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."

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!

Chicago Promoters' Ordinance: An Open Panel Discussion (Video)

On Dec., 20th, 2008, JaGoFF was invited to screen their documentary "Chicago's Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music" at the Chicago Art Department. Following the screening was held Q&A panel discussion in regard to the proposed ordinance, it's implications and current state.

All those in attendence represented many various disciplines in Chicago's Independent art community, and it was wonderful to see all of us coming together under one common cause. If you have not seen the documentary, you can find it here. If you have already seen it, enjoy the panel discussion. As with the documentary, it is licensed under the Creative Commons, so please fell free to download it, burn it and share it. We need all of the help that we can get.

Featured panel speakers:
Henry H. Perritt, Jr. - Law Professor & Former Dean Chicago-Kent College of Law
Sir Real (JaGoFF) - Film Producer
Mofo (JaGoFF) - Film Producer
and Chicago's independent arts community.

Presented by JaGoFF & TheRecordIndustry.com.

For more background information on this backward ordinance visit TheRecordIndustry.com
or let your voice be heard by visiting: 4theMusic.org

Special thanks to Chicago Art Department, 3pHaZe, Fearless Radio and to all of those in the community who are doing something about this mess. Licensed under the Creative Commons.

Fearless Radio interview Re: Promoters' Ordinance, documentary and screening. 12/16 - Listen in.

We will be on Fearless Radio's "New Music Binge" on Tues, Dec 16th @ 6PM discussing the world premiere screening of JaGoFF's documentary "Chicago's Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music" as well as, the implications and reach of the proposed ordinance. Joining us in the discussion will be independent artist advocate, Henry H. Perritt, Jr., Law Professor & Former Dean of Chicago-Kent College of Law and author of the white paper, "Why the event promoters ordinance should be rejected".



Listen in. We invite you to call in with your questions and concerns.

To listen: www.fearlessradio.com - choose "Listen Now".
Call JaGoFF at Fearless Radio's studio: 312/224-8273
IM us during the show: fearlessradio00 on AIM & Yahoo;
fearlessradio on MSN



For those wishing to attend the screening/discussion, it will be taking place Dec 20th @ 6:30 at The Chicago Art Department, located at 1837 S. Halsted (in Chicago's Pilsen-area). There will be and open discussion following the film. You can find more information here.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Premiere Film Screening: "Chicago Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music" and Panel Discussion @ The Chicago Art Department - Dec. 20th / 6:30PM

JaGoFF is absolutely THRILLED to announce that we have teamed-up with The Chicago Art Department for the WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING of our documentary "Chicago's Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music", Saturday, Decemember 20th, from 6:30 - 10PM. After the movie, we will be holding a panel discussion fielding the questions and concerns of the community. TheRecordIndustry.com will be taking part, as will be the former dean & professor of law of Chicago Kent College of Law, Henry H. Perritt, Jr. Henry has been a very strong advocate concerning the rights of the independent artist and authored the white paper "Why the event promoters ordinance should be rejected", in which he found the Promoters' Ordinance to be unconstitutional. This is also the white paper on which JaGoFF used as the basis for the documentary.



Following the panel discussion we lighten things up a bit and open the floor to the DJs to spin late into the evening. If you are not hip to the proposed ordinance this is a great starting point. If you are aware of it, this is a great time to voice your questions, concerns and more importantly, for Chicago's creative community to come together as this law if passed would effect the entire creative community. The bottom line is that as written, the proposed ordinance is UNCONSTITUTIONAL and should not pass in any form whatsoever.

For those of you who think that this is a local issue... it is not. The war on the independent artist has crossed over the Atlantic and London now has a similar proposal entitled "Form 696". The city of San Jose just passed an ordinance as well. This is very scary $h!t people, as this effects the future of our culture, our right to free speech and freedom of expression.

Please feel free to spread the word and repost, as we need to reach out to as much of the community as possible. If you not in/from the Chicago-area, but wish to do something (which we strongly encourage) you can contact (email, fax, snail mail) City Hall here. We have posted the documentary online, please feel free to watch it, embed it, email it, whatever...

Thank you all so very much and we look forward to seeing you at the screening.

Dec.20th (6:30 - 10PM)
TheRecordIndustry.com & 3pHaze present:
World Premiere Screening of ...
"The Chicago Promoters' Ordinance Kills Independent Music: A Documentary by JaGoFF"
@ The Chicago Art Department
1837 S. Halsted (Pilsen nieghborhood)
Chicago, IL
FREE

View the press release here.
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Reviews of the documentary
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"Not Done Yet" - Arts and Entertainment (DePaul)

Because it didn't just go away... (Gaper's Block)

Sword of Damocles (Chicagoist)

More On The Promoters Ordinance (AVANT/CHICAGO)

Possible return of Promoter Ordinance to kill Windy City indie scene (Examiner)

Lives Shows Under Threat in Chicago (indyish)

AMAZING WORK !!!

We are losing our heads over this.

AC/DC !!!

On this day in history... Thomas Edison electrocuted Topsy the elephant, in an effort to protect his interests in electricity and discredit Tesla's competing & superior AC/alternating current (vs his own DC/direct current version of distribution).

Sound familiar?

"FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK!!!!"

A Real Da Vinci Code ???

An Italian musician claims to have found musical notes, resembling a requiem, hidden in Leonardo Da Vinci's painting of "The Last Supper".

ARTISTS : MEET THE FUTURE...

In the latest blow against the so-called "major labels", the much hyped release by Saul Williams/Trent Reznor, has built and improved upon the Radiohead model. While it certainly and by no means the only way to go, commercially, it looks like THE leading contender for a viable, working model in the future of independent artist music distribution.

While the industry remains so far out of touch , they may finally have no other choice but to answer the call if they wish to remain relevant.

The truth is, from an independent artist perspective, who really cares what their fate is - as they have never represented the artist (or the listener) to begin with ... their time has come and is long past it's due date - any artist worth their wieght in dog crap already knows this.

Here is how the Saul Williams/Trent Reznor release is structured: For the cost of your email addy, the listener is allowed to download the entire album (CD artwork and booklet included - yippiiieee) in 192k/mp3/DRM free format! For $5, the listener can choose between 360k/mp3 or the lossless FLAC file. For listener AND artist, this is a win/win situation ... listeners unfamilar with the artist, the free model gets the word out (which leads to more potential sales), while the paying customer gets what they actually pay for. Considering there are no distro, manufacturing, shipping, warehouse and/or inventory cost associated with the download model, the $5 price tag looks to be right on target. Kudos to Trent & Saul for following thru and helping to map the future.

Many thanks to the good folks at TheRecordIndustry.com for the massive amounts of info.

and as always ...

SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MUSIC OF BE FORCE-FED CRAP.

Your ol' pal,
JaGoFF
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