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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The side walk shuffle » » Busking fest (13 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

markmagic
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There’s a busking festival in eustis Florida on March 30, deadline to register is March 8th
markmagic
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Several more starting up soon
Zauberman
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Checked out the Eustus Website & unfortunately it was cancelled.

"2024 Busker Festival_Cancelled-
We are sad to announce that due to a continued decline in participation we have made the tough decision to cancel this year's Busker Festival. The event has been a ton of fun over the years and we are thankful for the many amazing performers who have been a part of it all!"

As Mark Magic mentions, "many more starting up soon."
However I have noticed that there is a sharp decline in the number of Busker Festivals happening now. Many stopped during C0vid & never started up again.
Another factor I believe is there are not as many buskers out there anymore for the festivals to draw from. It seems many of the festivals have the same performs who are getting older or moving on.
Organising a Busker Festival has got more complicated and expensive the last decade with more restrictions and much higher insurance costs.

So what do you folks think? Is busking and it related festivals slowly fading into the horizon?
RiffRaff
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I wrote a very lengthy response and then decided to delete it.
Here's the short story:
Busking (and ALL live performance) are close to extinction.
gallagher
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Ouch!..!
That 'hurt' to read. : /
...guess I better start taking typing classes, at evening school. : ~

Interesting question,..interest thoughts.
...laying in bed, with a bit of a fever,
here's what I think.

I,....don't believe 'Busker Festivals', EVER had any Buskers.
....'few'(!), at the most.

YES(!..!)...they ALL had very good 'outdoor performers',
Most.....EXCEPTIONAL!

But, 'the beast', from the Main Street corner,
was seldom brought in.

Street Performing involves something....'transient',
(THIS IS THE MAGIC!).

This....'un-expect', brash,...display of:
..courage.
...hope
....belief.
.....surprise.
......determination.
.......pride.
........humility.
Tolerence.

'Buskers Festivals' offer,.. NONE ...of this.

Stages are set.
Audiences are gathered,....with 'expectations'.
Auditions are held,..
Contracts are signed,..
Gages are paid.
....electricity is provided.
.....vegan catering.
...... cool printed cards, informing all...'Busker'.

Things are pretty 'safe'.

The Acts(!),....are...VERY SAFE!
...groomed, polished,...word for word,...step for step.

What's missing?

The Romantisism,...IN EVERYTHING(!),
is nurtured by.....'the Risk'.

It AIN'T here.

Sure,...everybody plays along.
But....

To answer Zauberman's question:
I don't know.

But,....I believe:
Street Performing....continues.
...because of folks like us.
We will,..i beleive;
ALWAYS find 'our Stages'..
...find our Audience.
...find 'a way'.


Keep going for 'it' folks.
They need us,
...as MUCH, as we need them.

Wishing everyone,..
dry weather, a pleasant breeze, curious folks,..
and the calmness we need,
to show our best.
gallagher
Zauberman
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Just my 2 cents worth on the subject...from my personal experiences.

As for performers at Busker Festivals, I agree with exceptions, on what Gallagher said.
Performing at a festival is very very different than an actual street performance. And many of the performers have little experience on actual busking in the wild.
However some do, and I include myself in this group. Some of us have spent literally decades as a street busker. And many of the festivals are a welcome break to actual busking as it is so much easier in many respects. Often you show up and the crowd is already there....no crowd gathering skill required. Though I had to adapt my show as crowd gathering and the associated antics would make up half my show.
But you must put in an application with an amazing portfolio of your website, social media sites, demo package etc....all which many street performers won't have. And 3rd party liability insurance for the country.

Street busking itself has many levels. Many many cities and places require a busker license or permit. And then you either sign in or reserve a spot for an hour.
And you may be required to have Liability Insurance.
The true Art of Busking is becoming much more limited on this planet now as many places severly restricting actual busking.
I have busked the USA, Canada, Germany, Holland, Australia....some places have more and different restrictions. It is still possible more so in Europe now as the USA & Canada have become very restrictive.

Plus the whole cash thing is changing. Having a reader or app to collect $$$$ IMHO is just not the same as passing the hat. There is also now a paper trail to your earnings which changes the picture somewhat.

Where's it all headed. Unfortunately big brother is watching and the places and days when one could actually go to any large city, find a pitch and perform is slowly diminishing. You can still do it and there are some out there that still are. But for myself, after the whole pandemic thing hit....it seems the world has changed, and not in a way that is conducive to busking.

So where's it all headed....I am not sure but I think it will be a very different world out there for the busker than the time I spent performing at the drop of a hat.
gallagher
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Well said.

Let's hope,...the 'ups and downs' of things,
will change back,
in our favour! : )

Patience.
....maybe, 'the un-spoken virtue',
of Street Performing!

...fingers crossed!
gallagher
magicalaurie
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Here in Canada, I have found particularly the Ottawa buskerfest inaccessible in terms of trying to apply to perform, or find contacts to approach. Maybe I'm incorrect, but it seems a difficult event to enter as a performer. If it's as exclusive as it seems to be, they won't have performers if the regulars lose interest, because those who are interested can't seem to gain access.


Quote:
On May 18, 2024, RiffRaff wrote:
I wrote a very lengthy response and then decided to delete it.
Here's the short story:
Busking (and ALL live performance) are close to extinction.


I would like to read the long story.


Thanks for your post, gallagher. That seems to align with what I've been encountering and is ironically (?) reassuring.
Zauberman
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Hi Laurie. I have traveled to Ottawa/Canada a few times and I think it is very interesting .....and somewhat indicative of what is happening to buskers....in Canada anyways, eh.

Lets look at the Byward Market first. Back in the day it was pretty open, no license required. Just could not block traffic, make too much noise etc.
Over the years that has changed.
Last year, you had to pay to busk. $50 to book a 2 hours on a specific pitch. Yep, you had to pay to entertain the people hoping to make your money back plus profit.
Of note, the market is run & regulate by the city of Ottawa.
This year, the charge to book a spot has changed but.....
1) Circle Show Performer Licences are $150 for the year.
2) Circle Show Performers will be required to submit an electronic copy of their liability insurance, naming City of Ottawa and Ottawa Markets as additional insured.
Note: Liabilty Insurance in Canada seems to run between $250-$400
3) A Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check. This will cost around $60

So you are out around $500 before you even do a card trick or vanish a silk.

So the place basically gets free entertainment at little cost to the market but a big benefit to the place in attracting & making the visit by tourists, shoppers and diners a better experience.

For a developing magician, or performing artist the cost just doesn't make financial sense. Especially if the weather, crowds etc just aren't that good that day.

Down the street in Toronto, a city I visited many times in my travels....things aren't much better.
Harbourfront, which is federally owned, used to having booming busker program. This started to fall apart several years ago and apparently they have not reinstated the program after C0vid....even though many Toronto buskers have requested this.

So what's changed. Why have places that 30 years ago were supportive of emerging entertainers & buskers, now extremely restrictive?

Das ist die Frage!
gallagher
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Hey Laurie, : ) Greetings.

On May 18, 2024, RiffRaff wrote:
I wrote a very lengthy response and then decided to delete it.
Here's the short story:
Busking (and ALL live performance) are close to extinction.

I would like to read the long story. (Magicalaurie)

ME TOO!

Riffraff(!),...
i know I STILL owe you one,
(for Max's article. : ) )
BUT(!),..
I COULD afford TWO rounds!
...i'm having 'luck', with the weather,
in the moment.
AND,...i've de-coded monika's paypal pin!..!!

I really enjoy reading your thoughts.
gallagher
gallagher
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I think..

>. "WHO CARES!". <

QUIET! in the cheap seats!

I think,

the ONLY(!) Artists who should be invited to a 'buskers festival',

are those,

whom the Organizers SEE,.,.MEET,...performing ON 'the Streets',

of their Towne,

throughout the year.


....when NO Fest is going on.

AND(!)

I believe, 'the Fest' should be expanded BEYOND performances(!).

Forums, discussions could/should be held,

wher Performers share Storys, Experiences, Dreams,...Thoughts.


For,...I believe,..

THESE are a Street Performer's true treasures.

Gallagher Hayes
magicalaurie
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Greetings, Gallagher.


Quote:

wher Performers share Storys, Experiences, Dreams,...Thoughts.


For,...I believe,..

THESE are a Street Performer's true treasures.

Gallagher Hayes


Agreed.
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