AGLC lifts ban on underage performers at licensed venues
As an aspiring country singer, Olivia Rose spent her teenage years reluctantly turning down gigs.
The 17-year-old Edmonton performer wasn’t allowed to play in bars thanks to a 2007 rule that barred minors from licensed venues, even if they were working there.
That left artists like Rose playing shows in cafeterias and auditoriums. It’s work, sure, but it’s not exactly the stuff of dreams for a young musician.
Thanks to a rule change, entertainment venues in Alberta can now request approval to allow minors onto their premises to perform live music, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission announced Friday at a news conference at the Needle Vinyl Tavern.
Rose said that experience will be invaluable for young artists.
“It’s really awesome to see the older people and how they perform and how they interact. It really opens your eyes to the world of performing,” said Rose.
Rose turns 18 in June, so the change won’t affect her for very long, but she’s hopeful it will have a big impact on young performers in Alberta. And she’s going to make the best of it in the coming months.
The ruling allows minors who are performing at the venue to stay in the building between sets and they don’t have to be confined to a separate room. Licences can be obtained at any AGLC office in St. Albert, Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie or Lethbridge.
“This really opens up a new world,” said AGLC president and CEO Bill Robinson.
“It’s going to make a difference in the careers of young people and it’s going to make a difference for venues in Edmonton,” he said.
Terry Evans, a morning show host on K97 radio, has been fighting the rule since it took effect. The original intention was to get underage workers, like dishwashers and busboys, out of licensed facilities, but musicians got swept up in it, he said. Even his son was affected by the rule, although Evans said he would sometimes find a way to sneak him in for his shows.
He said young people should be allowed to experience a live audience because it will make them better musicians.
“What that did was essentially take away an apprenticeship,” said Evans. “I believe 20 to 30 minutes on stage is the equivalent of three days of rehearsal in your garage.”
The rule change also opens up bar tents at festivals to young performers, which Rose said is a great opportunity for new acts to get exposure.