I've been singing my own songs at venues but want to add old standards (Haggard, Kristofferson, Hank Williams, and such) to my performance. Have not done so because I'm not sure how to deal with copyright and permissions. What is the proper procedure to be allowed to do so?

Drew,

It is my understanding that getting licenses from ASCAP, BMI and SEASAC to perform "cover" material is the sole responsibility of the venue, not the performer.

Just noticed that this was in the mentor section. I am not a mentor, but I am sure that this is the case. I don't know of any exceptions either.

Thanks Kevin.

As far as I'm concerned, anyone willing to provide knowledge I don't have qualifies as a mentor to me.
The venues I'm primarily interested in are craft shows, town fairs, flea markets, etc. I guess I better ask them what kind of license they have. (My wife does the crafts and travels to these things. Thought we might combine our efforts)

Here in the U.S., it is up to the venue to pay the PRO (the Performance Rights Organization, such as ASCAP, BMI etc.) the question here is: are you, being the vendor at such fairs, the venue? That's a good interesting question for an attorney, which I am not. If indeed you are the venue, you might get a travelling PRO license. Now, if it were me, and again, I AM NOT A LAWYER, I'd just do it until somebody told me I couldn't. This is not advice, just a personal testimony.

It is of course the Venue's responsibility to pay the Pro License. My sister-in-law was part of the Lake Wales, Fl. Christmas Parade. When I mentioned the Pro's she told me they billed the City for the use of the music. It was a Blanket license and I believe she said it was several hundred dollars. Now that poses a question. Many Fairs around the country usually have some live music shows. I wonder if they pay a fee to the Pro's.

Ray, you're absolutely right. I'm sure all the big fairs (State Fairs etc.) do pay, because they get approached by the PROs. Of the smaller ones, it depends on whether they show up on the PROs radar. But in the case of craft fairs, I'll bet each vendor is considered a seperate entity, responsible for their own taxes and regulatory compliance, so, possibly, they'd be responsible to the PROs.

A friend who performs at a number of farmers markets recently told me that the farmers market organization was approached by one of the PROs about the farmers market's lack of licensing for the songs my friend performs.

Just an anecdote, but it does suggest the PRO considers the farmer's market itself to be the venue.

Hi Drew:

I suspect that a craft fair type venue is not normally into providing music... naturally, there are exceptions... but from what you've said, it sounds like you are "the venue" in this case unless the craft show or fair has asked you to perform cover songs along with your own. If that is the case, there are several on-line sources that can "fill the bill" for you electronically. I have no idea about the fee structure but since it's for a "county fair atmosphere"... I doubt it would be much.

Now, if you are talking about making CD's and selling them to include the cover songs, that's a slightly different ballgame but can still be accomplished via the same electronic format.

Wish I could remember the names of these organizations but do a google lookup. I don't do covers on my CDs and I never perform in public so consider my "advice" with appropriate caution.

All the best,

Dave

The fees are paid by the club owner to ASCAP, and even if they
are bucking the system, like probably a lot of small venues,
it's not your problem. Just play whatever you like and have fun !

Pat Hardy Lockwood