72 - Devon Folk

Footnotes ....PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTThere is more than adegree of uncertaintyover the outcome of the controversial newLicensing Bill before Parliament. With anumber of sensible amendments in theLords being overturned in the Commonspolitical ping-pong is possible, or with thecurrent parliamentary session fast drawingto aclose, the whole Bill could fall by thewayside. This would be a pity, since theBill actually has the potential to scrap thecurrent nonsensical "Two-in-a-Bar" law ;allwe ask is that our traditional right to sing anddance is not smothered by petty or punitivebureaucracy. For details of the latest developmentssee the EFDSS website or the MorrisRing website at www.themorrisring.org.ukPUBLIC LIABILITY .... ARE YOUINSURED ?Brian Chappell describes the recentchanges for EFDSS members &affiliated clubs.Until 1st April this year affiliation to EFDSShad given many individuals and organisations ameasure of security so far as Public LiabilityInsurance is concerned because the level ofcover provided met requirements. Howeversince that date things have changed in as muchthat not only has the Idemnity Limit beenreduced from £5m to £2m, the only eventscovered by the EFDSS scheme are now subjectedto amaximum attendance of 50.Given that many local authorities still require£5m worth of cover and many events attractmore than 50 people, organisations must nowapply for extended cover at an additional cost.Also, individuals will have to apply for extendedcover, especially if acting as MC atevents arranged by organisations not affiliated tothe Society. If extended cover is required applicationshould be made to the Musicians InsuranceServices at 312 High Street, Harlington,Middx. UB3 5BT. (0845 345 7529).EFDSS maintain that as a consequence of adramatic rise in Public Liability Insurance premiums,the cost to the Society of providing thesame level of cover this year, as in the past,would mean them paying a vastly increasedpremium, a premium that could cause theSociety to make alarge loss and resulting in asubstantial rise in membership fees.FOOTLOOSEBARN DANCE BANDFOUR PIECE BANDOWN CALLERMike &Sheila 01647 433464Trevor 01769 520595Committee members have only recently learntof the changes to the level of cover now to beprovided and have raised the issue of theattendance limitation with the Musicians InsuranceServices with a view to increasing thefigure to at least 120. It is understood thatnegotiations are in hand but until anythingfurther is known the revised Public LiabilityInsurance, as now provided by EFDSS, may nolonger meet your needs.FOLK MUSIC ON-LINEOne valuable piece of information from CecilSharp House is the availability of the JamesMadison Carpenter collection of traditionalsong &drama, music, dance, custom &folklorefrom the U.K and the U.S.A. documentedbetween 1927 and 1935. It's a goldmine ofinformation and quite user-friendly. You canfind it atwww.hrionline.ac.uk/carpenterFOLK CLUB CHANGESAfter ashort stay at the Royal Oak, the formerPriory Folk Club has found a better - andhopefully more permanent home at the GoldenLion.Clifton Street, Exeter. (3rd. Friday).ACORN FOLK CLUB, MINEHEADwelcomed Bideford Folk Club founders, Jerry&Hilary Bix as guests at the Saturday clubnight at the Old Ship Aground. Jerry's playingof 6&12 string guitars ideally complementedHilary's beautiful singing. Amongst thenumbers which left the audience wanting morewere The Banks of the Torridge by AndyKnight, awinner of the Plymouth Songwriters'Competition, Jerry's own composition ThreeCheers for the Landlord (a Morrisman's drinkingsong !) and Sandra Kerr's Big Knickers,guaranteed to get any audience laughing.The club featured no less than 26 singers andmusicians, with awide variety of instruments.32PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com