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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
All right, you are between shows or just on vacation and pull into a good sized city. How do you find out if there are any good pitches? How do you scout out a good place to set up?
I will be going thru both Chicago and Minneapolis this summer (also be going thru ND, Idaho and Montana on way to Seattle) and thought I would try some busking along the way but have no idea as to where to start in a new town. |
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
First check to see if you are going to get busted...
Yours, Paul |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Advance preparation is the only way,,,believe me, I have done it.
Get all the info under your belt before leaving home or you will waste an awfull lot of time hunting. |
The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
If your'e determined to go legit, then yeah, your first priority is figuring out John Law.
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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cstreet_1986 Loyal user 263 Posts |
Kondini, when you say advance preparation... what do you mean by this? what is it necessary to know?
Chase |
Popo Loyal user Valparaiso, IN 219 Posts |
I don't know all the exact info but Chicago is a very territorial place. There are many street performers already working and to just blow in to the city and set up will be met with some swift repercussions. I am also not certain about permits. Go to performers.net. There is info on specific cities and pitches and many street performers who can give you a firsthand scoop as to what's up.
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Places best to work,route,accomedation,local bylaws etc etc, if you do your homework you take a lot of the stress out of this.
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-03-22 06:08, Kondini wrote: Kondini, That is what I am try to do, find out what homework I need before I leave and to find out where to get the answers to the homework. Peter |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Good luck, it all takes a lot of work.
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Zack Special user 551 Posts |
Paddy,
There's a bunch of real workers over at performers.net. Many of them will give you the real work. There's a section on the board dealing with specific areas. Understand though, that many performers will be reluctant to share certain pitches with you. I don't know how many times I have to say this, but F--K John Law. First, busking is protected by the first amendment. They can require you to have a permit, but they can't keep you from doing it. In most places they will ask you nicely to stop before they beat you senseless. Yes, do your homework! that's as simple as calling up city hall and asking for the department of liscencing. Ask if the city has a formal process for liscencing street performers. (Don't say "can I stand on a street corner and juggle chainsaws." ) rememeber that bureaucrats don't like to say "I don't know", they'd rather jsut say "No". Do you have friends in Chi town? Ask them if they have seen performers. Check travel guides and tourist board websites for the cities. Buskers are a tourist attraction, so they will tell you where the spots are. Are you performing in your hometown? Do what you do there. There's a lot of Chicago info here: http://communityartsadvocates.org/saalegalchicago2.html BAM! Here you go: The Magnificent Mile The nickname "Magnificent Mile" -- hyperbole to some, an understatement to others -- refers to the roughly mile-long stretch of North Michigan Avenue between Oak Street and the Chicago River. The density of the area's first-rate shopping is, quite simply, unmatched anywhere. Even jaded shoppers from other worldly capitals are delighted at the ease and convenience of the stores concentrated here. Taking into account that tony Oak Street is just around a corner, the overall area is a little like New York's Fifth Avenue and Beverly Hills's Rodeo Drive rolled into one. Whether your passion is Bulgari jewelry, Prada bags, or Salvatore Ferragamo footwear, you'll find it on this stretch of concrete. And don't think you're seeing everything by walking down the street; Michigan Avenue is home to several indoor, high-rise malls, where plenty more boutiques and restaurants are tucked away. Window-shoppers and people-watchers will find plenty to amuse themselves because this is the city's liveliest corridor: The sidewalks are packed in the summer and on weekends with hordes of shoppers strolling up and down the avenue and pausing to enjoy the many street performers who enliven this strip. Minneapolis: Shop the Mall Pick up fresh fruit, vegetables or flowers while street performers entertain you along Nicollet Mall on Thursday and Saturdays at the Farmers market. Shop at Marshall Field's, Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus. (Downtown Minneapolis Tour.) |
Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Thanks guys.
I used to live in Minneapolis years ago and street performing had never been heard of at that time. Glad to here that Nicollet Ave allows it now. I will hit these places when I do my trip. I'll just kind of look for crowds in other cities thru Montana and Idaho when I stop. Then just set up a pitch and see how it goes. Peter |
Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
I just learned that I'll be in Denver this weekend. I won't be bringing anything with me, but I'll be on the lookout for buskers, both there and in Boulder. If anyone here works there, let me know. It might be worth a lunch, or at least a drink or two.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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Gazzo Regular user 145 Posts |
Dave are you going to stand on your table to see Denver or are you really going there?
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Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
Yes, I'm really going. Although I did climb up there once to check the weather.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
Gazzo is just trying to run his post count up so he can get into the Secret Sessions.
Now, don't you just feel so used, Dave? BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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chrisrkline Special user Little Rock 965 Posts |
Dave, since you hinted to me before about the embarrassing height of your table, exactly how high was it? I would like to know so I will know if I should be embarrassed about mine.
Chris
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Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
Chris,
It used to be the "tall" stand, which measured 38". Gazzo started bugging me months ago to get a shorter table. I just thought it was due to his inability to see over the top, but now that I've had some in depth instruction, I've lowered mine to a more reasonable 33-34" It's still an inch or two higher than Gazzo's recommendation, but I just couldn't get my dice stacking to work if I went any lower. Of course that also means my table loading has to change too, but he insists it'll be worth it.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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chrisrkline Special user Little Rock 965 Posts |
I got my stand yesterday afternoon and I lowered it to 35. My pouch fits under the top when I do that and that feels comfortable. I will practice with it lower, and see if I can get it to work better. One mitigating factor is the pouch. My pouch is not significantly different in size than the Gazzo pouch, but I am not sure it hides the loads as well. It dips maybe more to the front. I use a towel on top until the load sequence, but I like to hide it under the table. Anyway, thanks for the info as we threaten to steal this topic. I hope Paddy forgives me.
Chris
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Go ahead, that's what the Café is for. Besides I am still learning from all the posts.
Peter |
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