Thread: Legal Performers Age

Hi guys,

After attending a recent burlesque night, my partner discovered that one of the performers on stage had only been 17. She had looked a little young on stage, but it was only afterwards that we realised how much so. My question is, is she legally allowed to perform if she's under 18? If not, where does the legal responsibility lie, i.e. on the performer, the booker, the venue?

Cheers,

Dandy

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I would say that the legal responsibility lies on the booker and the venue! (If the performer informs them about her/his actual age)

I'm pretty certain that the legal age limit for Burlesque Striptease is 18; given the sexual content of striptease itself.

Also, most venues that stage Burlesque shows are bars/clubs so anyone under 18 shouldn't be there after a certain time anyway.

I would suggest that if the booker thought the girl looked a little young, she should have asked for proof of age before allowing her to perform.

Someone suggested that there was some kind of legislation stating you had to be 18 to strip but I couldnt find it, nor did they link me when i asked. I know you have to be 18 to perform in a licensed venue. Apparently you have to be 21 to perform at Rhinos in london, but other strip clubs its 18. From what I can find the age is set by the club. Not sure if that would apply to burlesque though, given its no-nudity so isnt the same as a lap dance club. Arg it annoys me that I cant find any official information! Without that its all just hearsay.

It is very strange theat there is nothing legal turning up...

I would have said 18 would have been the lagal requirement age, if for no other reason that if the show is in a licenced venue, generally under 18s shouldn't be in there at all.

I know if I was organising a show, I wouldn't ever knowingly put on anyone under 18, purely to protect myself from any lagal comeback or tabloid paper reaction!

I also wonder how I would feel about performing to an andience of under 18s. I guess because I work in a school, I wouldn't feel comfortable with that, but maybe that's just me!

Yeah, when I originally replied, I had a google search and a look through old threads on here, and couldn't actually find anything concrete about an age limit.

As I said, I presume it's 18 for all the given reasons. Lessons seem to vary between 16+ to 18+ depending on the school, and I would hope that the content would vary between the age limits as well.
Audiences tend to be told the same sort of thing: that it's only suitable for 16+ or 18+ depending on the venue. However I believe this is very much a UK thing, and on the continent there are sometimes young children in the audiences.

If the promoter was in any doubt about a performers age (surely they will have at least seen a picture of the act they were booking?!) they should ask.
The venue (especially if it's a bar, pub or club) should have also asked for ID when the performer arrived if they thought she was underage, as they would get into trouble simply for her being there if it's after (I think) 8pm?
xx

The law depends on what sort of venue it is the main theme is does it serve alchohol and what conditions are attatched to the licence it holds,if a member of the public complains about it a majistrate could remove the licence,Even if the person was not drinking but they would be seen as a minor the legislation is the Licensing Act 2003.I am not sure about the performing side of things legaly to be a stripper you must be 18 and burlesque is classed a stripping in the new Sex Encounter Establishment Act.The promoter of the gig where the girl was 17 could be charged with corruption of a minor which carries a sentance.This would not be too good for the burlesque scene as it makes the whole thing look seedy.

Would it not depend on the liquor/bar law? So generally 18? BUT in saying that I was allowed into a few bars when gigs were on while I was underage (do hours effect this?)
In any case if you are uber worried perhaps ask her to take a break until she is 18? It's not really that far away. If she throws a tanty over it, probably a blessing in disguise!

Hi Dandy

I know the ladies in question. The troupe approached me and asked what the legal standing was on under 18s performing. I wasn't sure so I asked someone with a lot more experience than me what the legal standing was on under 18s performing and was told that you have to be over 18 to perform in bars/clubs/pubs, which I then relayed to the girls. They have approached myself and Georgia about performing at Cherry Pop but I have told them that we can have the ladies who are over 18 perform but that we wont allow the 17 year old on stage. Im not sure about the legal side of things but after taking advice and seeing other people's resoponses I don't want to risk getting myself, Georgia, our venue or the troupe in trouble by allowing her to perfrom. If anyone can find anything which actually clarifies the legal side of this could they let me know as I would be interested to find out

xx

We always ensure that if anybody is performing on our stage in any kind of striptease role, they are AT LEAST 21 years old. At the age of 18, most people have no idea what they want to do for a living and are particularly susceptible to peer pressure and outside influences.

If people are 21 they are more likely to have thought things through properly and will be more aware of any future implications.