A Call To Arms !!!! - Harborplace, Baltimore

[Jim]

I want to know WHAT Jerry said.

I don't know Jerry and I've never met him or seen his show, but I have been a part of the Faneuil Hall Street Performers program and I know they have never kicked anyone out of the program for ONE slip of the tongue. (Hell, Gazzo is in the program!)

I am not taking sides, but being the Devil's advocate, I find it hard to believe that this is the ONLY reason he was kicked out of the program. Did he have previous warnings for other comments? Was this a third strike? I'm just trying to understand the whole picture. Can anyone tell us the entire story???

[Butterfly Man]

Hey Jim et al,

Just to let you know I am still going to have a go at this lady once more before resorting to my dastardly tactics ... the jokes he apparently made about the sniper and the Balt.PD pissed off the beat cops ... but this did happen before in April (that time is was just donut shop jokes and some stupid cop who tried to make him wear a helmet before he rode on his mini mini bike (a la Alakazam)) ... Jerry has an excellent act and while some of his humor is not entirely PC, my feeling is that this whole deal stems from a lady who felt threatened that she could not put a guy who has worked the pitch longer than dirt has existed, under he thumb ...it's all politics mate ... I will give you more on this debacle as it develops ...
I am in NYC tomorrow to work the clubs with Master Lee then I will see you all in Connecticut on Monday if the yellow dog cuts me loose and I survive the unhygienic environ.

P.S. Tell Gazzo he is a still a tea bag toting twit!

[le pire]

I've met Adaire on several occasions... She asked me to do my show in the shopping areas of harbouplace, although I would not be allowed to pass the hat nor would I be paid.

She said I should do it for my art.

yeah, right.


etienne

[ 11-04-2002: Message edited by: le pire ]</p>

[Jonathan Park]

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[Jonathan Park]

Harborplace will react to bad press. You need to get tv stories and newspapers stories going. You need to paint this as David vs. Goliath.

I believe that all other performers should stop working at harborplace till Jerry is reinstated and Start picketing immediately. This will make for great tv footage;

In my opinion the performers should formally form a union. Unions prevent this kind of thing.

good luck. If Bill Maher got kicked off Politicaly Incorrect for being... Politically Incorrect, then I don't know what chance Jerry has a "family attraction." But I hope he is reinstated and soon.

[Jonathan Park]

correction:

I don't know what chance Jerry has of being reinstated at a "Family Attraction" such as Harborplace. But I hope it all resolves well for Jerrry and soon.

[Jonathan Park]

I would also suggest a writer from JUGGLE magazine do a story on this soon and call harborplace for comment, as well as Genii and Magic magazine.

Plus, if all the IJA members emailed harbor place and wrote them as well, we could start an "amnesty international" type of action.

[Michael Rosman]

A previous post here implied I have certain feelings towards management at Harborplace. That post was inappropriate and its implications inaccurate.

Michael

[Jim]

Jerry Got Press....

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.rodricks04nov04,0,1968485.column?co ll=bal-local-headlines

(Thanks to mnozzolio for the link.)

Here's the text of the article...


Harborplace comic's jokes no laughing matter to some
Dan Rodricks
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Originally published Nov 4, 2002

Dan Rodricks
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THE COMPANY that manages Harborplace has told Jerry Rowan, its most popular and interesting performer over the last two decades, to pack up his unicycle, flaming torches and snappy one-liners, and find another place to do his act.

Rowan, a juggler-comic who frequently draws the biggest crowds to Harborplace's outdoor amphitheater, complains that he's a victim of corporate overreaction to his sometimes biting, New York wise-guy comedy. (He thinks a couple of cracks about law enforcement's efforts to catch the Beltway sniper angered some police officers who were watching a recent performance.)

The Rouse Co., which dropped Rowan from its list of street performers for Harborplace, says the juggler cracked too many offensive jokes in the last year or so, and that warnings to tone down his act were ignored.

Having seen Rowan's act, as thousands of Harborplace visitors have over the years, you can understand how this talented and funny guy might have provoked a few phone calls and letters to the Harborplace management.

Rowan juggles while standing. He juggles while riding a unicycle. He juggles while riding one of those tiny circus bikes. He'll put a 5-year-old boy on his shoulders and unicycle while blindfolded. I believe I saw the man balance a full-sized adult bicycle on his nose.

Rowan is wired -- boy, is he wired! -- with a microphone and almost never stops talking. He pokes fun at people in the audience and makes sometimes stinging comments about passers-by -- especially people who are ignoring him or heckling him. Anyone who strolls by is fair game.

Some people find that hilarious and charming. Nine years ago, a Rouse Co. official wrote Rowan a letter of appreciation for his "moxie" and his "outrageousness" at Harborplace. The letter wished Rowan well as he set out to entertain corporate clients who "can sure use some of the freeing up your wit will bring."

But some people have found the words coming out of Rowan's mouth offensive. They apparently have complained to the Rouse Co., too.

In February, as the new street-performer season was about to begin, Rowan and other acts received a letter from Harborplace management that warned that "jokes that make reference to an individuals (sic) race, gender or sexual preference are NOT permitted, specifically in reference to the events of September 11. ... The use of off-color humor or profanity will not be permitted as part of any performance."

The letter threatened suspension of any of the unpaid-working-for-tips performers who violate the policy, and Rowan received a personal warning from Harborplace's marketing coordinator.

But, of course, the judgment about what constitutes an offensive remark is highly subjective -- especially in the context of public comedy -- and apparently that judgment is in the hands of the Rouse Co.

To find out, from Harborplace management's view, what Rowan did to warrant his termination from the program, I called three people at Rouse on Friday before being referred to a fourth -- David Tripp, vice president of investor relations and corporate communications. Tripp wasn't exactly helpful in the pursuit of truth.

What did Jerry Rowan do or say to get the hook?

"I'm not going to discuss it," Tripp said.

You can't tell us what Rowan said that was so offensive that you had to ban him from performing in the amphitheater?

"We've had numerous complaints about Jerry, and they're all documented," Tripp said. "We warned him. He went too far."

OK, but what's "too far"?

"I'm not going to discuss it," Tripp said, "Jerry can tell you. He can explain it in the newspaper if he wants. We're not going to get into it."

I asked Tripp if Harborplace had a contractual relationship with Rowan, and he refused to get into that, either. I was trying to determine what legal basis the Rouse Co. has for removing a street performer and generally controlling what goes on in the amphitheater. I told Tripp I didn't understand why he didn't want to explain this.

"I don't care that you don't understand," he said, and that was about when I gave up.

Tripp called back the next day to say: "I would offer you one thought: Since we don't pay Harborplace street performers -- they simply perform and collect whatever they can -- what do you suppose would be our motivation not wanting Jerry Rowan to perform? Wouldn't it seem logical that there must be some good reason and that reason is we've had a lot of complaints? We don't want to drag Jerry through the mud; he's been a long, loyal performer. But in the past year or so it's really gone downhill and we can't put up with these kind of complaints in a family environment."

Rowan, Tripp said, refused to understand that he can't use the same humor he'd use in a comedy club -- or on Late Night with David Letterman, where he once appeared -- as he would in the "family environment" of Harborplace.

I guess I understand that. My 12-year-old son reminds me that, two summers ago, when we caught Rowan's act, we thought he was hugely entertaining but maybe running on the edge of good taste a couple of times. But I don't remember it causing anyone to boo or walk away from Rowan's performance. In fact, the crowd was huge and roaring with laughter.

Maybe Rowan's brand of street performance -- spontaneous, fluid, sharp-witted -- doesn't work in such a contrived family environment. Maybe he just needs another location, free from corporate oversight.

I bet Jerry Rowan will draw a crowd wherever he throws flaming torches and one-liners.

Copyright © 2002, The Baltimore Sun

[ 11-06-2002: Message edited by: Jim ]</p>

[Jonathan Park]

Interesting column.

[Triona]

Well on the upside, if he was making jokes that pissed the Balt. PD off, at least he was protected by Harbourplace and didn't get arrested for something they trumped up. Most street performing venues he'd of been handcuffed in the back of a patrol car and his stuff conviscated (and perhaps lost in the system).

It doesn't look like Harbourplace will be backing down on this one. Like Steven and I said, he can try the ACLU, but I don't know if it will work. [img]frown.gif[/img]

[Butterfly Man]

Just to keep you posted:

This letter (which is a cut and paste version of the same stuff I sent to Adair Fogarty) was published in the Baltimore City Paper ... sorry I don't have the link)... I deleted the last sentence before sending it as I didn't want them to know I'm just a scumbag street act like everyone else.

Baltimore City Paper "The Mail" section 12-6-2002

Although currently based in Los Angeles, I am a Baltimore native. Since the early '70's, I have worked closely with the Rouse Corporation setting up the street performing programs in Baltimore (Harborplace), Miami (Bayside), Boston (Faneuil Hall), as well as the short-lived programs in Tampa & Nashville. I have also helped start several performing programs throughout the United States, including Pier 39 in San Francisco and Universal Citywalk here in Los Angeles.

I’ve been familiar with Jerry Rowan’s act for over 20 years and feel lucky to have watched him grow into the marvelous comedic performer he is today. I have also had the opportunity to book Mr. Rowan at various times though out his career. Besides his obvious comedic talent he has always exhibited extreme professionalism, both onstage and off. He is a master of his craft and a superb comedy entertainer.

Upon hearing of Rowan’s dismissal, I flew to Baltimore in early Nov. to meet with Ms. Adair Fogarty. My intention was not to compromise her authority, only to facilitate artist and management communication. She refused to meet with me or to discuss the matter. She politely referred me to her legal department.

In my humble opinion, this is not a matter of political correctness or questionable comedy. It is simply a matter of power & politics. Ms. Fogarty found Mr. Rowan unmanageable and dismissed him, it’s as simple as that. She may have done it under the guise of being PC, but the reality is, she did it for herself. She is not out to protect anyone else, certainly not anyone in Mr. Rowan's audience.

There is an old saying, “if there is no victim, there is no comedy”. This certainly holds true, no matter what your ethnic persuasion might be. I’m sure it’s tough to do comedy and not offend anyone but I’m sure it’s even more difficult for a person not to abuse what little power they might possess. Instead of firing Jerry, perhaps Rouse should have fired that bitch for not doing her job properly.

[GlassHarper]

Re: Jerry Rowan's dismissal from his unpaid job --

"Freedom of the press is applicable only to the person who owns one." I don't know who said that, but I know that great anthropologist Tommy Smothers once suggested that he could tell how rich or poor a person was by the amount of clothes he/she wears. Poor people might, then, be called less-ons whereas rich people are....

[Keith Eveslage]

These are the Jokes. The first I read in a free weekly paper in Baltimore and have heard from several other people. The second joke is probably a regular in Jerry's show.

"Turns out they put a composite [of the D.C. area sniper]together from sightings, it seems he's a white guy who speaks Spanish and looks like an Arab."

The other joke: " I thought about being a cop, I even took the physical but it won't work out. Turns out I'm allergic to donuts."

only mildly amusing and utterly innocuous, IMHO.

Keith!

[Byron Bertram]

Any new news on this situation with Jerry?