[Tango-L] More regulations for the milongas in Buenos Aires

[Janis Kenyon]

The April issue of B.A. Tango--Buenos Aires Tango by Tito Palumbo reported a
new regulation enforcing the Musical Performer Act of 1958, in which every
musician or singer is required to have a license, the annual fee of which is
96 pesos.  To obtain said license, one has to pass an exam before the
musicians union board and national secretary of culture.  What this means is
that it is illegal for any organizer to hire non-union musicians or singers.
The law has been around for 48 years, but it hasn't been enforced--until
now.

How does this affect the milongas?  They need contracts with any performers
to submit to the union, and possibly pay for insurance during such
performances.  Representatives from the Argentine Musicians Union are
visiting all the places who hire musicians and singers, including milongas.
They have the power to impose fines when non-compliance is verified.

There are certain venues such as Confiteria Ideal, Nuevo Salon La Argentina,
and Parakultural, regularly hiring musical groups.  The number of tango
ensembles has skyrocketed in the past few years, however, with the new
regulations, there is bound to be a change in the amount of live
performances for dancing.  The city will have to hire union musicians for
its annual festival concerts and provide contracts to each musician.  The
tango festival organizers will be shuffling more paperwork to hire
orchestras to perform.

Ten years ago, it was difficult to find a milonga with live music.  Over the
years, the number of places with regular live music has steadily increased.
It's possible that the regulation for hiring only union musicians will cause
milonga organizers to hire musical groups less frequently.  Entradas have
been increased considerably where orchestras perform.  The regulation could
result in more musicians without work.  The law has been around for a long
time, but as life changed in the U.S. after 9/11, life changed in Buenos
Aires after the disaster in Cromagnon.  Law enforcement of any kind is a
good thing.

During the past three months, I have announced local performances of
Orquesta Tipica Gente de Tango at various milongas, including the
information that the orchestra will be appearing at Tango Fantasy in Miami
Beach, May 27-June 3, 2006.  I regret to announce that the orchestra will
not be travelling to Miami even though they are still announced on the
website.   I spoke with their manager today who informed me of that the
festival doesn't have sufficient registration to cover their fees and
expenses.  The orchestra, formed in 1981 by Enrique Seoane and Juan DeMaria,
bandoneonistas, continues performing the glorious music of Carlos Di Sarli
for 25 years.