For a start a key member of the audience -- Immigration Minister the Hon.

Irving Pearman -- was absent.

But Bermuda's musicians who staged a protest yesterday against immigration policies believed they had scored a success.

About 30 chanting protesters marched from the Bermuda Industrial Union to the Immigration Department on Parliament Street.

Among them was BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons brandishing a placard which urged Government to start listening.

Other placards carried such messages as `Look After Our Own People', `Bermuda For Bermudians', `Stop Giving Our Jobs Away', `Our Workers Are Our Health', and `Bermuda Government Must Protect The Jobs Of Bermudian Musicians'.

The demonstration was organised by the Bermuda Federation of Musicians and Variety Artistes.

As they approached the Government Administration Building -- which houses the Immigration Department -- the marchers appropriately broke into song.

Onlookers were treated to a rendition of `We Shall Overcome'.

And it was clear the singing was more tuneful than is normal on such marches.

Chief Immigration Officer Mr. Neville Smith greeted the demonstrators outside the administration building. Mr. Smith was standing in for Mr. Pearman, who was off the Island on holiday. He was due to return about two hours later.

"Where's the Minister?,'' some of the protesters cried as Mr. Smith was handed a 50-name petition.

Federation vice-president Mr. George Smith read out the demands. They included: An immediate moratorium on granting work permits to non-Bermudian entertainers for "bread and butter'' jobs; Revoking dual permits for non-Bermudians, who are authorised to entertain and do other jobs, such as teaching; Stop granting dual permits to foreigners; Stop granting work permits for periods longer than four weeks; Setting up "meaningful dialogue'' between the Ministry and the federation; and Acting in good faith during such dialogue.

Mr. Neville Smith replied: "The Minister is aware of some of your concerns.

"I will present this petition to him.'' Federation president Mr. Lloyd Simmons told The Royal Gazette he was not disappointed by the turn-out at the march -- even though the federation's membership numbers between 100 and 150.

"I am quite pleased with the turn-out,'' he said.

Mr. Simmons said Bermudian musicians had been "victimised'' by Government.

And he criticised hotel managers for depriving visitors of local entertainment.

"People are brought in from overseas to do bread and butter jobs we could do.

"Tourists often complain they don't get enough local entertainment.'' Mr. Simmons said it was wrong for Government or hotel managers to compare Bermudian entertainers with foreign ones.

There should be no competition between the two, he added.

Mr. George Smith attacked Mr. Pearman's track record on helping local talent.

He said Mr. Pearman -- as Tourism Minister -- had turned hotels against homegrown entertainers.

Mr. Smith lashed out at the lack of local entertainment at Southampton Princess.

There was only one entertainer there -- a non-Bermudian, he said.

SINGING THE BLUES -- Bermudian entertainers making their voice heard yesterday.