Thread by @GeorgePeretzQC

Interesting point from an expert in the practicalities of arranging tours which illustrates a wider point here.

https://twitter.com/CarperbySteve/status/1352197757415649284

My piece concentrated on the position under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. That’s what I know about: and it’s a single public document that anyone can look up and get advice on.

If it is clear from the TCA that something is permitted across the EU then - armed with that - you can reasonably sensibly go and do it.

And if the TCA had mobility provisions covering all short term work (or categories of short term work clearly including music) then you’d expect people like @WeAreTheMU to issue advice saying “don’t worry: if it’s less than 90 days go and play”.

And those asking bands to come and play in their venues or booking opera singers for a season’s run could say “they’re British: but no problems because the TCA means they can do this without paperwork our end”.

The problem though with the position for musicians and venues is that they can’t find anything relevant to them in the TCA. So if someone asks “Can I/they play a gig in Spain or take a part in a run of 7 performances in an opera in Munich?” the answer is “get local advice.”

Or, of course, speak to an expert like Steve - but you need to find him (and pay for him).

Moreover, the nature of work permit/immigration rules is often that there is a lot of room for interpretation/discretion. So the advice - when you get it - may not be clear: it may be “do the paperwork to be on the safe side”.

So even if it is right that in fact the UK opera singer or band would be fine, they - or the organiser - may just find the uncertainty or recommendation to get paperwork to be on the safe side just too much bother. Book the Irish band or the Maltese singer instead.

And note here that these problems exist throughout the SERVIN provisions into which the UK govt tells us it tried to shoehorn musicians. Those provisions are riddled with national exceptions and qualifications. OK for big business that can get advice. Not so good for individuals.

That is one of the reasons why a mobility chapter - allowing all or categories of short term working - would have been a much better and effective way of dealing with musicians than the current government’s approach could ever have been (and we still don’t know the details of it)