A quick history and explanation of the Caberet License law in NYC

[mik-e_smilez]

THIS IS WHY IT'S ILLEGALTO DANCE

IN MOST PLACES IN NEW YORK CITY

The city began a system in Prohibition-era 1926 to control

entertainment in

clubs. All clubs were required to obtain a cabaret license to

operate,

which remains a labyrinthine process controlled entirely by the

city. It's

widely believed that the city was legislating in the view that the

origins

of jazz music and dancing in black culture were a moral degradation.

The law states that an establishment must be licensed if the club

features

three or more musicians, or if any of the instruments is percussion or

brass, or if there is three or more people moving in synchronized

fashion.

Nightclubs are also restricted in zoning, meaning cabaret licenses

are only

granted to venues in major commercial centers, industrial or

manufacturing

districts, effectively making it illegal to dance in any residential

area.

The permit process is long, costly and uncertain. Approval is

required from

the Department of Consumer Affairs, the NYC Planning Department, the

Fire

Department, Buildings Departments and local community boards, among

others,

all of whom work independently from each other.

In the late eighties, after a decade long legal battle, the courts

declared

the three musician rule unconstitutional and accepted live music in

zones

where bars and restaurants are permitted. But nothing was done to

lift the

stigma of dancing.

In 1997 Rudy Guiliani created the multi-agency Nightclub Enforcement

Task

Force to crack down on clubs as part of his "Quality of Life"

campaign.

Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington goes on the record stating, ""We've been

closing down these little buckets of blood (nightclubs) for about

three

years and paralyzing them." Coney Island High, Baby Jupiter, Hogs &

Heifers, Vain, Rivertown Lounge and Lakeside Lounge are just a few of

the

places that have been fined or padlocked for illegal dancing.

A survey by Audience Research and Analysis reports that approximately

24.3

million people come to NYC's music and dance clubs per year,

exceeding the

combined attendance of Broadway theaters, city sports teams, the

Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Empire State Building-while

contributing

$2.9 billion to the city's economy and providing over 27,000 jobs.

There are currently over 5,000 liquor licenses in the five boroughs

but less

than 300 places where patrons can legally dance. That's 300 places

for 24.3

million people. You are not allowed to dance to the jukebox or DJ at

your

local bar. You are not allowed to move to the rock band or jazz act

at your

neighborhood club.

Dancing is a right, not some unsafe or dangerous action that need be

licensed or regulated by a legislative body. Indeed the act of

dancing is

simply the physical expression of emotion, which much like verbal

expression, need not ever be controlled or limited. This does not

mean we

don't support strict compliance with all fire safety codes, capacity

numbers, noise ordinances, alcohol and drug laws, only that the act of

dancing never be restrained in any manner.

NYC has made an invaluable contribution to global music culture with

its

renowned music, musicians, and clubs - from jazz to disco, salsa to

house,

rock to hip-hop. Dance music culture and nightlife has brought untold

millions of dollars to the city and its coffers. It is wrong that the

cabaret laws stifle these cultural treasures, inhibit artistic

expressions,

and discourage the economic development of New York City nightlife.

http://onomatopoeik.com

http://infornography.org

[charrails]

its so ridiculous if you think about it...

after all, their logic is that its easier to get a license to serve ALCOHOL (a drug) than it is to get a license to provide a dance floor.....

[bionic]

Where's Kevin Bacon when we need him so that he can rid the city of these stupid laws.

Is that Kenny Loggins I hear in the backround??

[mugwump]

Anyone up for a permanent relocation to Europe?

I hear Prauge is the shit!

anyone....?

[silente]

Originally posted by mugwump

Anyone up for a permanent relocation to Europe?

I hear Prauge is the shit!

anyone....?

Seriously. What century are we living in, anyway?? What's next - burning witches? Jesus

[mik-e_smilez]

Originally posted by silente

Seriously. What century are we living in, anyway?? What's next - burning witches? Jesus

Hmmmm sounds like a possible platform for NYC mayor candidate.

[wackydream]

you know, i read this somewhere that holland has half the number of heroin addicts and less people using other drugs than ths US (percentage-wise considering the population size). and they have 18+ everything, alcohol, pot, shrooms, all that stuff readily availaible and regulated (? im not sure about this one, but i think its regulated). and here we are debating moral implications of dancing...i dont know, but something tells me that the US is living in the ancent times, esp. considering that most civilized countries allow their 18 year olds to take responsibility for their foolishness. but no, wait, an 18 year old in the US can vote, smoke, and be tried as an adult and die if the supreme court sees so fit. lovely, aint it?