BUMS Inc Support for Performers

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We’re all about encouraging our members to play, sing and perform. BUMS Inc supports three community bands and many affiliated bands and performers. We support our performers in four ways.
1. Promotion on the BUMS website
2. Public liability insurance
3. Copyright management
4. Tax matters

To benefit from this support, you must be a current financial member of BUMS.

Promotion on the BUMS website

Band members and performers must:
• Be financial member(s) of BUMS Inc.
• Provide suitable words and images for BUMS to create the web post.

Public liability insurance

BUMS Inc owns the insurance policy which protects the society (essentially the Management Committee) from claims by people for damages or compensation related to our activities.
The cover applies for:
• BUMS activities like jams, festivals, concerts etc.
• Activities of community bands.
• Affiliated bands/performers if they are registered with BUMS Inc and arrange their gig under the name of Brisbane Ukulele Musicians Society Inc. The steps to arrange to be covered are described below.

BUMS Inc has $20m cover for public liability claims. Some event organisers require a band to prove they have public liability insurance. Policy details can be provided on request. For all public performances, having cover makes good sense – in case the unexpected occurs.

APRA/One Music licence

The Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) and One Music Australia manage copyright on behalf of music creators.

Copyright law allows BUMS Inc to use other people’s music for educational purposes where BUMS Inc makes no profit from the event. For example, music played at a jam, or a workshop is generally exempt from copyright laws.

BUMS Inc pays One Music for a licence for our community bands to perform other people’s songs at public performances. One Music has a provision specifically for community bands (where any financial member of BUMS Inc can join the band).

One Music takes a pragmatic approach to licensing other BUMS bands/performers and licensing performers at BUMS events. By paying one licence fee to One Music, all BUMS performances are covered. One Music does not require us to report songs to them that we have performed in public. They conduct periodic sampling by contacting performers and asking for details of songs performed over a short period (say two months).

In summary:
• BUMS community bands are covered by our APRA licence, because we require all players in a community band to be BUMS financial members.
• Affiliated bands/performers are covered if the individuals are BUMS financial members.
• Bands/performers invited by BUMS to perform at a BUMS event (like a festival) are also covered under our licence.
The steps to arrange to be covered are described below.

Tax matters

Fees paid to a band for a performance are potentially taxable income. BUMS Inc is not registered for GST and we assume our bands are not either.

BUMS Inc will organise invoicing for community bands. Fees are paid to BUMS Inc. BUMS Inc is a non-profit entity with its own Australian Business Number (ABN).

Affiliated bands/performers have two options.
1. Manage their own invoicing. This would require the band to have their own ABN or lodge a Statement by a Supplier Form declaring their performance as a hobby.
2. Have BUMS arrange the invoicing. This means BUMS will invoice the event organiser and collect the fee. The band/performer can invoice BUMS for the money after the event.

Advice around invoicing BUMS for gig fees (re using an ABN/adding GST/tax invoice or not etc) is available from the Treasurer.

Recommended steps when playing a gig.

BUMS Inc Community Bands.
BUMS requires community bands to follow these steps.
1. Ensure all players are BUMS financial members.
2. Provide up to date details of the leadership and contact details of the band.
3. Complete Form No 2 – Gig Registration for the Gigmeister. This formally tells BUMS they are covering the band for a specific event. Form No 2 should be completed for each event. A sample of this form is available from the Gigmeister gigmeister@brisbaneukulele.com
4. BUMS Inc must be shown as the performer in all communications with the event organiser (such as contracts or invoices). You can use the band name with BUMS Inc in conversation or promotional texts. For instance, Sublime Ukelectics (a BUMS Inc Community band).
5. Payment for the gig should be invoiced by BUMS Inc and paid to BUMS Inc. Where the band secured the gig (ie it wasn’t arranged through the Gigmeister) the Band can invoice BUMS afterwards to get the payment to use for their own purposes.

BUMS Affiliated bands and performers.
BUMS requires affiliated bands to follow these steps.
1. Ensure all players are BUMS financial members.
2. Complete Form No 1 – Request to be a BUMS Inc Affiliated Band/Performer. This provides up to date details of the leadership and contact details of the band. This form is completed once.  A sample of this form is available from the Gigmeister gigmeister@briisbaneukulele.com
3. Complete Form No 2 – Gig Registration for the Gigmeister. This formally tells BUMS they are covering the band/performer for a specific event. Form No 2 should be completed for each event. A sample of this form is available from the Gigmeister gigmeister@brisbaneukulele.com
4. BUMS Inc must be shown as the performer in all communications with the event organiser (such as contracts or invoices). You can use the band name with BUMS Inc in conversation or promotional texts. For instance, Spin the cat (a BUMS Inc Affiliated band).
5. Payment for the gig should be invoiced by BUMS Inc and paid to BUMS Inc. The band/performer can invoice BUMS afterwards to get the payment.

Any queries about these guidelines should be referred to the Secretary secretary@brisbaneukulele.com