Guide to Starting an Event Management Business in Singapore

1. Procedures for Setting up an Event Management Busines in Singapore

(1) Incorporate a Company

The first step towards conducting business as an Event Management Company in Singapore is to incorporate a company.

(2) Apply for Licences and Permits

Starting an event management company in Singapore is a simple and easy affair because you don’t have to apply for any major business license. However, the special thing about event management companies is that they do need to apply for licenses, but these are licenses that are for the events, rather than the company itself.

2. Licences and Permits for Event Management Business

The licenses and permits that you need would depend on the event itself. The majority of licenses and permits are valid only for the duration of the event.

Below are the licenses and permits we’ll be covering in this guide:

• Trade Fair Permit -for organizing trade fairs.
• Arts Entertainment License - to organize events that involve the performing arts. This would include musicals, plays, dance performances, art exhibitions, music concerts or variety shows.
• Public Entertainment License - for organizing entertainment events that are accessible to the public. Those events that involve the performing arts would require the Arts Entertainment License instead.
• Copyright Permit - for when you want to play or reproduce copyrighted music or videos at any event.
• Animal Exhibition License - for organizing events where animals will be on show or involved in performances.

(1) Trade Fair Permits

(a) Events Require Trade Fair Permits

A trade fair is any activity that involves the setting-up of makeshift stalls, for the purpose of selling food and non-food goods and entertainment.

The NEA (National Environment Agency) issues the Trade Fair Permit which you’ll need if you want to organize a trade fair. Be aware that only Town Councils, grassroots organizations and educational, religious, social, charitable and civic institutions are allowed to hold fairs. If the trade fair is to be held in public areas, you must have obtained the approval from all the relevant authorities/agencies as well as get all the shopkeepers in the neighborhood to agree. Head over to the NEA’s website to find the Trade Fair Permit Guidelines and Requirements; you’ll have to ensure compliance with this if you intend to hold a trade fair.

(b) Application Procedures

Applying for a Trade Fair Permit:

• Complete and submit the application form.
• Ensure that you submit the application form with the following documents:
• Map of the venue;
• Scaled Layout plan, showing all the stalls involved;
• A list of stallholders;
• Approval letter from the relevant agencies or authorities.
• Copy of the daily cleaning schedule within the fair’s grounds, plus the contract with the Cleaning Contractor.
• Pay the permit fee of SGD 55.

(c) Application Procedures

Successful applications will usually be processed within 3 days. If successful, the applicant will receive the Trade Fair Permit. Note also that once the permit is granted, the Licensing Officer may impose certain compliance requirements.

(2) Arts Entertainment Licenses

(a) Events Require Licences

If you plan on holding any indoor or outdoor event that involves arts entertainment, you’ll need to apply for the Arts Entertainment License, issued by the MDA (Media Development Authority). Such events include (but are not limited to) musicals, plays, dance performances, rock/pop concerts, variety shows and variety shows. There may be exemptions for certain events - to check out the list of exemptions, please go to the MDA website.

(b) Application Procedures

Applying for an Arts Entertainment License:

• Complete and submit the application form.
• Ensure that you submit the application form with the following documents:
• For plays, play readings and poetry recitals - Finalized synopsis and script.
• For dance performances, rock/pop concerts and variety shows - Program schedule, layout plan of the area and stage, and the original song titles and lyrics (if applicable)
• For art exhibitions - A photograph of each exhibit.
• Pay the license fee: SGD 10 per day for plays, music and dance performances, rock/pop concerts and variety shows. SGD 5 per day for play-reading, poetry-reading, art exhibitions, puppet shows and tableaux.

(c) Time Frame

Successful application will usually be processed within 8 weeks. If successful, the applicant will receive the Arts Entertainment License. Be aware that this license is only valid for the duration of the performance/exhibition.

(3) Public Entertainment Licenses

(a) Events Require Licence

The Public Entertainments & Meetings Act states that anyone organizing any sort of ad-hoc entertainment, in any place accessible to the public, regardless whether it offers free or paid entry, must have a Public Entertainment (Ad-Hoc) License. The Singapore Police Force is the authority that issues this license.

Some example of such an event would be (but are not limited to): circus show, karaoke show, wrestling match, computer gaming event, and so on.

There are some events that are exempt from requiring the Public Entertainment License. Please go to the Singapore Police Force website to go through a list of events that exempted events.

(b) Application Procedures

Applying for a Public Entertainment License:

• Obtain approvals from all relevant authorities, such as the URA (Urban Development Authority) for approval of the premises, the Fire Safety Certificate from the Singapore Civil Defense Force, and so on.
• Complete and submit the application form with the following documents:
• Pay the license fee: (1) SGD 20 per day, or (2) SGD 40 for every 7 days, whether consecutive or otherwise.

(c) Time Frame

Successful applications will usually be processed within 1 week. If successful, the applicant will receive the Public Entertainment License. Note also that once the license is granted, the Licensing Officer may impose certain compliance requirements.

(4) Copyright Permit

(a) Events Require Licence

If you’re going to be organizing an event that involves the playing or reproducing of copyrighted music and/or videos, you must have the permission from the copyright owners before you can use their copyrighted work. Since there are a lot of copyright owners out there, they are usually represented by a Collective Management Organization, such as COMPASS (Composers and Authors Society of Singapore), which represents composers and lyricists. You can learn more about the various Collective Management Organizations by visiting the IPOS’s (Intellectual Property of Singapore) website.

If the event you’re organizing involves the public performance or reproduction of musical lyrics or musical works, you have to apply for a Copyright Permit for public performance rights and/or reproductions rights from the relevant Collective Management Organization. Some examples of activities requiring a Copyright Permit are:

• Playing music from the original media itself, like playing music from a CD
• Playing music that has been copied from an original media (like a CD). Examples of this would be digitized music (mp3) on a laptop’s hard dish.
• Showing music/karaoke video from the original media, such as playing the videos on a DVD player.
• Showing music/karaoke video that has been copied from an original media (like a DVD). Examples of this would be in a Karaoke system, where you can select and choose from among hundreds of different songs/videos.
• When featuring a live band.

(b) Application Procedures

Applying for a Copyright Permit:

• 1. Complete and submit the application form to the relevant Collective Management Organization.
• 2. Pay the permit fee: varies.

(c) Time Frame

Successful applications will usually be processed within 2-3 weeks. If successful, the applicant will receive the Copyright Permit. Be aware that this permit is only valid for the duration of the event.

(5) Animal Exhibition License

(a) Events Require Licence

If you’re going to be organizing an event that involves the exhibition of animals, or involves the animals putting on a performance, you must have the Animal Exhibition License, issued by AVA (Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore). You must also comply with AVA’s ‘Animal Exhibition Licensing Conditions and Guidelines?and ‘Animal Performances Guidelines? Please visit AVA’s website to go through these guidelines.

(b) Application Procedures

Applying for an Animal Exhibition License:

• Ensure that you complete and submit the application form with the following documents:
• Approval letter from the landlord/management of the exhibition area.
• Letter of No Objection from the appropriate NEA Environmental Health District Office.
• The layout plan for the animal exhibition as well as any related information.
• Pay the license fee: SGD 126 (license fee) plus SGD 94.50 (application fee).

(c) Time Frame

Once AVA has received the application, they’ll arrange for an interview and inspection of the exhibition premises. Expect to be interviewed about the animal exhibition and be ready to have the answers to any questions beforehand. If the AVA deems the evaluation of all supporting documents, the interview and the inspection satisfactory, they will issue a letter of approval. Successful applications will usually be processed within 1 week. If successful, the applicant will receive the Animal Exhibition License.