Last week China’s Ministry of Public Security posted notice on its website of new regulations for the country’s karaoke bars, discos and other entertainment venues. Effective October 1, the rules are presumably intended to make China’s nightlife spots less likely incubators of drugs and prostitution.
Under the new laws, entertainment venues will be required to keep their private rooms unlocked and visible through transparent windows, and closed-circuit security cameras must be installed at entrances, exits and cashier stations. Employees must dress “without offending morals,” though the MSP did not specify whose morals would get to make the call. CMR hopes to be considered for the position of nightlife apparel moral adjudicator, so that we can institute a Crocs-only footwear policy amongst China’s bartenders, and mandate MC Hammer pants and fanny packs for all female “entertainers.” We suppose our dresscode dominion can’t extend to those friendly ladies who call out to us from pub doorways and offer to let us ply them with drinks, as they don’t seem to be on anyone’s payroll.
It seems that few of the new laws will specifically impact live music venues, but we are curious about the proscriptive on dimming lights. We’d wager concerts lose a bit of their magic underneath fluorescent lights, but we won’t knock it till we’ve tried it. Michael Pettis, owner of Beijing music club D22, doubts the new regulations will seriously impact live entertainment, but wonders whether security guard requirements will significantly add to operating costs. China Daily has a more comprehensive list of the new laws here.