Tallan T-Man Latz has been playing music since age three when he received his first musical instrument, a drum kit. By four he was playing guitar and at age eight, he's played on stage with both Jackson Browne and Les
Paul and plays for two blues bands. Till recently he played in public nearly every weekend, always accompanied by one of his parents, saving the money for college. The Wisconsin State Department of Workforce Development, however, has ordered him to cease and desist, as his playing is against state child labor laws covering "public
exhibitions and performances in a "roadhouse, cabaret, dance hall, nightclub, tavern, or other similar place."
WISN Milwaukee reports
He's been practicing two to three hours a day since he was only 5 years old, and it shows.Tallan "T-Man" Latz is in two different blues bands and used to play in public nearly every weekend. He was always accompanied by one of his parents, saving the money for college.Tuesday, his agent got a letter in the mail saying the agent would be killed if she continued to book gigs for Tallan."I knew there would be resistance when I started booking him, just because he's a young man living his dream and being successful at it," booking agent Sharon Pomaville said.She notified police, and they're investigating, but T-Man apparently has more people jealous.Somebody else reported him to the State Department of Workforce Development, and a different letter arrived saying that he's violating child labor laws covering "public exhibitions."The statute said no one under 16 can perform in a "roadhouse, cabaret, dance hall, nightclub, tavern, or other similar place.""It feels pretty bad because that just broke my dream. My dream is to play guitar," Tallan Latz said.Tallan's father said it's ironic that a minor in Wisconsin could legally drink a beer in a tavern if a parent was right there and allowed it."But as soon as I'm in the same exact place that he can legally drink at, and I hand him his guitar, that is now considered child endangerment," Carl Latz said.The state official who wrote the letter told 12 News: "The kid is definitely a prodigy, and you'd like to see him have opportunities. But if I'm made aware of a violation, I have to enforce the statute."Tallan's dad doesn't have the money to hire an attorney to fight the ruling, but he wonders, what about Tallan's rights?"His freedom of expression is getting denied right now, and that's what this country was founded on," Carl Latz said.As for 8-year-old T-Man, he said the whole mess has only made him want to play even better."It's pretty much not how many times you fall down. It's how many times you get back up," Tallan Latz said.Carl Latz doesn't want to just let Tallan play in clubs because that would be teaching him that "We don't agree with the law so we'll just ignore it."They have canceled dozens of club engagements, and T-Man is playing fairs and festivals for now instead.But fairs and festivals are usually only in the summer months. After that, Tallan will play a lot more across the state line in Illinois, which does not have the same child labor restrictions.
WISN Milwaukee reports
He's been practicing two to three hours a day since he was only 5 years old, and it shows.Tallan "T-Man" Latz is in two different blues bands and used to play in public nearly every weekend. He was always accompanied by one of his parents, saving the money for college.Tuesday, his agent got a letter in the mail saying the agent would be killed if she continued to book gigs for Tallan."I knew there would be resistance when I started booking him, just because he's a young man living his dream and being successful at it," booking agent Sharon Pomaville said.She notified police, and they're investigating, but T-Man apparently has more people jealous.Somebody else reported him to the State Department of Workforce Development, and a different letter arrived saying that he's violating child labor laws covering "public exhibitions."The statute said no one under 16 can perform in a "roadhouse, cabaret, dance hall, nightclub, tavern, or other similar place.""It feels pretty bad because that just broke my dream. My dream is to play guitar," Tallan Latz said.Tallan's father said it's ironic that a minor in Wisconsin could legally drink a beer in a tavern if a parent was right there and allowed it."But as soon as I'm in the same exact place that he can legally drink at, and I hand him his guitar, that is now considered child endangerment," Carl Latz said.The state official who wrote the letter told 12 News: "The kid is definitely a prodigy, and you'd like to see him have opportunities. But if I'm made aware of a violation, I have to enforce the statute."Tallan's dad doesn't have the money to hire an attorney to fight the ruling, but he wonders, what about Tallan's rights?"His freedom of expression is getting denied right now, and that's what this country was founded on," Carl Latz said.As for 8-year-old T-Man, he said the whole mess has only made him want to play even better."It's pretty much not how many times you fall down. It's how many times you get back up," Tallan Latz said.Carl Latz doesn't want to just let Tallan play in clubs because that would be teaching him that "We don't agree with the law so we'll just ignore it."They have canceled dozens of club engagements, and T-Man is playing fairs and festivals for now instead.But fairs and festivals are usually only in the summer months. After that, Tallan will play a lot more across the state line in Illinois, which does not have the same child labor restrictions.
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