Pubdate: Tue, 01 May 2007 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2007 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Author: Delon Shurtz CITY AGREES TO PUT LEASH ON ACTS LIKE SNOOP DOG Snoop Dogg may have to sit up and beg if he ever wants to perform in Lethbridge again. And the city will only throw him a bone if he promises to behave. The same goes for any rock, rap or hip hop group booked to perform at the Enmax Centre. City council unanimously accepted a resolution Monday aimed at ensuring bands don't break any laws - or encourage others to - while they perform in Lethbridge. "This is a pro-active measure," Ald. Rajko Dodic told council. The resolution is council's response to a Snoop Dogg concert in January during which he and other rap artists smoked marijuana and encouraged the audience to do the same, which many did. "With flagrant disregard for city smoking bylaws and drug laws, a couple of thousand avid fans were encouraged to light up and get high by the hip hop acts . . ." stated a Lethbridge Herald story following the concert by Snoop Dogg, Belly, and the Dogg Pound. Enmax and city officials, including Mayor Bob Tarleck, received numerous complaints in the days that followed the concert. It led council during a subsequent meeting to direct administration to come up with a plan to prevent such behaviour during concerts. Council approved the plan, which comprises four conditions, including one that requires artists with a bad rap to post a performance bond before they're allowed to return. "They won't get it back if they don't live up to conditions," Tarleck said after the meeting. He added if artists don't like the conditions, they simply won't be allowed to perform in the city. Tarleck told council the city isn't attempting to "take the life out of Lethbridge" when it comes to concerts, and he said he particularly wants youth to enjoy them, but there must be restrictions. "When people are in our house, follow our rules." He said rock bands may flaunt the rules in other cities but they won't be allowed to in Lethbridge. In addition to the performance bond, Enmax officials must contact Lethbridge regional police before a band is booked to discuss any concerns police may have. Enmax management must also research the background of artists to learn of any potential problems which may have occurred at other venues. If concerns are identified, the promoter and management must resolve the concerns before the concert or the event will not be allowed. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek