There are many excellent entertainers in Tenerife, a good percentage of whom are professional people – they have ‘trod the boards’, learned their craft and practised their particular art, whether it be as a singer, a comedian or a speciality act. There are also lots of people who are good (at one or two songs) on karaoke and who think that they can also hold an audience for an hour or so and be paid for it!
However, there are rules and while in a foreign country it is politic – and obligatory – to stick by these rules; laws on paying Social Security contributions and taxes are the main ones to be discussed here. There are people who come over to the island with stars in their eyes, pop along to their local bar and offer to sing for one night a week for peanuts. In addition to being completely out of order, this is illegal and both the wannabee and the bar risk being fined heavily if the work inspectors happen to visit while he or she is onstage. Plus it is effectively preventing a legal act from working in the bar.

The penalties of being illegal

Should the work inspectors visit a venue at which an illegal act is working – or indeed, one which does not employ legal waiters, barstaff or kitchen help – not only does the venue receive a hefty fine for each worker, the workers themselves are fined too. This is a very real threat and sometimes acts can be seen running offstage if they think the work inspectors have joined the audience.
G.A.R. makes a practice of issuing each worker with a nomina (wage-slip with declared earnings), a TC1, showing the amount of money paid to the S.S. and a TC2, which is issued directly from the S.S. and lists all names and N.I.E. numbers registered for that month. In respect of these papers, some people mistakenly believe that the possession of an N.I.E. number (obtainable from your local Police Station) allows the holder to work, on the contrary, it merely allows you to stay on the island for more than ninety days.

About the G.A.R. agency

The agency is owned and run by Graham Paul, who is himself a professional entertainer of some forty years standing, billed everywhere as an international magician. He has travelled the world on the very best cruise ships, such as the QE 2, the Love Boat, the Oriana and the Sea Princess, has worked alongside top international stars in theatres, on television, in prestigious nightclubs and – performing his big illusions – at the Casino in Majorca. It can therefore be easily deduced that he is in a prime position to understand the difficulties that may be encountered by other acts and to advise and help them accordingly. He has often solved problems for his clients that have appeared to be insurmountable and always has their interests at heart.
Graham has been in the business of helping entertainers to become legal on this island for many years and uses some of the top lawyers and accountants in the south to handle the associated legalities and paperwork connected to the business.

Remember, G.A.R. contracted artists sleep at nights, they have no worries because they know they are totally safe and legal. Are you?

By Ruby, in association with G.A.R. Entertainments.