Performance Licences

[jojo_b]

I would appreciate some advice on Licences. I have just been in touch with my local council with regards to my DCs Dance schools' annual show to check what they need in the way of information for licences. I am doing this as some of the children have been in Panto over christmas and so they need a licence.

I was told by the council that they have changed their rules and now ALL children irrespective of their performance history will require a licence. This would mean that all those children will then need chaperones! If we have parents apply to become chaperones it will cost them £40 each. They are also revisng the number of children that can be looked after by a single chaperone - it is currently 12 but will be lower.

According to all the legislation that I have read they only need licencing if they are missing school (they're not) or have performed for more than 3 days in the last 6 months.

Please help - I really dont want to have to organise licenses for over 70 kids instead of the 2 I know need doing.

[Livy2]

Hi,
What Local Authority is it? and when is your dance show planned for? If it's not until the summer, the gap between the end of panto and your show may be big enough so that the two in panto are clear of their last performance, if that makes sense.

You might want to go back to the local authority again and check you have spoken to the right person, especially during this period when not everyone is in the office. The person you spoke to could be giving you incorrect information?

I'm not that up to date on the legislation but I thought it was four performances was the limit before you need licences.

So far as getting chaperones organised, you need enough time before your dance show, so you might want to check before you go out with a open request for chaperones. Also do they have to be proper LA cleared chaperones or could you use the parents who have been CRB Checked through their other activities or their jobs i.e. school, swimming, football. Hope you can get this sorted okay.

[jojo_b]

Unfortunately I did speak to the correct person. They are all new to the department and as such are reviewing everything and they have been told to licence everyone!! The reason they gave us that the premises are licences so all performers need licensing! Any parents will have to be chaperones as only chaperones are allowed to look after licensed children.

The show is in March so I do need to licence the 2 panto performers.

I have got a contact number for someone higher up, but they aren't back from their Christmas break yet.

I've even been on the government website to check on the acts that are referred to on all licences.

[Flosmom]

Thos isn't my specialist subject, but I know that some of the organisations that Flo works with have something called a 'Body of Persons' license which seems to make things easier - worth checking it out?

And - not wanting to be smug or anything - but can I give a huge to Warks LEA who have just produced a license for younger DD within hours. I know....we are soooooo lucky to have them. Believe me, I say a lot of thank yous to them.

Good luck

Deb x

[jojo_b]

Thanks Flosmom. I haven't heard of this type of licence before. I'll look into hopefully it will give me the right answer.

My own council and its neighbour are both great when it comes to kids licences, its just this one.

[linda griffiths]

Hi a body of persons is much easier to sort - you need contact names and details but no doctors notes photos etc etc and chaperone licenses for volunteers not getting paid should be cheaper if not free. At least that's my experience and I work as a professional chaperone and childrens' agent so do loads of licensing but in north wales. its worth going to the office and having a meeting to build up a relationship, our Lea officer is fab , she started off tough but once we had proved ourselves to be efficient and professional she couldn't be more helpful.

[jojo_b]

I will try this once they are back after the Christmas break. Unfortunately £40 is the volunteer cost. If you're not a volunteer it's £84!!