Laughs on Lark Comedy Showcase Cancelled + An Open Letter

By on February 7, 2012 in Albany

UPDATE: The Common Council planning committee is to discuss the proposed law February 15th at 5:30 pm, in a 2nd Floor Court Room at City Hall (24 Eagle Street). The meeting is open to the public and there’s a public comment period. If you have something to say, there’s your opportunity.

You can also now read more about this at AOA and the KnickLedger.

Many of you saw the article about the Hudson River Coffee House’s battle with mundane and arbitrary restrictions which hurt small businesses and the like. Last night I got this email from Matt Kelly who runs the Laughs on Lark Comedy Showcase, which is being affected by one of the aforementioned arbitrary ordinances. The letter follows.

An Open Letter to The Capital Region and Beyond

Many of you are familiar with, or have come to enjoy our monthly Laughs on Lark Comedy Showcase. We regret to inform you that we will have to cancel this month’s show, scheduled for Wednesday February 8th, our first cancellation since we started 20 months ago. It is not because we need to write new material, though we could use a few fresh jokes, or because of anxiety over the possibility of a Rick Santorum presidency, but because of a proposed Ordinance by the City of Albany regarding audio entertainment within taverns and restaurants. The ambiguity of the bill and the rush to enforce it prior to the Common City Council meeting scheduled to discuss it leave us no option but to pull the plug.

We started the show in August of 2010 in hopes of bringing a breathe of fresh air to the local entertainment community. Modeled after New York City alternative comedy rooms and with a showcase-format we’ve had 35+ different stand-up comedians, improv performers, special guests, and even a magician.

We love this neighborhood and judging by the increasing number of folks in attendance, you like us too. We believe strongly that businesses that promote and nourish local performers should be celebrated and not punished. Culture is what makes our community so spirited and lively, so imposing added restrictions on the shrinking number of establishments who embrace the artistic community is wrong. We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to perform for so many of you and we hope to be back as soon as possible.

Best,
Matt Kelly & Jaye Mcbride

It really sucks to see people who are doing things in our city to make it a more diverse and fun place to live getting entangled in regulations to the point of discontinuation. I guess these law makers really take the name of this site literally, eh?

About andrew

Andrew started Keep Albany Boring in September 2010.
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  • Samthebutcher518

    What is this exact ordinance?? Does anyone know?

    • http://keepalbanyboring.com andrew

      No idea, but this is a few more details from the other article:

      Pasquill recently became an opponent of a proposed ordinance that would require a new license for businesses that offer amplified entertainment. It’s a regulation aimed at the rowdier, alcohol-soaked nightclubs in areas like North Pearl Street. But Pasquill, who does not serve alcohol, holds open-mic nights, so the ordinance would include him, too -– and hit him with a $500 annual fee.

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  • Anonymous

    so instead of stoping the douchey-ness of pearl street and the jersey shore wannabes, we lose laughs on lark…. fucking brilliant

    idiots

    • http://keepalbanyboring.com andrew

      such a fucking bummer

  • http://www.facebook.com/jdonnelly82 Joe Donnelly

    The proposed regulations seem to be impacting and hurting Albany than the status quo, which for once in Albany didn’t seem to hurt the city. Weird TOD, Status quo in Albany is the desired outcome.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/jdonnelly82 Joe Donnelly

    Basically lets hurt everyone who makes our community livable so we can affect the few who make the city their weekend playground. Yeah, seems totally reasonable. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Anton-Konev/16101270 Anton Konev

    The meeting is actually at 5:00pm. And people need to speak up. This is another “tax” on small business throughout our city. 

    • http://keepalbanyboring.com andrew

      the citys website says 5:30.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jack.cuyler Jack Cuyler

    So wait, if it’s just a “proposed ordinance,” how can they enforce it before it passes?

  • Aaron David Ward

    Thoughts from a Mental Ward

    GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION NO LAUGHING MATTER

    February 7, 2012 by Aaron David Ward

    If Albany, New York’s city government appeared as one of the faces on the Comedy/Tragedy Mask…there’s no question it would represent Tragedy.

    For those who believe government’s mission is to protect our God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the joke is on us.

    Government thinks its mission is to ban, rule, regulate, bully, tax, steal, lie, cheat, and otherwise interfere and interrupt voluntary exchanges in the private market for its own ends and means.

    The blog All Over Albany reports, “The city of Albany says some clubs are violating the city’s zoning ordinance. They’re licensed to operate as restaurants or bars, but not for amplified live entertainment — so, no open mic nights, or comedy with a microphone. They’d need a zoning variance to do that.”

    To read the entire article use this link…http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2012/02/07/comedy-karaoke-and-albanys-cabaret-law

    And as usual for government, every law, regulation, rule, or statute boils down to a grab for cold hard cash.

    Government does not earn money like private citizens and corporations do by providing labor, goods, and services that people want.

    Government steals, lies, cheats, and robs private citizens, corporations, and others competing in the private market.

    According to All Over Albany “Albany’s Cabaret Law would force clubs to pay annual fees between $300 and $900, depending on how many people the venue can hold. And the proposed law would also allow for a temporary license at a cost of $50 to $100 for up to two dates per year.”

    And under the proposed system, the decision to grant the license would move from the zoning board of appeals to the city clerk’s office.

    Consolidating government decision making from bodies of citizens into government workers is surely a path to tyranny.

    Clearly it’s time to stand up against yet another government power grab and attempt to fleece productive citizens who own clubs of their hard earned income.

    George Carlin wrote a famous routine about the seven words you could not say on TV.

    Flash forward to 2012 and there are seven words you can no longer say in public…

    Life, liberty, happiness, private market, profit, freedom…

    without someone labeling you an extremist or a terrorist or simply “unreasonable.”

    Government is nothing more than a gang of thieves writ large.

    This has what it has come to in 2012…you can enjoy the veal (for now) but not the jokes.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=16102888 Jeremy Routhier-James

    I’m a local musician and ‘ve started a petition opposing this.  Please sign and pass it on!

    http://www.change.org/petitions/reject-albanys-proposed-live-music-tax 

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