From: v_abadie@cox.net   
      
   kateh wrote:   
      
   >"Vince"  wrote   
   >   
   >   
   >>That's what we do. For the record, we play a few originals, but for the   
   >>most part, we're playing other people's music.   
   >>   
   >>   
   >   
   >Okay Vince, you've started something, here!   :)   
   >I have a question for the group, now.   
   >   
   >When does a band need to worry about paying royalties and how do you even do   
   >that?   
   >KateH   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   /Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and the following statement is in no way   
   intended to be legal advise to anyone:   
      
   /We have a lawyer in our band. He's not involved in entertainment law,   
   but he gets answers whenver something questionable comes up.   
   Here is what I've come to believe on this topic. Basically, if you're   
   playing in a business establishment as entertainment, and if that   
   establishment is making money while you play, whether they pay you or   
   not, it's usually the business establishment's responsibility to pay   
   royalties. The vast majority of small restaurants and bars that have   
   live bands never pay the royalties unless a rep from the music industry   
   persues them. Now, if you want to record someone else's music, you open   
   an entirely different can of worms. Most songs attributed to that very   
   prolific writer, "Traditional" are in public domain and can be recorded,   
   in general. But before recording anything for distribution, I would   
   consult a music industry lawyer and make sure you're not infringing on   
   any copyrights. Those lawsuits can get hairy, even among us friendly   
   bluegrass folks.   
   If this is wildly inaccurate, I'd appreciate input/correction from those   
   who know for sure.   
   Vince   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)