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State guidelines for bars, restaurants prohibit live music shows paid for separately

Aug 19, 2020 2:45 pm
Don Cazentreis reporting for nyup [dot] com a new detail included in the state’s coronavirus guidelines for bars, restaurants and other venues in New York is a prohibition of live music that customers pay for separately. This restriction seems to have suddenly popped up in the rules this week. It means no events where patrons buy tickets to see a performance. It also appears to ban events with cover charges. And it prohibits venues from advertising live entertainment. The rule, posted in the Q&As on the State Liquor Authority website, does allow so-called incidental live music at venues that have permits for that purpose. “This means that advertised and/or ticketed shows are not permissible,” the SLA guidelines say. “Music should be incidental to the dining experience and not the draw itself.” Bars, restaurants and venues that had begun scheduling such events were taken by surprise. Cuomo and other state officials have said the rules are intended to keep people from mingling for prolonged periods to help contain the spread of the virus. Read the full story at newyorkupstate [dot] com.