Not classical - but music nevertheless. B*** impacts.

[Dave2002]

Just read most of this - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/16/a...t-touring.html

The article is about UK bands touring Europe.

Now there's a surprise!

[bluestateprommer]

From the classical side, Andrew Green has an interview with Sarah Connolly that notes, for one:

https://www.classical-music.uk/features/article/what-is-there-to-be-proud-of-at-the-moment-given-this-mess-dame-sarah-connolly-on-brexit

"Well-travelled British musicians are used to the idea of having to make embassy visits in London or elsewhere to secure visas relating to engagements in non-EU countries, surrendering passports for a period as part of the process. However, Brexit adds 26 countries for which this is required (Finland being the exception where no work permit is required if musicians offer pedagogy or training as well)."

From Dame SC, one quote:

"Oliver Dowden was very sincere and listened well. I believe he’ll do his best, but there’s great confusion as to who’s in charge. Lord Frost has shown very little interest in resolving our plight and nor is he listening to Oliver Dowden, who’s representing our interests. There’s nothing wrong with having a negotiator who isn’t particularly turned on to classical music, but for Frost to ignore the huge financial contribution the arts make to UK GDP is hard to understand. The bottom line is that many Brexiters have no interest in the arts. We’re on the back-burner as far as discussions with the EU are concerned."

[LHC]

Some good news on this front.

The government has announced that it has reached agreement with 19 EU states that UK musicians and performers no longer need visas or work permits for short-term tours (I believe this means up to 3 months), and they are in discussion with the remaining countries to agree the same terms.

The countries covered by the agreement are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/visa-free-short-term-touring-allowed-in-19-member-states

[bluestateprommer]

The ISM has a statement on their website today, which at 1st glance appears to say that they're looking at the fine print, and also that musicians shouldn't jump for joy just yet:

https://www.ism.org/advice/eu-work-permit-requirements-for-musicians

[Cockney Sparrow]

The ISM has a statement on their website today, which at 1st glance appears to say that they're looking at the fine print, and also that musicians shouldn't jump for joy just yet:

https://www.ism.org/advice/eu-work-p...-for-musicians

At all times there is good reason to take that approach when their members work is the matter at hand. With this government.......well.....there is ample proof since before the election that anything they have said about the revised processes might prove to be outright misrepresentation (a.k.a. lies....). Let's keep hopeful that, after Lord Frost's casual complacency, they have actually achieved something of benefit for performers and the whole industry which supports them. And if so, perhaps, perhaps some credit may be due to the Culture secretary Oliver Dowden.

[oddoneout]

At all times there is good reason to take that approach when their members work is the matter at hand. With this government.......well.....there is ample proof since before the election that anything they have said about the revised processes might prove to be outright misrepresentation (a.k.a. lies....). Let's keep hopeful that, after Lord Frost's casual complacency, they have actually achieved something of benefit for performers and the whole industry which supports them. And if so, perhaps, perhaps some credit may be due to the Culture secretary Oliver Dowden.

For finally doing a part of his job? Sorry, I'm not that generous.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

For finally doing a part of his job? Sorry, I'm not that generous.

Me neither. And I'm well short of convinced that the latest announcement represents anything more than a rehash of those preceding it, as it's this government's style to do that sort of thing and kick the can further down the road.

Dowden's job, like any of the Blukip cabinet, is in any case primarily to obfuscate and misrepresent.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I there's me thinking I was virulently anti-Tory.........?

My whole life (from my constituency locations) a tactical - usually (but not on every occasion) a Labour - voter.

Maybe I'm going soft....... I am well aware we are predominantly a divided society. That said in time I think we need to work together - in principle its a good thing - but we need a different set in charge of the Government & their political machine, and a different outlook. Maybe wildly premature, but nonetheless a small part of me nurtures the hope there might be a principled person in that Cabal. Perhaps I'm concerned about what bitterness might do to me, or I just need hope to keep going..........

(Our local Tories already have our house as a "no-go" area for doorstep canvassing on their database - a bucketload of verbal ordure would have been coming their way. However, with an ageing membership (another cause for hope, over time) they can't field the canvassers these days I reckon).

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Would that it was merely the Tories that were running the show now; while not ideal, they'd be well to the left of the current bunch of carpetbaggers.

[Serial_Apologist]

I there's me thinking I was virulently anti-Tory.........?

My whole life (from my constituency locations) a tactical - usually (but not on every occasion) a Labour - voter.

Maybe I'm going soft....... I am well aware we are predominantly a divided society. That said in time I think we need to work together - in principle its a good thing - but we need a different set in charge of the Government & their political machine, and a different outlook. Maybe wildly premature, but nonetheless a small part of me nurtures the hope there might be a principled person in that Cabal. Perhaps I'm concerned about what bitterness might do to me, or I just need hope to keep going..........

That's what's useful about having an inner Marxist guide to all this happening. It may not stop the rot, which only the wake up call about the environment rising to a scream will do because it cuts across classes, but at least it explains why things are as they are, and could be otherwise.

[Serial_Apologist]

Would that it was merely the Tories that were running the show now; while not ideal, they'd be well to the left of the current bunch of carpetbaggers.

Why then have the grass roots Tories not kicked out the carpetbaggers?

[oddoneout]

Me neither. And I'm well short of convinced that the latest announcement represents anything more than a rehash of those preceding it, as it's this government's style to do that sort of thing and kick the can further down the road.

Dowden's job, like any of the Blukip cabinet, is in any case primarily to obfuscate and misrepresent.

This seems to confirm the nothing new/rehash suspicion about the announcement https://www.theguardian.com/politics...untries-brexit
I note that although the Musician's Union was talking with DCMS the day before the announcement, it was not mentioned.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Why then have the grass roots Tories not kicked out the carpetbaggers?

I wish I knew the answer. I attribute a degree of decency to the grass-roots Tory, but maybe I do so wrongly.

[Serial_Apologist]

I wish I knew the answer. I attribute a degree of decency to the grass-roots Tory, but maybe I do so wrongly.

My albeit limited experience of Tory grass roots branch political debate, both parents having been leading party voices in their locale, is to treat it as something that goes on elsewhere, further up the tree - best summed up in the oft-heard exhortation, "Well somebody has got to DO something!"

[EnemyoftheStoat]

My albeit limited experience of Tory grass roots branch political debate, both parents having been leading party voices in their locale, is to treat it as something that goes on elsewhere, further up the tree - best summed up in the oft-heard exhortation, "Well somebody has got to DO something!"

That would explain it. I'm shortly going to be moving from a solid Labour constituency to one where a pig wearing a blue (or purple) rosette would get voted in. Baiting the locals may be amusing...