panto backing track and effects advice desperately needed

[amyyapp]

I've been thrown into a local very small scale pantomime which is non profit. I can't seem to find a straight answer about this but the hall has a PRS licence and I need to use a backing track for the songs as we have no musicians. Please could anyone tell me if I can use tracks that are popular songs, some of which I've changed the lyrics too to be more appropriate to the panto. Also sound effects, what the rules on them? Sorry but I've never done this before and been thrown very much into the deep end. Thanks

[paulears]

You can use tracks, but somebody has to pay if there is an audience. Backing tracks usually mean you forget about PPL clearance, but the composer of the music is entitled to whatever they are due. Perhaps just phoning PRS will be simplest. However, if the venue have a PRS license, then they may already have a system. I'd imagine your contract will detail rights clearances, to protect them. If they are silly enough to NOT have this written down, then PRS will come after them if there is any issue after the event. In general, the theatre tarif is the one that applies on the PRS site, but if you work on 1% of the box office for the percentage of the music content to running time. So if your show runs 120 minutes, and there is 60 minutes of copyright music, then if you take 500 quid at the box office, then you pay them £2.50. Certain songs can be more expensive if they are removed from PRS control, think Abba and Disney, who deal direct for many popular songs.

 

If you work the sums out, and the amount you should pay is less than maybe fifty quid or so, it may well cost PRS more to charge you, so this is where a blind eye might be turned. This is why some tiny venues seem to not pay PRS at all.

 

I have had personal experience where PRS had been asked by a small show producer who wanted to deal direct, to issue a license direct, and they really didn't want to do it, wanting the venues system to sort it. the venue were clueless and had no idea what to do. It happens.

 

Give them a call, and they will be helpful, and not police like. They give sensible advice.

 

Changing the lyrics is more tricky. People do it of course, but the copyright owner could put a stop to it. There are some exceptions concerning parody but one well known group from the 60s/70s, the Barron Knights, gave up doing their songs because composers started saying no.

 

There will be a small risk, but unless something sensational happens and you get in the national press ...............?

[amyyapp]

I got in contact with PRS but they don't seem to know if I need to ask permission from writers of the originals or not. Seems very OTT for a village panto though. I just don't know what to do. I've been googling all day

[Jivemaster]

Find the local theatre organ society, ask them if they have a member who could play live for you. IMO the fixed nature of backing tracks go against the improv of panto. Similarly ask local music teachers some will be part of or know of bands, some may have junior bands who will play for cheap for experience.

[paulears]

The changes to your lyrics are why they are unsure - in most cases, music and lyrics are two separate issues. Why not jus ask about tracks, and for the moment don't mention lyrics - this will give you the baseline figure. Parody or not parody is the problem. Perhaps a step too far? If you get the local musos to play for you, you still need to deal with permissions. PRS were very on the ball last year in panto - wanting information very early.

[themadhippy]

A recent law change regarding parodys may well be to your advantage

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29408121