IT'S NOT FAIR!!!

[JasonEscape]

Thanks AL

Hey All,
I really appreciate what AL is doing. I am one of the other performers that had to deal with that specific group last weekend. AL was nice enough to appease them last weekend. I have a feeling that after these posts we will think otherwise.
Yes, it may be true that AL can go anywhere and do a great show but for me, the Sam Adams spot is a great opportunity to improve my show by performing for nice "festival type" audience members.
By giving another group of performers more shows because they have more people to feed (which was basically the argument) I have LESS opportunity to IMPROVE on my show, and earn a living as well.
AL humbly did not mention that this leader of the group also offered us both potential circus gigs within 25 years (not a typo) if we cooperate. Oh the ego....
I just want to say that I am greatful for performers and friends like AL who are brave enough to stand up for PRINICIPAL. The fact that AL is successful is not the point but it does add extreme validity and experience to this scenario.
It was mentioned that Americans have trouble standing up for themselves...stange, we have the loudest mouths yet we dont know when to open them up sometimes.....

peace always,
Jason

[harmonicakev]

how's it going?

I'm curious; what happened this weekend just past? Did this same trio try to hog the spot?
You know, legally they can set up and play all day without sharing. and also legally speaking, you can set up 10 feet away and do your show.....so the law is not helpful here.
These types of issues arise on a fairly regular basis. Since about 1988, there were problems like this only in Harvard Square, because the Boston authorities were kicking EVERYBODY out.
There have been many meetings over the years between performers tryting to peacefully address these issues with each other - see COMPLICITY on this site. Perhaps a representative of this trio (must they remain nameless?) could be invited to such a meeting; I would be happy to attend, schedule permitting.
Oh well, have fun everybody. Ciao - Kevin M.

[JasonEscape]

all good but in theory....

Hey,
This past weekend, allthough hot, worked out well. The group with issues was only there part of the time and got in the cue like everyone else.
I think that this thread was presented more in theory than as an actual problem. As AL mentioned, only the strong survive. Performers who are at the pitching working are there to work equally with everyone else. Those with issues should be squeezed out. How? Once said to me, and ill never forget this: "Noone gets fired, they fire themselves." Think about it and how that applies to the street, my friends.

peace,
Jason

[circusboy90210]

life is not a circus or a carnival...

and it's definatly not fair... seems that just cause your making money on the street people in authority think that all of a sudden that they have the right to pull the rug from underneath you cause they aint' gettin their fair share....well they aint out here helping do the work ar they??? I tell you what it's time the people took our streets back from the oppressive regime that thinks public property is private property(theirs and the deep pockets who own (aka. the establishment.)) and give it back to us to play on and make dreams come true . angel

[zoobie]

Jason...great pic.

Just curious who this Boulder busker is. I didn't know anything was sanctioned in Boulder.

Was there any resolution to the initial posted problem or did you resign this day only to return the following?

z

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

Yo Al your ma boy and I like you but I have to agree with Jim on this. If your one of the "privileged" acts that work in the "official pitch" inside of Fanuil hall you should make some room for those who are not as fortunate as you are to work in the main pitch.
I think if you do 2 slots in the main pitch then you shoudn't worry about what goes on at the secondary pitch and leave that to the people who need it.
As far as them going to audition for fanuil hall like every one els, if it's a break dance group your talking about that's already been attempted and the groups were discriminated against because of the nature of there act. Not one "privileged act" spoke out to Fanuil hall marketing or even voiced there opinion on P-net not one of them said "THAT'S NOT FAIR." Al your on the street's when your on that pitch there is no rules you have to earn your respect there's no marketing people there to protect you, i'm not saying you need them. I know your act is good and you come from the hard core streets of Australia your not like most of these pampered acts that work under the protection of a marketing team. I'm just trying to tell you kind of shit has been going on down there for years the break dance groups have been working that pitch for years alot more then seven years. I know some of them could be hard to work with but all of them are not like that.

[ALAKAZAM]

Hey mate
I was actually talking about the english circus troop in this thread.But as it happens now since i've been away,there are 2 breakdance acts from N.Y.come in and kicking other acts off the spot,threatening them with violence.So tommorrow Me and about 5 other acts are gonna show up and get in line on the spot with them,just to say "hey" we won't be muscled out.
These guys are different from you cats,you have it sorted,you have a family friendly show,you are nice friendly people and you work well with others.These guys are not in the same league,They hog the spot,leave their stuff all over the pitch while the other acts are on,graffiti the statue,threaten other acts,and are way too busy trying to look cool to actually have an entertaining show.
So even though it's the streets and we have to deal with this shit as a part of our job,everyone has to be able to do a show,we have to take care of each other,some acts out there are just selfish.
See ya in windsor.
AL.

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

if it's a break dance group your talking about that's already been attempted and the groups were discriminated against because of the nature of there act.

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

That's kool, I said "if it is a break dance group". I'm just giving you an idea of what's going down out there and why there's so much tention at that pitch. I believe if your in the program in fanuil hall and worked any time that day or weekend in the main pitch some time should be left for other acts who did not work at all that weekend and don't have the luxury of working the main pitch. If my group were there waiting to work but some one that just did a show in the main pitch is in line before me then after that same act has annother show scheduled in the main pitch I would find that unfair and selfish. I would not have any respect for that kind of greed. Since the alternate pitch is on the street's and there's no rules the only way it would work is with comon curtesy for other street act's like your self. To me it's not fair unless every body has the same cards in there hands meaning all of the acts can work both pitches unfortunately that's not the case. the same way you can say "hey they should have auditioned" is the same way those other acts can say why should we wait in a line up this is the streets F that i'm doing my show and they can do it, who's going to stop them? It's the street's public property it's open to anyone there's no rules that say you have to extend curtesy to anyone no matter how many performers get together and try and regulate the pitch. Remember not even the city of Boston could deny some one there right to express themselves that's why that pitch is now open because some one sued the city and won that is why we can work that pitch in the first place you think a couple street acts will be able to overturn a supreme court decision. God bless America!

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

Originally posted by USA BREAK DANCERS
if it's a break dance group your talking about that's already been attempted and the groups were discriminated against because of the nature of there act.

[circusboy90210]

hey man....

how about this I worked in a mall for quite a while ..... like this ... first come first serve .... the early bird gets' the worm... why should anyone have to sacrifice any part of a day's income to someone who was not willing to do what it takes ... especially if you developed the pitch.. have more talent ... were there first ....etc...... only the fittest survive right?? what I can't handle is physical intimidation, that's out man don't like the rules live with it right does not make right... angel

[harmonicakev]

huh?

"that's why that pitch is now open because some one sued the city and won"

Someone did sue; Stephen Baird, on behalf of the Street Arts and Buskers Advocates.

http://www.communityartsadvocates.org

There will be a press conference next week to talk about the CONTINUING court case; nothing has been won yet...people are still being harassed in other parts of the city, and it's not clear what the legal status of Government Center Plaza (across the street from Sam Adams Park) might be.

not to mention the future Rose Kennedy Greenway!

by the way, does this hip-hop dance/basketball/acrobat group have a name?

[harmonicakev]

the saga continues...

story in Thursday Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_art..._market_melee/

press conference is on Tuesday..Boston Common...10 am.

btw - that survival of the fittest thing didn't just start this year, Peter G.
Ciao - Kev

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

I took a look at the article,

It seems that most of the blame for the problems you guys have at the Samuil Adams pitch is because of Break Dancers from New York City, Bucket players and a family circus act. The article makes them sound out of control. I think a very large part of the problem is the "sanctioned performers" that come out of quincy market that try to get extra shows on top of what they already got in the main pitch. I know they have just as much rights to be threre as anyone els but that's not the point. On the street's there's no rules performers need to work together and do what's fair so that everyone can get some shows in. Some performers that work in quincy market can be a little greedy that's a really big problem also. Yes like they said in the article that location is prime real estate for performers and I believe it was writen to work to the advantage of the performers that work in quincy market. because the other performers outside of quincy market are effecting there income inside of fanuil hall. I disagree I think, this my opininion. One of the reasons is because to be frank some of the acts in fanuil hall suck the other reason is because some of those acts have been there to long people want to see something new not the same lame ass acts every year.
If anyone's offended by what I just said then your probably one of those lame ass act's I was talking about. I can almost guarantee that by the time it's all said and done there will be rules governed by the city that makes it possible for most of the acts who work inside fanuil hall work freely in the samuil Adams spot and not anyone els that posses a threat to there prime real estate.
Like I said some of those acts in Fanuil hall are lame but there not stupid they no how to write proposals to covince the City to creat an ordinence to suit there needs. That works for them in fanuil hall these acts hide behind a marketing team ther. They can creat a similar team in city hall that works for them and protects them at the samuil Adams pitch. I see that happening in the near future I believe that article was writen just for that purpose so that rules can be put in place to control what goes on at that pitch.

[Blake]

Greed ?

Fair is as fair does i reckon. I personally would not be quibbling about a fly pitch in boston if i had sanction shows at the hall.
Extra shows!! whatre people complaining about.
Lifes for enjoying, pitch bitchin makes me wanna puke how can anyone do a nice show with all that agro.
Why not go do a show in the projects where there is heaps of people with nothing to do. They might appreciate it more than the rich tourists.

If there is one thing the street has taught me its that its what i am prepared to give that is important.