Europe & the UK

[Sunshine]

I am thinking to go to Europe and the UK this Summer (May-October).

I am particularly interested in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Holland, and Italy.

I've heard that it's getting harder and harder to be an American Performer in Europe and the UK.

Please can anyone share information on permits, pitches, rules, hats, customs (bringing equipment in), etc. It's much too far and too expensive to just buy a ticket and go hoping I can work there.

Thank You in Advance.

Sunshine

[gav]

depends what you do

If you have a big show kit it could well be difficult to get through english customs without them hassling you. You could send your gear ahead as unaccompanied baggage, but it could be a hassle to pick up. Londons big pitch is covent garden, you have to do an audition or have a local vouch for you and the be there at some ungodly hour of the morning to do the draw. It's a good pitch though. There are other good pitches that are less crowded in England, Bath being one of them.
Edinbourgh fringe is the time to be in Scotland, very lucrative from what i here, but a lot of other performers too.
If you're a silent show France and Spain could be good, but if you talk and don't know either language you might find it difficult. Same for Italy. All 3 of those countries have a lot of street festivals, Italy have more busking festivals the others tend to be more street theater. In my experience, Italians don't pay all that well. Holland also has a lot of street festivals, and the main busking pitch would be in Amsterdam, last year they stopped non eu passport holders from working there, but the locals are fighting the city to have that changed. Don't know the outcome yet.
Germans and Austrians pay the best and there are a lot of festivals in those countries too, it's a bit late to be contacting them now though. it's hit and miss as far as busking pitches go, some places you get away with it, some places you get shut down, and dealing with the german police can be like dealing with the gastapo! Vienna will let you work if they don't consider you dangerous(no fire) and you don't pull huge crowds. Consequently it's now over run with statues. The only regular circle show there is Chance.
google search strassenkunstler festival deutchland. artisti di strada italy or busking festival or teatro del strada
for holland and belgium search for straat festival. In the links and festival sections of this site you'll find usefull things.
Here's one for everyone, it covers France Spain Italy Belgium mostly. www.circostrada.org
good luck

[UCO]

That was super informative Gav,
Maybe you can help on these questions. How does someone get insurance for Ed Fringe?
Does it just cover the festival?

[Sunshine]

Gav,

Thank You very much for all the information.

Sunshine

[jester]

Insurance

Country Mutual Insurance Brokers
32 Haygate Road
Wellington
Telford
TF1 1QT



01952 641321


Should be able to sort you out for Euro wide cover, lasts until 2 september of any given year.

or Hencilla Canworth Ltc

http://www.hencilla.co.uk