Do I need a workers' permit to perform in a bar?

Question

I live in Colorado, and my band is performing at a bar. We are all 18, but the venue told us we need to get worker's permits. We've tried, and this rumor seems to be more and more false... Anyone know for sure?

Answer 1

I live in NY and my husband and his band were all minors and performed in bars.

Answer 2

I think you (or the bar) has a misunderstanding about what is being requested here.  Colorado doesn't even have what other states call a "work permit."   The only thing that is somewhat equivalent is an "Age Certificate."

Age Certificates do what the name implies:  they show what your age is.  Like work permits, they are issued by schools, but any employer is allowed to require them.  There are rules, for example, about what hours someone under 18 can work, so it is probably smart of the venue to insist that they have *proof* that you are over 18.  

In other words, the bar is not asking for a work permit so that minors can work there, it is asking for an Age Certificate to show that you are not minors. You can find information about the law concerning Age Certificates here:

http://www.coworkforce.com/SJH/agecertif...

Bottom line:  the bar is within its rights and is doing the careful thing here.  Just get the certificate and don't worry about it.

I hope this helps.  Good luck!!

Answer 3

A worker permit is for the underage (17and under) or people that are not citizens of the United States.

Unless that particular city you are are working in has some unique laws I would think they aren't correct.