Organizing a music event in Toronto can be a frustrating experience. Whether the concert is on public or private property, promoters can find themselves lost in a labyrinth of bylaws, regulations and city departments, especially when trying to use spaces that arent established venues.
Even the City of Toronto acknowledges there are challenges. For that reason, it organized a panel discussion on Thursday April 21 at City Hall that was hosted by Music Sector Development Officer Mike Tanner.
The speakers included reps from Economic Development and Culture, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Parks Forestry and Recreation, Solid Waste Management, Toronto Police Services, Transportation Services, Toronto Building, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, all of whom shared tips for minimizing headaches when throwing an event.
Here are the five most interesting takeaways from the panel:
1. The City of Toronto has an online music industry directory
Looking for a rehearsal space, venue, recording studio, sound rental company, manager or anything else related to music? The Citys website has a new music directory with direct contact links, including a handy map. The directory just launched and will continue to grow.
2. Its not very hard to get a permit for a concert in the park
This year the City is launching the Arts In The Parks program, which includes an option to get a quick free permit for smaller events. You can qualify for this free permit if youre a grassroots organization/collective/artist, you expect an audience of less than 250 people, and you dont charge cover, sell food or alcohol, construct tents and stages, set off fireworks, have amusement park rides, use a generator, or require a hot air balloon (youll need a lot more permits to get around those restrictions).
3. You can now apply for multiple permits with one form
The City of Toronto has a new way of streamlining applications for event permits called Event PaL, which allows organizers to fill out one online form to apply for multiple permits with various departments.
4. Zoning bylaws dont apply to one-off events
Zoning bylaws in Toronto can make it difficult to open a club outside of the entertainment district, but it turns out the laws do not usually apply to one-off events. However, if the City considers your event a recurring event you may still be subject to the bylaws, which gives promoters extra incentive to find new spaces rather than use the same handful of warehouse spaces over and over.
5. All-ages shows dont require a segregated area for drinkers
Were so used to legal-age drinkers being isolated in a fenced-off area at all-ages events that many event organizers assume a separate section is required by law. Turns out that as long as you are ensuring the underagers arent drinking, it is completely legal to let them into licensed areas with boozers.
benjaminb@nowtoronto.com | @benjaminboles