"Crashing" events

[mnozzolio]

Does anyone have any thoughts/opinions/experiences with "crashing" events, such as art shows, festivals, etc. In other words, have you tried to perform unannounced? Curious minds want to know.

[Stretch]

Do it all the time. That is how I got my practice in when I first started as a "stilted" strolling entertainer. After 5+ years, I still do it.

I have only one rule: If they call me, they have to pay. If I call them and they don't hire me, I won't show up. Unless it is a bonfide charity, then I might show up if I feel like it, when I feel like it and stay only as long . . . as I feel like it.

And of course I respect the space of any entertainers that might be present.

Often I'll bring a friend along to take some pics or shoot some video. I generally will wear a different costume than what I would wear at a paying gig:http://www.stiltwalker.com/mvc346x.jpg


These pants have my web site URL prominently displayed down the pant leg.

I have stilt walked the 10K (6.1 mile) Bolder Boulder four times, and gotten my pic in the paper at least three times as a result. And you could clearly read my web page address in the newspaper photo!

I've never been asked to leave but once. Got a great newspaper article out of it. Read it here:http://www.westword.com/issues/2001-07-19/news.html

So I would encourage you to use good judgement and go for it.

Walking tall, and stretching imaginations!

Bill "Stretch" Coleman

http://Stiltwalker.com/

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

[Peter Voice]

I agree with everything Stretch said. I started doing 17 years ago and still do it.
I would like to add a couple of important points.
Crashing festivals gives you good exposure to other festival directors. If you do a great act, it will be noticed.
If you can crash an event and make great hats, it helps establish the credibility of your fees. Eg it's Port Fairy Festival weekend and last year you crashed it, made great money and had a very good time but this year another festival wants to book you. He has to match or better your expectations. The booked gig is better because you are paid regardless of weather or crowds but crashing a great festival is usually worth it. It is a great way to meet other performers. Personally I think every-one SHOULD do it.
It's also astounding the variety and number of events that will work for you.

[martin ewen]

Crashing festivals as gorilla-marketing is generally acceptable, crashing them because you see an opening to earn money and entertain without impacting on set pitches or programs is also ok (just my opinion) crashing them specifically because you have not been invited is really the only instance where it is considered bad form.
Jazz festivals, arts festivals etc usually have no objection to additional entertainment providing its within the atmosphere that they are trying to produce and in most cases on public land there are grey areas of authority that can be exploited but having said that it really pays in the long run not to piss people off, if you can respect that its their promotion money that get the crowds there and try to inhance the event and if possible liase with them then so much the better.
I know of a few people who have either crashed street performance festivals or in some cases have merely threatened to, because they were sore at not making that years cut, who, because of that attitude have more or less blacklisted themselves.
I doubt you'd be asking about this unless you were dealing with something specific and it might be easier to know more about that or I may be mistaken and you may simply be asking for moral guidance in which case god have mercy on your soul.

[mnozzolio]

Thanks for the supportive comments. To elaborate, the events I had in mind primarily were arts/crafts shows and sales, and town celebrations, i.e. "Springfield Days."
FYI, I play accordion. Last summer, I had submitted material to a large arts festival that was seeking street entertainers. I never heard back. I at least wanted a formal "no." I showed up at the event anyway and started playing on the fringe of the where the main activity was taking place. Within a few minutes, the president of the festival board asked if I had permission to play. I said no. He said, "that's OK, but why don't you move up to where all the people are."

If I had gone in and immedately started playing in the midst of the activity, I might not have been welcomed. I've "crashed" a few other events, as well. I guess my overall opinion is to show up; find a spot where I won't inhibit or interefere with the event, and leave quietly and respectfully if asked to do so.

[LUCKY DIAMOND RICH]

[This message has been edited by Lucky Diamond Rich (edited 12-31-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Lucky Diamond Rich (edited 12-31-2001).]

[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: Lucky Diamond Rich ]

[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: Lucky Diamond Rich ]</p>

[Stretch]

Don't hold back man, tell us how yu REALLY feel!

Walking tall, (everywhere, not just at festivals)

Bill "Stretch" Coleman

http://Stiltwalker.com/

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Walking tall and stretching imaginations!
Bill 'Stretch' Coleman

[LUCKY DIAMOND RICH]

recovering button pusher!


LDR

[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: Lucky Diamond Rich ]</p>

[Lynneski]

Forgive me, but I need to inject a few facts here. I'm most familiar with a few Ontario locations, but my understanding is that many cities in Canada have prohibitive bylaws, fines and enforcement (or else rigid, annual audition structures) that make Euro/Oz/Kiwi-style "just show up and work it" street performing very untenable in a lot of the country.

In the case of Waterloo festival, the festival is granted an exemption from a fine-based anti-peddling bylaw, only for the duration of the fest, and only for contracted artists. In other words, you could be fined or nastier because you'd be breaking the law.

Not necessarily fair, but c'est la guerre.

For meself, I think it's all in the approach. Landing onself in the middle of an existing fest and elbowing out a pitch without regard to other artists, the schedule, the funds and effort put into building the fest audience is sure to get you a frosty reception. Asking if there's a timeslot/space that you might work might more likely get you results, if the schedule hasn't been compressed and compromised by weather. It's the old "bees with honey, not vinegar" thing. No "sucking festival organizers cocks" required - just a simple nod to etiquette, and the recognition that you're there to gamble, and that the fest built the edge.

Lynne

[Thom]

I would think that simply calling and asking to crash the festival would be the easiest way.
At the few fests I've crashed, I've sent the president an e-mail explaining that I'd like a little exposure, won't interfere and would perform for free. I've never had a problem and I've never had a, "no". I've even had access to the performers "lounge" and perks offered on a couple of occasions.

However, let me qualify that I called fests that I would fit with and I knew had a less than stellar budget. With bigger and better fests I might have been turned down. It has also been a few years since I did this, times might have changed.

Have you thought of typing a form letter and sending it to the fests you want to do for free? Tell them about you and what you will and won't do.

Thom
www.thombritain.com

[LUCKY DIAMOND RICH]

recovering button pusher,

LDR

[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: Lucky Diamond Rich ]</p>

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

 
I know of a showman who claims
he's too pure to wear festival chains
such a strong, mighty show
but to Nelson he'll go
and put the fat lie to his claims.

Rich, pipe down with the self righteousness, willya?

[Lynneski]

Boy, and I didn't even have to poke him with a sharp stick!

Rich, why the fury? We can peacefully co-exist. If you choose not to partake of the festival format, power to ya. I'm sure that you, and hundreds others, make a tidy living on your own terms.

The thread asked about what happens when you crash an existing festival, and I provided some information on the restrictions that I know about, and within which some of the fests have to work.

In some cities the regs are stupidly prohibitive (Vancouver's ban on fire and sharp implements being one example), and various individuals (performers and producers alike) are trying to educate their communities on how to be more receptive.

The festivals with which I'm familiar are supposed to be a celebration of the artform and its purveyors. Granted, many of them got their start as a means to drive traffic to urban merchants or shopping districts. But the best of them are simply that - a presentation and celebration of variety street performers, street theatre and spectacle.

You're certainly free to deride whatever you see fit. But be consistent, man. If you think festivals have made things too easy, turned artists all soft and squishy so they don't have to work for their edge and their bread, then performing at or crashing one would certainly be beneath you.

Lynne

[martin ewen]

Jesus rich, get a santimonious grip, your contradictions are showing, are you not crashing the Christchurch festival at this very moment, or are you using the collection of all your buddys to merely overlook your distate for festivals on this occaision cos it suits you. Are you working it? or just hanging out? No matter, your booked into the Nelson festival at the end of the month, are you doing wellington as well? (you did last year or was it the year before) and are you doing the auckland fest like you did last year? must be nice to have your cake and eat it but its messy when you dribble it publicly.

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: martin ewen ]</p>

[LUCKY DIAMOND RICH]

recovering button pusher,

LDR

[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: Lucky Diamond Rich ]</p>