I started these shows to provide traveling experimental musicians an opportunity for people to hear them who might not otherwise have the chance, and for local musicians to have a place to experiment or test new musical projects at.
A news article from last week:
City's crime crackdown: Step a-w-a-y from the house concerts, Bett Padgett
and the followup article from yesterday:
Bett Padgett's house concerts ruled a business; the limit is three a year
show that the house concert series I have been hosting is now illegal as of yesterday.
"The Raleigh Board of Adjustment, after a nearly three-hour hearing, voted 4-1 to uphold the inspections department's decision that Bett Padgett’s house concerts violate the city's residential zoning. The fact that she hosts more than three concerts a year, the board decided, makes them a business even though she doesn't sell tickets, doesn’t make any money or try to (and spends her own money on refreshments), and they're in her living room. She does accept donations and gives the money to the artists."
I see no way in which the house concerts I have hosted are exempt from yesterday's ruling.
"The Padgetts may appeal the ruling to Superior Court. They have 30 days to make that decision. City Councilor Thomas Crowder may also try to get the zoning code revised to better distinguish between concerts for profit, which should be illegal, and concerts for guests in your home, which should be allowed. After yesterday's decision, both are illegal if you host more than three a year."
Accordingly as of today (15 December 2009) I am canceling all house concerts at badgerhaus until such time as I am informed that such activities are once again legal. Thank you all who have supported the house concert series here.
Padgett update page (added here 10 January 2010)
Thanks,
Steve