An acquaintance on Myspace who runs a small promotions company for music events just had the following interesting rant on his blog.

Now obviously, he's writing from a subjective viewpoint and he does use his own company's situation as an example, but I thought I'd re-post it here, to see what you lot think - i.e., is he right to be this miffed and is this a real threat to the 'global' music scene here in the UK, or are there simply going to be ways around this, official or not?

The post follows:

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The Home Office (as as they now like to be called, The UK Borders Agency) are changing the way they hand out work permits (visas). It used to be a relatively simple process when bringing in a band from outside the EEA (European Ecomonic Area) or Switzerland. All you had to do was prove you were a proper company, and then fill out a 16 page document and show proof that the artists was established (CD covers, website prints, show reviews etc). thirteen13 have been doing this for nearly two years now but the system is changing and it could kill off the company.

From November anyone wanting a work permit will be assessed on a points based system, artists have to make their own application and earn different amount of points for being established, having worked recently and being 'well known' etc. They also need a 'Migrant Worker Sponsor', as they won't get in without one.

This is where the fun starts, our company thirteen13 will have to apply to become a sponsor, not a problem, but it involves a fee of £400 for applying. Not for the licence, just for applying for one. No guarantees of getting one and the process looks tough. Of course we'll have to try, we're not about to give up, but what I find really intersting is that the 'scene' will now find out who is serious and who is in it for the money and/or prestige only. Everyone that puts on a show is under scrutiny, the venues and the 'promoters', since they are all now considered 'employers' if they put on a show featuring a band from one of the countries outside the EEA. And not just bands, DJ's as well, they're workers too.

So, if you are planning on coming here to work illegally, leave your guitar at home and you'll be fine, just walk through customs, say you're on holiday and then lose yourself like you were planning on doing anyway. If however you're a musician wanting to play in the UK, a land full of musical history and a world leader in 'alternative' music, then you're going to find it a lot harder to get in.

How is this supposed to help? Apart from this weeding out those people in it for fame, in the long run heavy fines and tax prosecutions will kill the music scene, not help it. If we want to do something about immigration then surely proving someone is an established musician coming here to play a few shows, should just be accepted, and the whole process made easier, and cheaper. That artist should be welcomed here, we should be attracting them, not making it harder for them to play.

You couldn't make it up...
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I know, at least, one OTFer who will probably be an expert on this

Songlines, the world music magazine had an editorial on the same subject recently as well

I'd love to know how much they're wasting on those bloody TV adverts at the moment :-( seem to be on rather a lot and surely are only aimed at appeasing the Daily Mail readers by making it look as though they're getting tough on immigrants..there can't be that many employers watching at the times the ads are aired

edit..in fact I shall write to my MP to ask how much the campaign is costing and who it is being aimed at..haven't bothered the new labour cunt for months :-)