random factoids

[derien]

I read the other day that Maine has the fewest churchs per person of any state in the union. The article I was reading referred to Maine as 'under-churched.' I was... bemused. I thought this seemed like something to be proud of, personally. :) We also have more restaurants per capita than any other state, so one of my coworkers claimed. I'm not sure that's so great! :) But I do love food.

Comments

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I don't want people worshipping in them either, except maybe at the alter of rock! The problem with setting up anything at all in this country is that public liability insurance would be cripplingly expensive. We also have extremely severe licensing laws which cost a lot of money to sort out as well. If you want to set up a nightclub you need a bar license, a dance license, if there is going to live music you need a music and singing license, as well as public liability insurance and proper (licensed) security personnel and for every single night you want to stay open a little bit longer than normal pub times (Open at 10:30 on any day, Monday through Wednesday closing time is 11:30; Thursday through Saturday, it's 12:30; on Sunday, it's 11:00. ) you need to apply for a "special exemption" which costs €410.00 a pop, not including legal costs. And you have to pay off the fire officer and the environmental department. It's a pain! There is no such thing as drinking/dancing all night here, unless you do it at home.

[derien.livejournal.com]

If it were a private club (only open to members and guests) would it be different? I know here we have rules against smoking in any public place, but the Veterans clubs allow smoking because they're private - the door is always locked and you only get in if a member vouches for you.

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

There are certain things a private club can do without a license. If there was booze and/or music there you wouldn't get away with not having all the various licenses though. I know a guy who ran a big festival once and avoided the licensing issues by pretending it was a birthday party and that worked. I don't think it would work on anything long term though.

Seriously, hardly anyone tries to set up any kind of club/space for the love of it here. It's impossible! Every other country I've been to in Europe, including really poor ones have a better set up for doing-it-yourself than here. I know some kids in Dublin are trying to set something up (http://www.facebook.com/exchangedublin?v=info), but they're already on their third or fourth building, and it gets kind of disspiriting when you've put a load of work into one place, only to get thrown out of there because of fire regulations or some other non-reason.