Guerilla Video Taping

[Zack!]

In this age of omnipresent electronics,spectators frequently video tape me while I'm working.

I've never told them to stop, but it does seem a little cheeky to me, to video someone without their permission. ESPECIALLY when they don't tip.

I know I could always order them to stop, but that seems mean. I thought I'd throw it out for discussion. What do you guys think?

[martin ewen]

Interesting topic.
Traditionally they don't pay as their minds are actually back in their white trash apartments watching videos of their wonderful holiday while they are standing in your crowd.
You can't stop them although I saw a guy in japan who spoke their language and actually got them all to put their cameras and vids down by pointing out that he was doing it for them, now, here, and that is was impolite to be elsewhere in the middle of his show, also importantly they couldn't clap while holding a camera.
The Japanese are built to act enmass, I doubt you could get away with it elsewhere.
I try not to let it bother me but deep down I know theres a brilliant funny solution, which is probably why it pisses me off.
Commercial cameras I'll usually talk to and I've stopped shows untill they go if they do that techno invisibility bullshit.
Practically all I can suggest is a t-shirt with a big copyright symbol on it.

[worldwidese]

I think the whole not tipping thing in general boils down to (a) thoughtlessness,(it just doesn't occur to them that this is your serious livelihood,) and (b) the need for education on the subject. Most folks will tip when they are explained that this is what you do for a living, and that you are NOT being provided by the City, Mall, Center, whatever, as a free attraction.

Many folks are from small towns who are in the big smoke for the first time. What do they know from busking? Never heard the word before!

Others are in town for a Convention, have just last night attended the Welcome Party or Banquet where there probably were half a dozen or so free (to them) entertainers provided to spice up the occasion. In those circumstances photo ops are regarded as normal. So when these visitors go out on the street, it just seems like more of the same.

I know this happens because often we run into the same faces in both places.

Possible solution? Where a permit or license fee is required, the issuing party could be asked to provide discreet and very delicately worded notices around busking pitches, telling the folks the facts.

Can't say if that would actually be agreed to by the permit issuer, but it may be worth a try.

By the way, here in New orleans some of those robot and statue guys actually have a small sign leaning up against their raiser box which states "Photos $1 Videos $5" Go figure. Kelly.

[This message has been edited by worldwidese (edited 07-24-2001).]

[BFlat]

Dunno what are the legislations concerning this in the US but here's what it's like in Canada...

Any photographer (professional or amateur) or people with video cameras cannot film or take pictures of strangers in their private, intimate life. But in the public domain, they can. In other words, if someone is filming you, or taking pictures of you while you are sitting on your balcony having your coffee in the morning; you can take them into court.

But as a street performer, as soon as you are doing your show on the streets, therefore on the public domain, this is no longer intimacy, you are performing in a public place for the public. Therefore, sadly, there's nothing that you could do about that. I know street performers who were taken in picture by proffessional photographers and that those pictures are selling for big money to the tourist. And pretty much, there is nothing they can do about it, and trust me, they've tried everything.

Anyhow, this doesn't stop the fact that it is rude from someone to take a picture or to film a performer without paying. And I think that if the picture is beeing sold that to the very least, the photographer should somehow compensate the performer on the picture. Unfortunately, it's not all of them who have that kind of logic in their heads. I agree with worldwidese; there is need for education on the subject.

[Rich Potter]

There is plenty you can do. Call everyone's attention to it. Don't try to ignore it. If this is annoying you and throwing you off, you owe it to your audience to shut it down.

Here's how I do it:
1) Announce to everyone, "Hey, look! A video camera! Then smile and pose. Dont move until they put it away. (Okay; I've seen enough people do this one that I figured I could lift it, too)

2) I take out my top hat. Do a couple of tricks for the camera and smile. Then I run out of tricks. I look at the camera and act like, "what, you're still filming? I'm finished! Go away!" If that doesn't work, I run up and hang my hat over the lens. (I do a sorta funny mock-anger without words sorta thing...clown training and all...)

3) I run up to the camera and wave like an idiot, screaming, "Hi, mom! I'm doing fine!" and other banality like that, but screaming it out like it's the most important thing.

4) I run behind the cameraperson and start telling them where to point the camera. Use your imagination.

Usually, these things satisfy the crowd, and the filmer gets a funny story to take home, and usually a definite ending point, where the camera gets shut off, presents itself, often due to a cross between satisfaction and embarrassment.

But maybe this is just me.

--Rich



[This message has been edited by Rich Potter (edited 08-01-2001).]

[gazzo osborne]

"Hey buddy talk the lense cap off!!"
(I stole this from (Jim Show)
or
"Please stop filming because you never asked permission."
or
Take out a VHS size type or 8mm(depending on camera being used)and say, "I sell my tapes for $25, would you like one?" when he says NO you say, "Then please stop filming me!"
or
Talk into the camera and say, "Hello just curious for those watching this film back at home ask the guy who filmed this, how much he tipped me" then you place the lense cap back on the camera and tell the person, " that is why you are not going film me any more.
or
Run up to the camera and breath heavily into the camera and say, "Welcome to Foggy England."
or
take the guy's camera and place it into your prop case and see me after the show and you can have it back when you leave me a sizeable tip. say. "Just kidding sir I would never take your camera." Then take the camera back out and throw it back towards, making sure it is thrown short so that it smashes on the ground. At this stage you will get a oooooo....awwwwwwww......fuck type thing from the crowd, but all of the performers are waiting for you to switch the camera.....ala Robert Nelson...,BUT YOU DON'T
P.S. This takes BALLS!!
or
Or just say, "Stop Fuck'n filming me, Asshole or Cunt (depending on if it is a man or a women you figure it out)

P.S. I was working last Saturday at Quinncy Market in Boston and some Arabs stole my Motorolla (cell phone) please return ASAP.

[nick nickolas]

I just tell them that they can film my whole show for $100 or not at all(pay in advance).
Most video people will film and walk on you , I think this is 'cos they ain't 'there' with you, just sitting behind a lense.
I think they should pay....end of story !!!

Steve Rawlings used to say "oh sir is that a family video?"....

"So you don't mind if I say FUCK then!!"

...........................................

Gazzo I thought you'd retired!.......

[mnozzolio]

I have to agree with BFlat on this issue. Assuming that the taper will use the tape only for personal use, we have no recourse but to allow the taping. Of course, it would be polite if the taper contributed to the hat, but courtesy is not enforceable. If we're being paid by the organizers of the event, we can have contract provisions that prohibit unauthorized taping.

[Lynneski]

"If we're being paid by the organizers of the event, we can have contract provisions that prohibit unauthorized taping."

A nice thought, but it's a daunting prospect to ask the organizers to police for video cameras. How would you go about keeping tabs on say 10,000 people at an ungated event?

I agree it's very ignorant for someone to tape a show without contributing to the hat. Even further, it's an affront to the performer for someone to be occupying a prime viewing spot, and to not provide participatory feedback.

But most seasoned performers I've seen are quite capable of shutting down a shutterbug, just as they are able to hush up a heckler. (Sorry, I seem to be having an alliterative day.) Much better than throwing up unenforceable rules.

Lynneski

[Paul Garbanzo]

I usually just mess with the camera guy. If you're at a big tourist spot, I usually get the whole crowd wave to the camera and say "hi mom" and stuff like that all at once so it comes out on film as a bunch of junk. I think it's true that people behind cameras don't think they're "part" of the crowd because they're "documenting" it. so they're not really there.. and thus don't end up tipping. so when I mess with them I try to make it at least funny for the crowd if not the guy with the camera and he or she might actually think they're part of the audience. I did see a performer run up to a video camera and recite the entire "this video is for home use only, any reproduction, telecasting, etc, without the express written permission of the creator is against the law, a fine of up to 25,000 $ blah blah blah... FBI, blah blah.." I don't remember the whole thing, but I thought it was funny... the guy could say it really fast, which is part of why it was funny... he had it down pat.

[Stretch]

Another opinion!

I've been waiting to see if anyone would post an alternative view. I guess not, so here goes:

I've taped several busking shows. I tipped. Even the rude performer, you know who you are. If you have a good show, it IS hard to take a good tape, Just ask El Gleno, I had to tape, (and tip) him three times before I could hold the 'corder still, I was laughing so much. And yes it is hard to clap while holding a camera, so sorry. It is also hard to clap while holding a beer, an infant, shopping bags, or your sides.

What, you say I distract you? You poor thing, your powers of concentration are upset by my Kryptonite 'corder? You say I'm distracting your audience? I don't think so. I'm not the guy jumping and yelling, singing or whatever. I'm standing still, quiet, how boring.

If you are a magician, you got a point. So SELL me a video, you control the camera, make a video and sell me something to show the folks back home.

I just spent $4500+ for the two of us to fly to see your festival and another; you are darn right I'm going to bring back LOTS of video. Stills, too. And if you are performing in public and you are not selling your own video ya got nothing to whine about.

If you want to see a good video, check out Mad Chad Taylor's video. I was happy to give him the $10 for his video, for one thing I figured he had shot it with better lighting. Turns out, it not only had better lighting, it was chock full of great acts.

Don't have a video? How about a flip book? Saw and bought one of those from a busker this summer. he doubled his take by offering me something extra. What a concept. Your audience wants a good memory, sell them one!

Walking ( and taping) tall

Bill "Stretch" Coleman

http://Stiltwalker.com/

------------------
Walking tall and stretching imaginations!
Bill 'Stretch' Coleman

[This message has been edited by Stretch (edited 10-19-2001).]

[Chance]

Not an opinion, just a true story.

This summer my circle was invaded by a guy holding a very expensive professional video unit. In the crowd was a friend holding a boom mike.

This guy just walked in without warning, stood, knelt, sat, did just about anything he felt like in order to get that special angle he was looking for -- even after I directed him back into the front row where (I felt) he belonged.

Twenty-five seconds later he was right back.

I stopped my usual patter long enough to say to the guy that since his equipment and tactics indicated a professional background, that I would be expecting his business card at the end so I could stay in touch and get a copy of the tape, figuring that hell, can't beat 'em, join 'em. He said no problem.

That show was several weeks ago. Funny, I can't remember where I put his card. Must be because he never gave me one. And tip? What tip?