Idiots stealing your performance area

[LarsLarsen]

Brilliant! I'll bring a super soaker full of soapy water!

[caricatureguy]

Maybe if you tried explaining the problems you have with them they would be cool. Like, "hey, you guys... This isn't working for either of us. I'll give you some pointers on how to make more out of your show if you will agree to leave me alone during mine and be respectful when I'm doing it."

I don't know but it seems like it would be along the lines of being "not mean" but letting them know where they stand.

[malkav powermann]

have you looked in to becoming a hippie your self ......

.....and doing this to some one else

it likely the right way to go

[Stretch]

glue traps

Get a bunch of giant sized glue traps for rats. That'll keep them in their place!!!

[LarsLarsen]

I've given them tips on how to make more money, but they still dont do them even after I repeatedly tell them.

I've also asked them not to incporporate me into their act, and that if they're going to use my space they have to end their show before I'll go on. They refuse to do this. Going on before they end their show netted me an EMPTY hat. So that clearly isnt going to work. The alternative? Not perform at all and make nothing. Better, but it doesnt pay the bills.

Thats why I need help, if asking them to stop worked, I wouldnt need help.

Either they're just set in their ways, or just disagree with me. Thats fine, I dont care if they dont make any money. But its clear that they want me in their show because they dont have much of an act, and they want to hijack my talent (little as it may be).

[Evan Young]

Go to a town where there is heavy competition for space between veteran performers. Go there as a beginer and work your way up to being an equal in their eyes. That will teach you how to stand up for yourself.

set some rules since you are the first one there. Be serious about it. Tell them they are hurting your hat because they arn't up to standards.
1) we are seperate acts
2) 30 min time limit
3) 10 min buffer between shows (gives the people who saw them some time to go away and get some fresh unspoiled eyes). if you have a pro act on the spot with you the shows can run back to back to catch eachoters crowds.
4) fire equipment must be pro quality, (wicks made of kevlar, etc.)

Also:
Buy liability insurance, take it to the fire marshal, and recomend that he make it a rule that fire acts have fire insurance. The hippies won't be able to afford to insure the entire troup. it's $180 per performer from clowns of the US; you can afford it, they can't.

if they interupt your show throw a hissy fit. be a total baby about it. Yell and scream and get a crazy look in your eye. throw some of your stuff around. they won't do it again.

[Butterfly Man]

no wonder no one stuck around

if they interupt your show throw a hissy fit. be a total baby about it. Yell and scream and get a crazy look in your eye. throw some of your stuff around.

uh, that's my act ...

[LarsLarsen]

They showed up today. They asked if I wanted to perform with them (since last time I made a big deal about it), I told them that I originally thought it would be a good idea, but it ended up hurting my hat, even when we shared the space.

I INTENTIONALLY went to a "Bad" space knowing they'd follow me. So once they set up I told them it would be best for both of us if I left and went to the "Real" spot. Luckily it was a slow night so there were a few spots available.

Anyway, I moved, set up my act, and watched as the cops shut them down without me even asking them to. Something about home-made wicks and nothing but a t-shirt and a nalgene bottle of water to put them out with probably had something to do with it. A friend of mine who I sent to heckle them said they had a horrible time getting their hommade props out after the cops told them to stop. LOL!

The cops came by and looked at my fire extinguisher and my bucket of water and just wandered off without even talking to me.

The advice about liablity insurance is excellent. I know they cant afford it, and I would be happy to have it. The last thing I want is to get sued. As an EMT I'm already very wary of people suing me.

Thanks for all the advice. I think I tricked them this time. If they snag a good spot next time, I'll throw a fit and/or heckle them.

I've had to deal with professional acts who were way better than me in the past. The nice thing is they do a short show, pass the hat, and shut it down in a matter of minutes. Taking turns with them is no problem at all. The only problem is if they leave their props out and people ask me to juggle the chainsaw. (I would love to kid, but its not mine.)

Anyway, thanks for all the tips. I'm learning a lot about this crazy job.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

" If they snag a good spot next time, I'll throw a fit and/or heckle them. "


Nah... just work a different spot. Heckle, and you invite/permit them to do the same to you during your sets, which is hard to make work, unless you have chicken legs and a tattoo on your head.

Your solution was perfect, and they probably got the message. Now just focus on your business, and let the cash roll in.

Glad you didn't have to ask the police to fix your problem: I was never a fan of the "Oh help officer I'm just a law-abiding crybaby" school.

[martin ewen]

Arrr...spoken like the grizzled old veteran you are taxi.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Arrrr. Thanks for the rummage tip too, matey.

[LarsLarsen]

I didnt ask the police to help me, but the police shut them down, probably because of their dangerous homemade props and their sheer number of performers (3).

The police have now decided to ban fire performing on the street entierly. I'm not sure if they're lying, or if they have a real law they can use. I'm going to go talk to the police department today to find out what law they will use, and then go to city hall and look it up.

I contacted the fire marshal and told him I follow the safety rules set forth by the north american fire arts association, and that I always have an assistant with me for safety, as well as a fire extinguisher, wet towels, and a safe steel box to contain my safe fuel containers.

My worst fears have come true. Those idiots have ruined things for me (and everyone else).

Anyone else have problems with cops hassling them for fire? The fire marshal had no problem with it at first, but now that the cops have had a meeting and decided to shut it down, the fire marshal is "rethinking the safety issues".

[LarsLarsen]

I talked to some random seargant at the polce department, and asked him what code I would be arrested under if I perform against the wishes of an officer. He told me "public endangerment", I explained that I read the entire city code, and I cant find anything even resembling that in the law. He said "thats the laymans term, its probably listed as something else". I asked him what it is really called, and he said he'd have to look it up and call me.

So basically, the cop says its not safe, and therefore must be illegal, even though he has no idea if it is illegal or not.

I talked to the city attorney's office (civil, not the criminal DA type office) and asked them, they didnt know of any law that the police could use to arrest or stop me, but they said they would research it and call me back. They seemed very helpful and sympathetic. Hopefully they can give me a real answer. The cop didnt seem too bright by comparison to the lawyers.

The fire marshal hasnt replied to my email sent today. I suspect he's conspiring with the police to figure out some kind of policy before he responds to me. My understanding of the law is that its all up to him.

Hopefully they will come up with some kind of permit process, or require liability insurance or something.

The cop kept insisting that if I hit a kid with a torch and set him on fire, the police will get sued for not preventing it. I said "what if a kid wanders into the road infront of the police station and gets hit by a car, will the police get sued for allowing someone to drive a dangerous car in public?". He said that drivers have liabilit insurance. I said "what if its someone on a moped? Or an uninsured driver, would the police be liable then?". He didnt have an answer.

Basically what I have learned so far is that cops are afraid of fire, and think anything scary is obviously against the law, even if no such law exists.

A cop harassed my friend yesterday for juggling a dube knife. He showed him it wasnt sharp, but the cop still insisted that he not use it.

What I dont get is the cops bothered me a lot, but allowed me to continue for months without actually stopping me. Now these circus freaks show up and fling flaming wick at pedestrians and somehow what I have been doing for months becomes illegal all of a sudden? I'm so confused. You'd think if it were illegal someone could point at a law and say "see, this is what you'll be arrested or fined for", but they cant!

I was angry at the hippies before, now I'm fucking furious at them. This will cut my income in half since nobody wants to watch a routine at night, even with glow-balls.

[eurobuskers]

you could use this as an opportunity to create (in your spare time) a new show, something like what you do, but without fire. Keep this a secret to EVERYONE, then get all fire acts banned or wait for the eventual banning of fire act coz this will eventually happen if there is a serious pitch war or worse an accident. You can hassle the cops, the mayor, the local papers to make this an issue. This will either sort out the problem or get your show (and theirs) banned.
This is where you get your secret weapon out... YES the new act!!! the hippies are out of work, and a few months later the banning of fire acts is forgotten and you can carry on as before except you will now have 2 acts. The fact that we must compete with other acts sometimes can be positive, we are forced, in a way, to do even better than before. Thus creating even more incredible shows, more efficient shows and shows of higher artistic and cultural standards!

Dont be afraid, be challenged

[Evan Young]

Juggling street shows are lack luster without an element of danger, and thus, fire helps a lot... so do tall unicycles, knifes, etc. Magicians are the lucky ones in this department because all they have to do is make a card jump to the top of the deck and everyone will shit their pants.
there are other ways to make it work though. I heard of some street performer in Venice CA who balanced a washing machine on his chin, and that's it.... that was his entire show, and he did like a 20 min build up to that.

My real advice? Buy the liability insurance and bring it to them. Look up the city permit system for Boulder CO, and for Burlington VT, and bring that to them. Be persistant. See if any of the local buisness owners like you and see if you can get the downtown buisness association to support you.

Eurobuskers approach will work as well.

Good luck man