Applying For and Obtaining an Adult Entertainment License
The purpose of this Adult Entertainment Bylaw is to institute and regulate the responsibilities of a licensed professional entertainer, including but not limited to, a live entertainment venue or a lap-dancing club, in respect of their advertising, promotion, and marketing of adult entertainment services. It is intended to protect performers and all other associated businesses from any damage, loss, liability, or incidence that might arise by reason of wrongful advertising, promotion, and marketing conducted by a licensed entertainer. It also intends to protect the public from any harm or injury that might be suffered by any person as a result of advertising or promotion by such a business. The purpose of this Article is to set out the different roles and obligations of a live entertainment venue and lap-dancing clubs. It is meant to provide for the protection of dancers and entertainers both in their homes and on-the-road and also to protect other related businesses and individuals.
A licensed live entertainment business is one that operates a live venue, such as a lap dancing club or a strip club, in an area where there is a reasonable chance that the public may come into contact with the licensed entertainer or the premises. Performing and promoting adult entertainment services on the premises of a business or on the behalf of a business is considered to be conducted on behalf of the business and therefore it is assumed and declared to be an extra or secondary duty of the adult entertainment business to have someone on the premises performing and promoting adult entertainment services. If a dancer is to be hired from a client’s home, the dancer will normally sign a contract of employment with the client and will be expected to strictly follow the contract’s instructions. If the dancer fails to strictly comply with the agreement, including the requirement to wear a costume, then the dancer will usually be fired. This can only happen if the dancer was employed through a formal employment arrangement, such as an employment contract or agreement between a client and an entertainer. The circumstances under which a dancer may be dismissed vary and depend largely on the circumstances of the situation.
Motion pictures and shows are commonly operated adult entertainment establishments. Film houses and video rental shops are some of the common establishments. The operation of a movie house or a video rental shop does not include the display of adult entertainment materials. Under these circumstances, the owner or manager of a movie house or video rental shop only has the responsibility to screen the materials that have been provided for viewing inside the establishment. Screening adult entertainment materials is often performed by employees of the adult entertainment establishment.
In most circumstances, a person who wishes to open an adult entertainment establishment must apply for a general entertainer license. The application for the license shall be filed with the local jurisdiction. The applicant must also provide copies of licenses and certificates of income that he or she may have received in the past. Some areas require that the applicant submit a copy of a previous year’s business income statement. Some localities require the entertainer to complete an application form accompanied by a completed financial disclosure statement.
Every adult entertainment establishment is required to post a sign indicating that the establishment is considered a public place. Every employee of an adult entertainment establishment is required to wear a mask at all times. It is also required that any employee performing any type of sexual conduct must wear a mask when the sexual conduct takes place. The requirement of wearing a mask applies to anyone who is on the premises of an adult entertainment establishment, even though the employee is not actually on the premises. The reason for this requirement is that some people do attempt to disguise their faces and a mask can make it difficult to recognize them. If an employee suspects that a customer is being dishonest, the employee is supposed to stop the sexual conduct.
An adult entertainment license is not automatically granted. In order to obtain a license, an applicant needs to demonstrate that the type of entertainment being presented by his or her business is popular and will be enjoyed by customers. Successful applicants must also show that they will follow all of the local, state and federal laws. Successful applicants should remember that they are being monitored by the state and should be prepared to answer all questions related to their licenses. An applicant may also be required to undergo background checks.