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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I think I finally found the worst busking acts in Europe. I've seen some real doozies, but these guys take the cake.
I was in Cologne last Saturday, and I decided to take a stroll through the Domplatz. There were five buskers who dressed up in costume and did nothing. One waa dressed as king Tut. He was wrapped in gold lame spandex and wore a King Tut death mask. He stood there for a long time, did nothing and got no tips. There were three others who were dressed as various kinds of 17th century characters. They had solid color makeup on. They stood on decorative stools and posed. They got no tips. They also took breaks during which they smoked in front of the Gilpins. Not good. The last was a fellow who wore a blue outfit, including a blue top hat, and rode a blue bicycle that didn't go anywhere. The paint was coming off of his trousers, so the original color showed through. An obvious derivative of the Blue Man Group, which has an offshoot touring Europe right now, he got no money. Don't these guys know that people don't want to pay for something they don't get...like entertainment? Gazzo could have cleaned up there.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Eric Evans Special user Rio Grande 668 Posts |
I'm guessing that you were there in the afternoon. If I'm correct and you had been there in the evening as well you'd have likely seen the terrace-workers. They come out in the evening when the terraces are filled with people eating and drinking looking about for such acts and otherwise enjoying conversation.
Cologne provides for an interesting topic as to how the city is set up unlike others such as Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich. If I remember correctly in Cologne there isn't a shopping street immediately adjoining the Hauptbanhof. More a series of smallish to medium sized squares or "platz" (I don't know what the plural form is). There is a large square that is surrounded by terraces where I saw some big acts work, but only the evening crowds. The resultant set-up makes more of a meandering trail of connected squares, a maze of sorts, and doesn't afford the street performer the necessary flow of tourists that you find in other cities as the tourists are dispersed over a much greater area. |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
There was a huge crowd when I was there. This was in the very late afternoon. The next evening, which was Sunday, we strolled around the various eatieries adjoining the Domplatz. The main entertainment was music groups. I don't know if the holidays are interfering with buskers, because Pfingsten is coming up, but it is celebrated in different ways all over Germany and Switzerland. I was tempted to bring out some cards and coins and have some fun.
But, I leave that to the guys who need the work. I was there to have fun. I did visit Jedinat's new place at the Kupfersiefe Mill. He does no walk in business, but his internet business keeps him busy. He also has lectures. Not just magic, but other kinds as well.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Card-Shark Inner circle Germany 1758 Posts |
Hey Bill, are you still in Germany? I am only a 50 minutes ride away from cologne. I should seriously talk to Christian Jedinat that he didn´t tell me.
The Domplatz in Cologne is the most crowded place there (as long as there is no carneval) as all tourists HAVE to visit the dome. And as long as I remember there are people like these you are describing. These living sculptures are really boring. I think they want to have money when you photograph them together with the dome in the background. I never payed them. I am sure that you would have done a very good job there as I never saw good performers there. Christian
Expert in playing card production for magicians.
The Person Who Says It cannot Be Done Should Not Interrupt The Person Doing It! Chinese Proverb |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Hello Christian:
Don't be to rough on Christian and Heike. They weren't really sure I would be there until I called them on the phone that morning. I've seen a few good musical groups at the Dom, but the ones they had there last weekend were bad!!!! I'm in Zürich right now. I'll be there until Monday, then I head out to Bad Heilbrunn. From there we go to Munich for two days, then up to Frankfurt and finally back home. Take care! Bill
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Chance Inner circle 1385 Posts |
Cologne is lightly regulated. Meaning, there is an invisible line on the ground on the Domplatz that you must stay behind which kinda limits crowd size pitch placement and eventual crowd size, and amplification is STRICTLY forbidden, although they are very polite about asking you to turn it off. But 'ask' you they will!!
Munich is HIGHLY regulated if you do not carry a EU passport, and there is a daily permit which must be bought at City Hall in any case. No amplification. The plus, is that City Hall IS the main pitch, and the permit fee is small and will be refunded on rainy days. If you are non-EU you only get 7 daily permits PER YEAR. Use them wisely!! |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
That "invisible line" must be right in the doorway of the Cathedral in Cologne. These dummies (they were not mimes!) were actually right in the doorways.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Chance Inner circle 1385 Posts |
Nothing in my post referred to crate slugs. But since you brought it up, even they have to stay behind the line I mentioned. (BTW, the line is actually visible if you know where to look. The tiles and bricks of the square itself change color and texture along a certain line, and it is this 'line' that the local police insist we stay behind.)
If the slugs were within 30 feet of the cathedral -- the approximate distance to the line -- it can mean one of several things: I'm making all of this up; the local authorities have changed rules since I was there 2 years ago; the slugs you saw were new to Cologne and yet to be educated; they were taking their chances that day at getting caught; you think they were closer than they actually were. And don't be surprised if you see more of this as you travel Europe. Amsterdam has more than it's share for example, but you will find them all over. |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Actually, one of them was about 2 feet from the wall of the church and three of them were about 4 feet from the outer structure of the doorway. The guy on the bike was out where he should have been.
I don't think you are making this up. I think the Cologne police OR the clerics have gotten lazy. There was a lot going on that night. The beer bike was the big deal while we were out there. Crate Slugs. Perfect.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Michael Taggert Special user Fredericksburg Virginia 656 Posts |
Hi Bill Hope your enjoying Germany. I havent beeen to the places youve mentioned since 1984-85 and still remeber them vividly. I Love the term Crate slugs. I saw a few on the street s of Vegas doing the same kind of thing and they were SOO Bad.
Mike |
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