New Zealand

[Greedybogle]

I'm going to be in New Zealand for 3-5 months over the coming winter (summer there, I guess). I'm going for other reasons, but I was wondering if I couldn't do a little work while I was there.

So: does anyone know anything about the pitch in New Zealand? Anything from local culture to legal concerns etc? Anything would be helpful.

[nick nickolas]

Wellington..Manners Mall and Cuba Mall you can work pretty much every day...
Auckland..QE2 Sq and Aotea Sq ( Market on Fri/Sat )
Christchurch Cashel St Mall every day and Arts Center at weekends
Plus pretty much all the little towns...Roturua, Nelson etc..

As far as I know there is no need for any permits anywhere ( Though I think Roturua has some restrictions )

Nick

[Dan Tastik]

Email me when you get your dates and locations.

[Kim]

Wellington has a permit system... you just turn up to the city council and read their little pamphlet about the rules... then sign the permit and you're done... 5 minutes and free.

If you use 'danger' props (fire, knives etc..) you're s'possed to be 'peer reviewed' - to check that you're not "dangerous"... that can take a day or so to hook you up with one of the 'reviewers' and then the paperwork...

Technically, I'm one of the reviewers, but I'm not there much. and I wouldn't trust me anyway.....

They have nice men with overalls wandering around offering 'community assistance' and checking buskers for permits, so you might as well go get one.

I went and applied for the 'danger' permit myself last year... I told them what I wanted, they said someone would ring me...and never heard from them again.

-kim

[Happy Pig]

Probably the best regular pitch in the country is Christchurch Arts center.

Let me know when/if you make it to Wellington, chances are i'll be around somewhere and I'll be happy to show the pitches.

[Dan Tastik]

Ha! Sure it is...

[Happy Pig]

Name a better one then.

[nick nickolas]

Whangarei !! <img src="graemlins/haha.gif" border="0" alt="[ha ha]" /> !!

[martin ewen]

Cuba mall you can work 7 days a week.
The arts center used to be the best pitch in the country and now, while some might look at the crowds and be happy to squeeze in between the trams and the arts and crafts (and possibly still the odd retainer)
There once was a time when the space at the back of the academy theatre (same area the buskers fest uses, back of the Dux)
Was entirely performance driven, no fruit stall, no other purpose but for people to chill out and watch whatever shows were blowing through or whatever locals were honing their stuff before heading out into the world.
It was a cultural place, stuff happened there and there was variety and always a willing audience.
Then one weekend, without warning, stalls were dumped on it and it died.
I had worked all over the world and had arrived home (ch-ch) and was quite proud we had a place that at least allowed the form of street theatre to exist in its own little venue. The audiences liked it but sadly i and others were marginalised. I wrote a letter to the editor and got a reply that was the usual, 'Oh no really we consider street theatre an integral part of the arts center...now fuck off and play in the traffic! We have nic nac's to sell, real imported 3rd world products, THATS culture."
So while the christchurch arts center may well be held in good regard by people who can pull a crowd on a footpath and think thats just spiffy, do bear in mind that the only reason your on the footpath is because the whole place is owned by a trust and as such is technically private land that your not really welcome on. (except for the buskers festival which is an event rather than a constant part of the community)
Funnily enough i think the very year they killed that stage was the year the circus school started up...Duh

[Stretch]

is it possible to do a circle show in front of the cathedral in CHCH?
Near where the wizard? preaches?

[Kim]

I agree with Nick... Whangarei is the spot, and hereīs the proof.



Kim

[ 06-06-2003: Message edited by: Kim ]</p>

[Kim]

OK... so now to be ACTUALLY helpful.

The Chch Arts centre pitch is small but it can work ok... itīs a foot path like Martin said, and nowhere near as good as the old one, but you can work it all year.

The Cathedral and Cashel/City Mall are pretty thin. Cathedral is probably possible, but the whole city centre has been sucked dry of itīs population by the suburban shopping malls...

Wellington - manners and cuba malls.
On a nice day, thereīs enough people wandering around the harbour, and there are a bunch of nice spots near frank kitts park. Itīs a long build though.

But definitely, for a big hat and supportive crowd - Whangarei

[Dan Tastik]

So to add on what Kim and Martin have already said but from the perspective of total christchurch street scum.

Arts centre weekends. 2 circle pitches one of which is unworkable unless you are desperate in which case it is unworkable + reeking of starving street performer. the other pitch gets 3 shows a day. if you're lucky there will only be two other street performers there. The draw is at 10. The draw will not be redone just because you are late and international...

Cashel mall sundays is unworkable as all the shops are closed and the only people there are glue sniffers and teenagers. On Saturday you can have a crack at it if you're feeling ambitious. Personally i'd go for outside Whitcouls.
mark/marcus/marky mark/martin/whatever the hell he calls himself does weekdays there occasionally. Sometimes it works. Go for late afternoon.

The square is workable especially if you have an amp. Consider getting a permit from the council. they're free. This will be invaluable when the market holders in the square try to chase you away.

It may just be a footpath but it's a footpath i know. I quite enjoy it. Sometimes people that watch my show do as well.

oh yeah and who do i talk to to get to do Whangarei coz holy shit that looks like a kickass time!

[ 06-06-2003: Message edited by: Dan Tastik ]</p>

[Happy Pig]

Why is it we alway's seem to rag on our own pitches.
I agree with all of Dan's comments (including the inquirey about whangerai) But I'll also add, during winter you can actually get a show in Chch.

Wellington while theoreticlly possible all year round any day of the week. You have to pick your day's carefully during winter, there is about an hour of sunshine (assuming it comes out at all) in Cuba mall. I have seen big crowds during summer but over winter unless you really need to and feel like a long build on a cold street be overseas... or possibly whangerai.

[Byron Bertram]

Hey guys what about Auckland at the former America's Cup village. It's filled with rich yaughters(I know I spelled that wrong) and tourists. I did a really nice show there last year on a January weekday evening, infront of the information center after it closed.