A step in the right direction at last!

[Gavin Simons]

My thanks go out to Ahmet at Almond Holiday Village for setting up All Stars Agency Promotions.

At last ex-pat entertainers have a legal means to perform within the TRNC.

This will benefit struggling bar owners, the general public and entertainers alike.

Well done!!

[metin]

I would like to second that.
This is the much needed progress that Cyprus needs, for tourism, entertainers and bars alike.

Shame on the doubters, and the people who gave him a hard time at the meeting. I have never seen so much negativity under one roof. Here was the chance to get legal......and all I could see was opposition from most people.

Thank you so much Ahmet, you have given us a much needed break through.

[Gavin Simons]

Absolutely right Metin.

Those who don't sign up to this are going to seriously compromised. I say, bite the bullet, pay the dues and sleep easy!

[sylv]

As far as we could see this was just a money making exercise. Fork out some 1000tl and rely on this organisation to find you work and then they take a percentage anyway and you can only go through them for work. Plus what about all those musicians who play purely for free and for charity.

This was a Mangement Agency and only out to make money.

[LittleTed]

Hi Sylv,
1)Can I please ask are you an Entertainer in TRNC? and if you are, do you have a work permit as an Entertainer? and do you pay tax?
2)As regards, " Fork out some 1000tl and rely on this organisation to find you work "
The 800tl would be for Accountancy fees to make it easier for the person to cover paperwork and notiery fees and help A.S.A.P towards setting up a website and provide Professional dvd maker and photographer to create each individual Entertainer their own Portfolio and DVD so they can be promoted by the Agency for work.
Normally the Govt charges 300tl to 360tl for health and pension insurance per month but with liason on this matter A.S.A.P have got them to agree a maximum charge of 180tl per month which may be even lower in the future as we are still negociating with them as well as concessions for persons with Residency and over the age of 65.
3)As regards,"they take a percentage anyway and you can only go through them for work".
We as a Company issue you with a work permit so you can entertain legally, so therefore any work you undertake or get paid for has to be covered by us to issue you with a Tax invoice.
We as a Company charge in line with other agencies 15% of what the entertainer earns whether we have found them the work or whether it is their own bookings as they are now legal and accountable to the Company which has issued the work permit.
4) As regards," Plus what about all those musicians who play purely for free and for charity."
We as a Company are here for the entertainers that would like to entertain for a living legally.
We as a Company have nothing against musicians who play purely for free.
We as a Company have already stated that we are all for helping Charities and if our entertaining staff wish to play for Charity the Company would be more than happy to issue them with legal documentation accordingly and obviously waiver in total our charges.

I Hope this goes some way to answering your questions and is informative to you.
If you have any further questions we can help you with please do not hesitate to contact us on 0533 8807476
Regards
A.llS.tarsA.gencyP.romotions(A.S.A.P.)

[sylv]

I understand that there has to be 30% Turkish Cypriot clientele before work permits are issued and TC's are not going to sign up because they can play anyway without work permits!

[Marions]

I was given to understand that ahmet has been in special negotiation with the government to set up something to help solve the problems for ex pat entertainers who wish to work and earn some money, and that this agency is something new altogether. I had not heard of the 30%. DFoes anyon else knnow of this. I know some are fearful of signing up because they are afraid they won't get enough work to cover their outgoing,s but that is a separate issue.
People like Barry Snakes and Dawn are already pretty well established, so they are pretty well guaranteed of work, while others who are lesser known, are not sure iff this agency is for them, and they may not bother. On the other hand, one c an still doo work for charity is complyin with the rules and regs for that.

[LittleTed]

Hi Sylv,
A.S.A.P. have had no definite stipulation given to us about employing 30% TC staff although it was suggested to us not to exclude TCs from being issued with Entertainment work permits.
It is clear to us, that we do not have to have TCs in place on our staff before we can appy for Entertainment work permits for others as we have 3 applications for Entertainment work permits already passed and approved for Barry Snakes,Dawn Karfilli, and Gavin Stevens by the Govt today and there are already another 2 permits applied for and waiting accountancy processing as we talk .
Thank you for your inquiry
Regards
A.S.A.P.

[mamachina]

There was an agency like this set up a couple of years ago, wasnt there - last time work permits raised its ugly head!! What happened to that one?

[Gavin Simons]

Just had confirmation that along with Barry and Dawn, I'm now legal to play (Gavin Simons)

My thanks to all concerned and lets hope we see a lot more acts being advertised on the forum and in the papers soon!

[sylv]

But it has cost you an awful lot of money plus you have had to recind your residency. How is that going to work. I shall never understand why one cannot hold both residency and work permits - would seem to make more sense, but then again this is TRNC! And once again the question of playing for free and for charity raises its ugly head and once again there is no definitive answer from the government.

[barrysnakes]

It has been quoted by Yusuf Onderol, the General Director of the Labour Department in Cyprus Star, 6th of July, that as long as the entertainer is supported with a document or letter from the District Office and the Labour Department is informed, the issue of performing for Charity while receiving no payment or expenses is not a problem. If the entertainer has signed up with ASAP and has a work permit to perform anywhere, this still allows them to support Charity by performing for free, this is as I understand it. In an ideal world, it would be nice to still have your residence permit and still be able to work but he also said that you cannot have both. At present, as far as we can see, there was no alternative to perform legally and having the freedom to perform at different venues if you held a residence permit. The situation is different for performers who perhaps just come here on a 90 day visa for the summer season only. Regards, Mrs Snakes.

[Mel7348]

Most fully professional musicians in the UK are represented by an agent/agency, there are many more employment opportunities,session work etc.

The agency here has obviously negotiated with the relevant authorities to reach a deal that is acceptable to them. Being a business like any other they are looking to make a profit.

Perhaps part of the current problems re purely amateur performers performing only at charity events comes from local bar owners.

Charities are losing a form of fund raising no pun intended but most have other strings to their bow. One way of giving is by direct debit, 10tl, 20tl or whatever every month and the money goes direct to the charity and it helps a charity like Tulips to be able to budget for the excellent services they provide to us all.

Sorry I know I veered off topic.

[Gavin Simons]

Sylv, I note your comment, but playing illegally may result in a 6500TL fine plus confiscation of equipment! Therefore I look at my outlay of 800TL as a form of insurance. The good thing is that my "insurance" premium will be much lower next year!

As for residency, I can live here on a work permit so I'm not clear on any downside on that score?

My understanding is that, should I wish to play a charity gig, all I need to do is get a nil invoice raised, job done!!

[Minter]

Hi ASAP
can you tell me once a person has been approved, do they get a stamp in their passport saying they are an entertainer.

Many Thanks

[Marions]

Obviously ASAP must deal with the answer Minter, but I would have thought the answer is 'No!' but I believe you must change your visa from 'Residency' to 'work'. Maybe that has a space for the kind of work, I don't know.

and one other question - does anyone know what tax rates are involved. I forgot to ask ASAP and I wonder if anyone does know.

[LittleTed]

Hi Minter,
In your passport you get a stamp and work permit and if you wish we can write you are a singer , entertainer etc.
Regards
A.S.A.P.

[LittleTed]

Hi Marion,
A.S.A.P. have agreed with the Govt a maximum of 180tl for National Insurance and Health etc per month and are presently trying to get this reduced further and the Tax is 10%
Regards
A.S.A.P.

[Marions]

thanks Little Ted. It was the tax I knew nothing about - so thanks indeed. I am discussing this with others and want to make sure I have the facts all to hand.
I think it owuld be good if the gov could reduce the insurance even more, as I was thinking of artists who may get one night a month's work (or only want to do one night a month) and would still have to pay the 180tl, so anything that helps would be terrific. I know there are several who feel it is not financially viable to sign up as they do much of it for pleasure, so any incentive would be good.
10% sounds very reasonable. Thanks again.