The following from Hamish Birchall. http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/

Equity, the actors and entertainers union, is organising a demonstration 
outside Parliament at noon on 22 October 'to convince the government to undo 
the damage being done to live entertainment by the current licensing 
regime.'

All performers are invited, and full details are available on their website:
http://www.equity.org.uk/article.aspx?id=236

See also this report in The Stage:
http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/25702/equity-to-lead-demonstration-against-live

Equity also calls on members to lobby their MPs and to sign the online 
petition asking the Prime Minister to rethink his government's opposition to 
new exemptions for small gigs recommended earlier this year by the Culture 
Committee.  The petition is nearing the 12,000 signature mark: 
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/livemusicevents/

The union's very public campaign is in marked contrast to the Musicians' 
Union which now seems to be in a state of virtual paralysis on this vital 
issue.

Indeed, the MU's latest move tends to undermine the case for new exemptions. 
Last week they announced that there would be a live band at their AGM on 
Monday, 28th September:
http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/site/cms/v4_newsArticleView.asp?article=891

They claim that Lambeth council, the licensing authority, gave the 
performance a green light as 'incidental music' and it was therefore exempt 
from the licensing requirement.  The MU aim is to encourage pubs and 
restaurants to make more use of the incidental music exemption.

But the gig was exempt in any case, without recourse to the incidental music 
exemption, because it was private and not for profit.  This is not 
comparable to a typical pub or restaurant gig, even if the music is not the 
main reason for people being there.  As Feargal Sharkey has said, local 
authorities have had four years to get the incidental exemption right, and 
they have failed.

The MU press release seems to be part of their collaboration with the Local 
Government Association's live music working group, set up in the summer. 
The LGA is opposed to new live music exemptions, and wants the working group 
to promote the 'incidental exemption' as an alternative, along with the much 
criticised £89 'minor variations' process.

So why has the MU lost its way?  One reason may be that the MU is 
politically affiliated and makes regular large donations to the Labour 
party.  Another is that many orchestral members jobs, and large-scale jazz 
events, depend on government funding.  Even though this is meant to be at 
'arms length', through the Arts Council, the government nonetheless could 
make things difficult if the union were to rock the boat too much.

Equity, by contrast, is not politically affiliated, and makes no political 
donations. This fundamental constitutional difference may explain the 
widening gulf between the two unions on this campaign.

Consider the MU statement from 14 July on the government's rejection of the 
Culture Committee recommendations. There is no call for action from members, 
and no indication that the union intends to do anything significant at all:
http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/site/cms/v4_newsArticleView.asp?article=877

Contrast that with Equity's position:
http://www.equity.org.uk/article.aspx?id=209

In 2007 the MU issued a public response to the Licensing Act, signed by 
general secretary John Smith. It included this recommendation:

'... we strongly believe that there is a clear case for such an exemption to 
be introduced for venues with a capacity of 100 or less.'

Smith concluded: 'We urge the government to seriously consider the above 
recommendations from the MU. The Act is unlikely to deliver the government's 
promised improvements to the live music scene in England and Wales unless 
they are acted upon.'
['Musicians Union - Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Union Policy', para 
15(vi) 'Recommendations - Exemption for micro venues']
See: 
http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/site/cms/contentDocumentView.asp?documentId=738

Members might reasonably ask John Smith whether the MU has now abandoned 
that goal.

ENDS