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PAT Certificates Portable Appliances Testing Appliances include anything with a lead and a 13amp plug - this includes electronic organs and keyboards, amplifiers, video equipment and even certain forms of stage lighting. The Heath and Safety regulations state that members of the public should only handle or use powered equipment outside their homes if it is covered by a PAT certificate. This excludes, as far as we know, carrying or handling the items while it is disconnected from the supply (i.e. the plug removed from the socket). Items like electric kettles in village hall kitchens are also included in the PAT requirements. We all know that some local authority officials are keener than others. With this in mind we would like to know if any club/society has had a problem regarding the demand for a PAT certificate, or if there has been any problems? If so, let us know - Just click here to Email keyboardnews.com / keyboardchat.com Your can get more details on PAT by clicking here. 18.1.07 Ideas For Organ-Keyboard Societies Keep Your Membership Going Up Many enterprising society officials have novel ideas to keep their members interested in their forthcoming shows. Some are prepared to share their ideas so that others may benefit from their experience. Here's an idea sent in by Darrell Lomas of The North East Derbshire Organ Society: "At each of our concerts everyone is given a numbered admission ticket as they pay on the door. The numbers of all tickets issued are then printed on to slips of paper and a draw is made at the following month's concert for the cash prize of £20.00. Thus our audience are encouraged to return (with their tickets) to the next concert!" Just click here to Email ideas to keyboardnews.com / keyboardchat.com 6.1.07 Why The Concern About PELs? What The PEL Are We On About? Members of an historic town band have been barred from playing Jingle Bells in their Christmas shows unless they pay for a licence. This is because the song has no religious content - meaning White Christmas and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer are also off the programme. The Callington Town Band, a registered Charity, will now have to pay around £150 for seven licences if it wants to play the tunes. The owners of a Telford pub have been hit with a large legal bill for playing music without a licence. John & Margaret Coley who run the Cross Keys on Haybridge Road, Hadley, were ordered to pay £1,440 in legal costs to music royalties collectors Phonographic Performance (PPL). Many Organ Societies, Keyboard Clubs and bands raise thousands of pounds for chosen charities each year - vital funds for those less fortunate than ourselves - but they are being severely restricted in the type of music they can play in public places. The above are just some of the points raised by June Clark,one of our readers, who is so incensed about The Music Licensing Act, 2003, that she is organising a petition to have the Act re-drafted. To find out more about Public Entertainment Licences (PELs) and the petition: Click here. Read the latest item on our dedicated PEL page. It should be noted that further information can be obtained from Government web site:- www.culture.gov.uk Updated 6.3.07 British Keyboard Awards - Past, Present and Future Read how it all started and what is planned for the future. Will the awards appear on television under the wing of a fast developing music magazine? Read all about it 20.11.06 What Music Do Organ Society Members Prefer? An enthusiastic organ society secretary took the trouble to make a note of requests his members made at a recent Keyklix show, bearing in mind that the Keyklix duo are two of the very few artistes' that actually ask for requests at organ society concerts. Here are his comments:- At our most recent concert (featuring Keyklix), the audience was asked to submit requests for the second half. Below is the list, which I have compiled from the pieces of paper handed in:- Albatross; Simon & Garfunkel; Chorus of The Hebrew Slaves; Can't Take My Eyes Off You; Theme from 'Martini'; Mornings At Seven; All The Things You Are; Florentina March; Dambusters March; Second Time Around; Love Is In The Air; Carpenters; You Raise Me Up; Sunrise, Sunset; Wind Beneath My Wings; All I ask Of You; How Deep Is Your Love; Orpheus In The Underworld; William Tell Overture (Finale); The Living Years; Highland Cathedral; Another Suitcase In Another Hall; Don't Cry For Me Argentina; Phantom of The Opera; Les Miserables; The Way You Look Tonight; Jealousy (Tango); Always On My Mind; Home In Pasadena; Biscaya; Nimrod (Elgar); Time To Say Goodbye; Angel In Blue; Lawrence of Arabia (Theme); Take Five; Strangers In The Night; Clair de Lune; John Dunbar Theme/Dances With Wolves; Out Of Africa; This Is My Lovely Day; Land Of My Fathers; Whistle Down The Wind; My Heart Will Go On; Moonlight And Roses; King Of The Road. You will undoubtedly notice that this selection contains very little pre-war music. Organists should be aware that the number of people in today's audiences that want to hear the 'oldies' (inc. Reginald Dixon) is rapidly dwindling - and that in order to encourage younger audiences it is necessary for performers to bring the choice of music more up to date. You will perhaps make other observations, e.g. no jazz, not much big band or Latin American either, etc. This is just a sample, of course, but I cannot believe that our audience is much different from others ... the age group is much the same, anyway! Keyboardnews.com welcomes comments, such as the one above, which we hope other organ societies find interesting. Does your society differ in any way? We would like to hear from you. NOTE: The titles mentioned above are different to the ones on the Keyklix CD pictured above. 12.11.06

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