Equity campaign includes comedy

Performers' union Equity has launched a campaign to persuade pubs to promote live shows including comedy nights.

The Live Entertainment Works! campaign aims to highlight new licensing laws that make it much easier for venues to put on acts.

Key changes are that you no longer need a licence for unamplified music gigs, amplified music gigs with an audience of 200 or fewer (between 8am and 11pm) or for plays or dance with an audience of up to 500.

Equity members will be visiting pubs and other venues to ask them to support the campaign and asked to display a poster, while the union will also be providing a guide that gives further details about the licence changes and help on employing acts.

Research shows that live entertainment can increase takings – and pubs that do not feature music are three times more likely to close.

Hilary Hadley, Equity’s head of live performance, said: “We believe this is a win-win situation for our members and publicans. Pubs get more trade through people enjoying the live entertainment; the community benefits by joining together in a shared activity and Equity members get to do what they do best.'

Advice given to venues include: 'Comedy and drama performances may work well if your venue has a separate room from the main bar areas. The audience will need to be able to see and hear the performance without the distraction of noise from people talking who are not watching.'

And: 'If you can establish a regular pattern of entertainment such as a comedy night on the last Friday of the month then there is a good chance that it will develop a reputation and become more popular. Having established a frequency it is important to maintain it. It is also worth researching what else is going on in the vicinity so you don’t clash with other venues’ programmes.'

Published: 6 Sep 2014