Keep getting shut down

[Figo]

Starting to feel very unpopular as where ever i go i keep getting shut down.

i currently do a 20min show (including build and clear up) and have been shut down for various different reasons throughout the country.

today in manchester it was because the cctv guys took offence at me changing into a suit for the first part of my crowd build was told that it was obscene.

this has been everyday this week that for one reason or another i haven't been able to work.

you guys got any advice?

cheers figo

[FireNix]

Dont give up

Hi there Figo

Sounds like a real bummer mate - gettin shut down cant be a good feeling - let alone each time you do a show.
Where have you been working?
I would suggest if youre getting peeved, go and find a pitch where theres other people working.
Ive worked Bath before and that a guarenteed pitch - no ones gonna close you down there.
Maybe go a try the smaller towns aswell - Big town/city centres - although they have great flow of people - also have alot more cops and lots of CCTV (as you say)
Try a smaller tourist town - where they are less likey to have loads of police and probably friendlier and more intersted in 'unusual' entertainment in a postive sense rather than in a 'dont do this on my beat' montality.
Let us know how you get on anyway
Good luck with it all
Keep your spirits up and it will all come good

[Isabella]

MIght be worth checking in with City Hall and asking for permission, so you can check in with the nearest cops and say hey, I'll be doing this, I've been told it's OK.

[Figo]

so i had a chat with the council peeps in manchester and asked why i couldn't perform, they basically said that the stalinistic cctv guys thought that my should wasn't sutible for some people ( i do a razor blade swallow trick) and that i shouldn't perform.

i argued that those guys were not there to act as lord chamberlin to performances but to protect against crimes and violence .
however they came back with the wonderfully vague well go and perform there then but if a council offical tells you to stop performing you must stop.

don't u just love bureaucracy

[Evan Young]

So they don't have a problem with you performing, but they do have a problem with you doing a specific common magic trick. A magic trick that has nothing do do with sex or violence or anything obscene.
Go talk to the newspaper. throw a bitchfest. Before the bit in every show tell the audience what you are going through, and get every show on video.

the trick probably is unsuitable for many people, but that's your problem, not theirs. if they leave you alone you will eventually learn on your own that a cups and balls routine will make you more money in the daytime family crowd and the razor show will make more money for the drunk after hours bar crowd.



and I thought the US was getting paranoid

[FireNix]

Go do it

Well if theyve told you if a 'council official' tells you to stop - youve got free reign mate.
The operators of CCTV arent council officials - infact theyre not even Police (most are run by civilian operators who communicate directly with the police).
The chances of a council member coming and asking you to stop is virtually non.
If you can be arsed try to get what the council said in writing, or a phone number - that way if the Police turn up even they cant close you down!! HaHa
Good work for keeping going and not letting the 'Powers-that-be' ruin and run tings!!
Respect

[Schuyler]

I'm not quite keeping up here, what is the CCTV?

[Evan Young]

closed circuit telivision. the city watches the public on camera and makes sure you are behaving yourself. it's very 1984.

[Schuyler]

Rather. I'd say petition to have MORE camera's installed. Eventually they have to hit a point where there's too many cameras to be monitored and suddenly the system won't work anymore.

This all sounds weird to me. Sorry. It just sounds like the movie Hot Fuzz, I'd say book it before they plug you.

In what capacity do the CCTV people have the authority to tell you to stop performing? If you aren't breaking any laws or bylaws don't they have other things to worry about? It seems like a new breed of heckler and maybe should be treated as such.

[Seadawg]

Today in Halifax the Tall ships festival is happening... I got shut down no less than 4 times by the cops for not having the proper permit, which for the festival is $2000.00

Yep these pecklerwoods want a $2000. permit for a 5 day festival....

First time they told me not on the boardwalk near our normal everyday pitch. Told to move to water street.

Moved to water St. Doing well... shut down, as told I had to be on other side of street... where there were no people.

Moved up street to another building... Private property.... This time police seargent shows up and tells me where I can work.

Moved to where police seargent says, and 2nd police seargent shows up and says first guy wrong. Banished to fucking Siberia at this point.

Finally said fuck it and came home and had nice barbie....

Assholes.

[Schuyler]

They honestly expect you to think a $2000 permit is worth it? I know I'm a newbie, and I know that you would have five days to perform, but with a $2000 overhead, is it actually worth going out?

[Stretch]

news story

too bad you didn't have a news reporter and cameraman in tow. Great human interest story! Great story for the tourist dept., etc. Great story for the business development class at university, etc. How not to encourage economic development.

[Seadawg]

Hard to imagine choking down $2,000 especially if it rains...ouch.

Worked the other side of the harbour today and made some bucks.

The idiots and their $2,000 permit will be gone toimmorrow and it is back to work for me.