Well, since it's the small "gig bands" dying out there because of this type of situation and "if" they're all that desirous of a "venue" to have to play....it would seem to me that it's the musicians' burden to see that all avenues of potential problems be covered....this of course, would be inferring that all "small gig bands" have the "knowledge" about the PRO associations and the problems that go with doing "cover" songs....I believe if this is a vital venue spot for those in-twon musicians....then since the PRO license doesn't seem all that exorbitant for a year....that the musicians make it up between the bands that normally play at said venue....always making sure that the owner of the desired venue is covered for any "damages" that an unwitting musician/performer might cause the owner of said business......as it's been noted, any business of today's market already has so many things they HAVE to have...insurance---that alone can kill someone's business....liability insurance is out of the window in amounts of dollars and it sounds like to me that this could well have been the "lawsuits" affair when it says the folks were so stacked in as to be pouring out on the sidewalks....sounds like an wide open case for liability!
Yep! Brian guess you've got it right! There's just so much anyone can get by with, without infringing on someone else's territory or turf! Actually it all boils down to this basic sentence...."There isn't such a thing as a "free" consumer item at all! Not Anymore!" Too many hands to pay, too many debts to catch...etc.

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http://www.songramp.com/homepage.ez?Who=Sharon

http://www.songramp.com/homepage.ez?Who=Sharon