2008 Woodie Awards
Law increases popularity of house shows
Daniel Potter
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: News
A new law has members of Murfreesboro's live music scene leaving bars to perform in private homes, but trouble might just follow them there.
The law, Tennessee's "Non-Smoker Protection Act," requires venues that allow smoking to admit only patrons age 21 and up, limiting the options of many younger music fans; as a result, house shows are gaining in popularity, but stand on tenuous legal ground.
"If there's going to be DJs and multiple bands, that's something that isn't allowed according to the zoning ordinance," said city planner Robert Lewis, whose job includes sending letters to warn house-show hosts of their violation.
"We know your parents love you, and I have kids at MTSU and I love them, and I'd hate to see anything happen to them. Chances are it wouldn't happen, but you never know - accidents happen," Lewis said.
"We're not all a bunch of ogres down here at City Hall, even though it sounds like we are," Lewis said. "We're not trying to come down hard on everybody that wants to have a good time."
In addition to the City's letters, in the last year various houses in Murfreesboro have received fines from the police and threats of eviction from landlords, but despite this numerous house shows still occur each month.
"In this town especially I think it's necessary," said Asher Johnson, a local musician who sometimes hosts live music at an informal backyard venue called the Barn.
A few events there have brought the attention of law enforcement, mostly concerning noise levels, but Johnson has never been fined or received a letter from the City.
For its Halloween show the Barn saw a surge of guests; some were diverted from another house show - cancelled due to City intervention - like Jenny Stracener, a junior majoring in communication disorders.
An avid follower of local music, 20-year-old Stracener says house shows are her only real option under the new law. "I don't like it and bands don't like it. [We're] going to have to go to house shows."
The law, Tennessee's "Non-Smoker Protection Act," requires venues that allow smoking to admit only patrons age 21 and up, limiting the options of many younger music fans; as a result, house shows are gaining in popularity, but stand on tenuous legal ground.
"If there's going to be DJs and multiple bands, that's something that isn't allowed according to the zoning ordinance," said city planner Robert Lewis, whose job includes sending letters to warn house-show hosts of their violation.
"We know your parents love you, and I have kids at MTSU and I love them, and I'd hate to see anything happen to them. Chances are it wouldn't happen, but you never know - accidents happen," Lewis said.
"We're not all a bunch of ogres down here at City Hall, even though it sounds like we are," Lewis said. "We're not trying to come down hard on everybody that wants to have a good time."
In addition to the City's letters, in the last year various houses in Murfreesboro have received fines from the police and threats of eviction from landlords, but despite this numerous house shows still occur each month.
"In this town especially I think it's necessary," said Asher Johnson, a local musician who sometimes hosts live music at an informal backyard venue called the Barn.
A few events there have brought the attention of law enforcement, mostly concerning noise levels, but Johnson has never been fined or received a letter from the City.
For its Halloween show the Barn saw a surge of guests; some were diverted from another house show - cancelled due to City intervention - like Jenny Stracener, a junior majoring in communication disorders.
An avid follower of local music, 20-year-old Stracener says house shows are her only real option under the new law. "I don't like it and bands don't like it. [We're] going to have to go to house shows."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
nm
posted 12/03/07 @ 12:13 AM CST
Enabling bad laws with cooperation is wrong. Encourage city to not be intimidated by state gestapo laws and merely not enforce them. Much like some cities thumb noses at feds by being sanctuaries for immigrants. (Continued…)
STUPID
posted 12/03/07 @ 8:24 AM CST
Look... There are plenty of venues to play at... All ages even... If you want to play a show for a few friends in your basement - that's your deal... You should willingly accept any legal risk that goes along with it. (Continued…)
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