathy Norden).
7:30 we'll roll ' The Chicago Promoters Ordinance Kills Independent Music" all night and start the forum simultaneously in the 2nd floor lobby.
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave.

Free Speech First Friday
Stop the Chicago Promoter's Ordinance!
Friday March 6th 6:30 pm
The Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave

On March 6th, members of Chicago's music community come together to create action that will stop the Chicago Promoter's Ordinance from killing our thriving music scene. Come to Free Speech First Friday to learn what you can do to help!

Free Speech First Friday includes an ongoing screening of the documentary 'The Chicago Promoter's Ordinance Kills Independent Music', and a Free Speech Jam. There will also be an an open forum for all to offer empowering ideas about what actions we can take to stop the ordinance. Jim DeRogatis (Sun Times), JaGoFF (creators of the documentary/TheRecordIndustry.com), Paul Natkin (Chicago Music Commission), and more Chicago musicians and activists will attend.

Please join us!
6:30 Free Speech Song Circle (with Cathy Norden).
7:30 we'll roll ' The Chicago Promoters Ordinance Kills Independent Music" all night and start the forum simultaneously in the 2nd floor lobby.
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave.

Reaction to the ordinance:

"... will pretty much drop a bomb on Chicago's independent music community, if not nuke it entirely."
- Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times

"unconstitutional."
Henry H. Perritt, Jr.,
Former Dean & Professor of Law,
Chicago-Kent College of Law

"... a threat to the creative communities throughout the country and sets a very dangerous precident - as one city goes, so goes another. Rinse and repeat."
- TheRecordIndustry.com

"The ordinance will reduce the amount of music in Chicago, make events more expensive for consumers, dampen the large and growing economic engine that is Chicago music, and create a much less supportive business climate for Chicago's small music business community."
- The Chicago Music Commission

WHAT IS THE CHICAGO PROMOTERS ORDINANCE?

The Chicago Promoter's Ordinance is a terrible piece of
legislation that would require:

- $500 - $2000 for license (even if working w/ licensed club).

- Submit to fingerprinting & background check.

- Must acquire $300,000 in liability insurance.

- Definition of promoter is so vague and could apply to not only to promoters, but also effects bands, djs, theater, and other artists.

It can also "equipt the police to be completely arbitrary… if they want to bust somebody, it gives them a way to do it. That is absolutely the enemy of a free society," (Henry Perritt).

Read the white paper:
"Why the Event Promoters Ordinance should be rejected"
by Henry H. Perritt, Jr., Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law

Click here to read more about the Promoters' Ordinance at TheRecordIndustry.com

You can take action by sending emails to the Mayor's office and/or your alderman at 4TheMusic.org

It's your city, it's your culture, DO SOMETHING!

Here comes Chicago's Promoters' Ordinance (again) - People Get Ready!

The Chicago Promoters Ordinance is about to rear it's ugly head(once again) and according to Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times, "Once again, however, the law is not being made available for public scrutiny, and no public hearings are scheduled to seek input from musicians, music lovers and indie concert promoters."

For those unfamiliar with this proposed law, it has been called:

"... unconstitutional."
- Henry H. Perritt, Jr., Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law

"... will pretty much drop a bomb on Chicago's independent music community, if not nuke it entirely."
- Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times

"I cannot imagine a major metropolitan city, a world class city with the stature of Chicago having an ordinance like this on the books. It's frankly embarrassing ..."
Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune

For more info, JaGoFF and TheRecordIndustry.com filmed the documentary,
"Chicago's Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music"


... and the video documenting follow-up
Q&A forum discussions with Law Professor, Henry H. Perritt



On March 6th, we will be participating in an another open forum discussion and film screening during "Free Speech First Friday" at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music. We encourage EVERYONE to attend. Jim DeRogatis, Andrea Bunch and Shawn Campbell of CHIRP (Chicago's Independent Radio Project) will also be participating in the discussion.

More response to the Chicago Promoters Ordinance:

"... a threat to the creative communities throughout the country and sets a very dangerous precident - as one city goes, so goes another. Rinse and repeat."
- TheRecordIndustry.com

"this really has a chilling effect..."
Shawn Campbell, CHIRP [Chicago Independent Radio Project]

"The ordinance will reduce the amount of music in Chicago, make events more expensive for consumers, dampen the large and growing economic engine that is Chicago music, and create a much less supportive business climate for Chicago's small music business community."
- The Chicago Music Commission

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!

You can contact the Mayor's Office, your Alderman, etc. at 4TheMusic.org. Even if you are not from Chicago please contact the city and let them know how misguided this proposal is.

Please repost this and help to spread the word.

Video coverage of the "200 Lincolns" art exhibit at the Chicago Art Department w/ JaGoFF by (the one and only) Nurse Mika Fakeblood

It took two days (daze), but we have fully recouperated from the (capacity) crowd at Friday night's "200 Lincoln" exhibit at the Chicago Art Department. Sexy Nurse Mika Fakeblood was there in all of her glory, documenting it all guerrilla style and was kind enough to post the video "200 Lincolns: Don't Knock the Hustle". Enjoy, we did.

Nurse Miks's take:
"Mika FakeBlood partied with Illinois favorite dead President Gorrilla- style. 200 artworks celebrated Lincoln's Birthday at the Chicago Art Department 2nd Friday Gala. (This Sexy Nurse might bring anyone back to life) However in order to erect the dead 200 artists came together. Jagoff was more than happy to share Abraham and the Two Thieves with the packed house. Mika FakeBlood is more than Happy to wrap the evening up for you! Can Illinois say Crucifixion? It could get messy! But there weren't any cops????? ... Political Satire: with all due respect Mr.President you have been cloned! Expect nothing less from Jagoff."

Many thanks to everyone for showing such amazing support. The evening was incredible. If you didn't catch the art show, we posted the JaGoFF submissions "Abraham and the Two Thieves" & "Lincoln Bicentennial Commemorative Stamp" in our photo section. You can view them here. Too much damn fun.

We are editing our pix and should have them up later on this evening.

JaGoFF commemorates Lincoln in Chicago Art Department's "200 Lincolns" Exhibit 02/13/09

In commemoration of the 200th bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, JaGoFF is taking part in Chicago Art Department's "200 Lincolns" exhibit on Feb, 13th (1837 S. Halsted, 6PM - 10PM).

We've submited two pieces entitled, "Abraham and the Two Thieves" and "The Lincoln Bicentennial Commemorative Stamp (Truth in Advertising Series)". Come out and join us for the opening, it's going to be a good one.

"Abraham and the Two Thieves"
by JaGoFF

Modeled after the biblical story of Jesus and the Two Thieves, "Abraham and the Two Thieves" features a benevolant and stoic Lincoln hanging from a cross of surveillance cameras and crucified in an Illinois cornfield.

Having died for the sins of our nation, Lincoln saved the union - he stands deified and is flanked by the two thieves (protrayed by Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan), who both hang in defiance and glare at Lincoln in jealousy and shame.

In the background of the crucifiction scene are peppered a half-dozen nuclear reactor cooling towers. Artwork dimensions 28 x 22(mixed media)

The Lincoln Bicentennial Commemorative Stamp
(Truth in Advertising Series) by JaGoFF



From the Truth in Advertising Presidential Series, this stamp commemorates Abraham Lincoln's suspension of Habeas Corpus in 1861.
Artwork dimensions 8 x 10(mixed media)

We dropped the art off at the set-up party on Friday and were really impressed by the work that folks were submiting. Below we have posted some pix of the set-up party (with captions of course). We look forward to seeing you on Feb. 13th opening. It is taking place during "Second Fridays" so it should be a great time. Funk yeah!



We arrive at CAD to drop off our work to find many others doing the same.



JaGoFF's Mofo admires the many other Lincoln submissions.

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The mounting and framing of "Abraham and the Two Thieves"