sneaky secret recordings

[tubatooter1940]

John Reno and I flew to Seattle between hurricanes to play a series of house concerts. My old King tuba arrived a few days before us via U.P.S. ground. No new dents that I could tell.
A guest at two of the venues secretly recorded us. I think it was the guy who sat in and sang with us on the "We Do" song.
I got an e-mail from our host telling us we now have ten new videos on You-Tube. We previously had none. A You -Tube search for john reno yielded this: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... type=&aq=f" target="_blank
We have no permission nor mechanical licenses to record some of these tunes (mostly late night naughty stuff).
Much as we enjoyed the great people we met in Seattle and the cool weather, being sued for ripping off some fine songwriters would defeat our purpose for going there.
Sleepless about Seattle,
Dennis Gray

[Dan Schultz]

Great stuff! Aside from obviously having a lot of fun.... I hope you're making a few bucks.

[windshieldbug]

I could be tragically wrong, but I seem to remember something about the employer needing the rights, not the employee. Else every jazz performer would be liable since the beginning of printing.

Besides, aren't you playing for "educational purposes"!?

[Dan Schultz]

I could be tragically wrong, but I seem to remember something about the employer needing the rights, not the employee....

I think you are at least partially correct. When it comes to performances it is the responsibility of the venue to make certain performance rights are procured. I'm not sure the same rule applies when it comes to the mechanical recording rights. I would think in order for the artist to insure he has all the bases covered, he would have to fully take charge of the bogus recordings by any means possible.

[eupher61]

Pirated video? The performer has no liability. If the performer was asked, and gave written permission, that's a different story.

The venue is responsible for ASCAP/BMI/SECAM. As far as illicit mechanical liabilities, only the person with the camera/recorder is responsible.

CAVEAT: I didn't stay at whatever hotel last night.

[Matt G]

Good playing.

[tubatooter1940]

Ben, it's great to hear from you. I an checking out the Born Again Floozies new C.D. I'm glad you can make it back from New York to record with those guys. You have great chemistry together.
John Reno plays for corporate, civil and military groups as well as universities and even concerts for children. Most of his work is serious music for serious people.
I guess we should pull the videos but I want all my rowdy friends to see them, first.
Thanks, TubaTinker, I've never had more fun playing tuba.
The wonderful writers we cover are my first concern. Rodney Carrington, Pat Dailey, et al that we cover are our favorite and the edgiest writers in the country and we never want to cheat or offend them.
Educational purposes? Of course, Windshieldbug.
Eupher61, I pray you're right. Thanks for responding. I respect your opinion no matter where you hang out at night.
Matthew Gilchrest, thank you for the compliment. My skills, at age 67 are rapidly eroding. John Reno is my son's age. I must quickly train up some fine young tuba player to play trop rock with John. Until I find the right player, I'm still diggin' it.
Thank you all for posting,
Dennis