Changes to Canadian laws for foreign workers have increased the amount it costs for the country’s music venues to host overseas acts, reports have revealed.
Bars, coffee shops and restaurants across Canada have been affected by changes regarding VISA regulations for foreign musicians entering the country.
The new law, as reported by the Calgary Herald, could see charges for foreign acts going up twice as much. Many promoters have hit out at the new laws.
Spencer Brown, a booker for the Palomino in Calgary, told the Herald: ‘If I have a one four-member American band at the Palomino, I’m looking at CAN$1,700 (£1,041) just to get them on the bill - and that’s on top of paying out a sound tech, paying for posters, gear rental, paying the other bands, staffing.
‘Concert promotion at this level is, in itself, a high-risk occupation. So this has just put it through the roof. There’s no way to start already $1,700 in the hole and break even. It’s impossible.’
Before these changes, the fee per band member was $150 with the maximum payment being $450.
However, now any venue whose primary purpose is not musically related must pay an extra $275 per musician and crew member. In addition to this, $150 is to be paid per band and crew members’ work permit.
Once news of these changes had reached the public, a petition was formed on Change.org, which has had over 63,000 signatures since its publication last Thursday.
Words: Hannah Kane
Bars, coffee shops and restaurants across Canada have been affected by changes regarding VISA regulations for foreign musicians entering the country.
The new law, as reported by the Calgary Herald, could see charges for foreign acts going up twice as much. Many promoters have hit out at the new laws.
Spencer Brown, a booker for the Palomino in Calgary, told the Herald: ‘If I have a one four-member American band at the Palomino, I’m looking at CAN$1,700 (£1,041) just to get them on the bill - and that’s on top of paying out a sound tech, paying for posters, gear rental, paying the other bands, staffing.
‘Concert promotion at this level is, in itself, a high-risk occupation. So this has just put it through the roof. There’s no way to start already $1,700 in the hole and break even. It’s impossible.’
Before these changes, the fee per band member was $150 with the maximum payment being $450.
However, now any venue whose primary purpose is not musically related must pay an extra $275 per musician and crew member. In addition to this, $150 is to be paid per band and crew members’ work permit.
Once news of these changes had reached the public, a petition was formed on Change.org, which has had over 63,000 signatures since its publication last Thursday.
Words: Hannah Kane
