San Francisco

[Butterfly Man]

Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about ... his cups have balls

JoeJoe for President!

Good on ya Nickboy for that one ...

[Greycat]

Eric! You pigfuker (look it up before you judge.)! You know I've been your faithfull sidekick on all this whole ordeal. And I'm watching Fear and Loathing right NOW on a sunday afternoon, drinking SIngapore slings with mezcal on the side.
The story, so far, Ladies and gentleman is that we have won (sort of.) the sympathy of the local police authorities .
An officer who's name can be rendered if you scream "HEY ABBOT!" has been quite sympathetic of our busker cause and has gone beyond the call of of Duty to insure that circle shows not only exist on the wharf (yeah, I learned to spell it this weekened.) but that they are shows of QUALITY.
He has gone out of his way to inforce quality shows on the wharf (spelled correctly.) and insist upon a pitch that ROTATES...a concept that seems to not exist on this side of the continent...strange, as it exists on all other parts of the big blue marble...
Sadly, he is only around, with his charming partner, on weekends, so the pitch can only be enforced during the week.
Which has left me running, tail between my legs from a sunday show or two as I just can't deal with another day of watching a gang full of thugs soak up the best times of the best pitch in the USA and pulling terrible hats from it.
I'll be ready come monday after a bout of drinking and smoking...
The saga continues...

[Butterfly Man]

idling behind a black curtain

Greycat et al,
My "friend" reported to me that this "Mario" fellow never left his van on Saturday night (just circled the pitch)... I spoke to him as he was checking out the scene ... Dr. Eric gave him a thumbs up, so he bailed ... listen, if you guys want something done ... and it's not being done by the proper authorities... then you have to do it yourself, the long way... remember, everybody is alone sometimes … with proper surveillance… ‘nuff said… all I know is, this situation is being watched … and by people that care … be patient … sometimes all bad things disappear because someone forgot to pee before they left home. Do not argue over little stuff... work together ... we have a common goal.

Step 1 ... gather as much personal information as you can on whomever...then gimmie gimmie ... watch and be amazed as I, l & g, repeat I, the used-up, washed-out dishrag of a busker formerly dubbed King of the '80's by a guy who will never say THAT to me again will make that man over there disappear.

[Greycat]

B-man and the rest o the lads and lassies,

Nothing but TONS of respect for all you have done not only for the pitch, but what you have accomplished in this world. And I highly doubt you are 'all washed up' either. I do this same thing with all my circus mates. Even though I can do a one arm handstand for a minute (on both hands.) I still think, now that I'm mid thirties, that I'm all washed up.
Like fine wine, B-Man..
Indeed, this situation is a tough one requiring that age old attribute that very few folk have mastered: Patience.
Doc can't cure cancer, but getting to the bottom of it CAN. I'm not going anywhere, and neither, I think is Eric.
And soon Pete Sweet will arrive in a few month as cavalry.
Actually, the best of the situation has occured. Mario is GONE for the time being. One of the SF officers, an incredibly cool man going totally out of his way to help out the tradition of busking in SF, had a long talk with him. I watched, Mario was not amused.
Now, next little piggie is getting the Breakers to ease up a bit. This will be harder work. However, they weren't around on monday so I had a great time banging out three lovely shows in the afternoon sun.
Maybe I will have to work around them when necessary, give them the fish eye when I AM around. Voodoo dolls are not out of the question, as is spiking the cheap booze they swill on pitch with vigor.
Again, thanks for all the effort. Busking won't die in SF anytime soon....

[Butterfly Man]

Patience or patients ?

Greycat,

Thanks for the positive words ... the scene seems to be getting better ... "better", meaning no eye-stabbings ... good on ya' to both you & Dr. Eric ... and Scot for keeping you both dishonest.

Just for my own info.... how many break dancers are we talking about?

Is it one troop? They have a leader? I heard Mario paid them ... they were his henchmen, I thought.

If you can give me a description...hopefully, more than "he's black and obnoxious" because so is my friend and he's libel to beat the crap out of himself by mistake ...

[Frisbee]

I do not know what has been happening at the wharf the past couple months as I have been out of town, however,I was walking off the pier today after shows (Sunday) and there was a big circle show happening on the pitch.
I do not know who it was, he was doing some Hawaiian fire dance stuff.
He seemed to have some solid skills.
So it would seem that circle shows are back up and running at the wharf.

[gaddy]

the permit system

OK the fix is in... Fisherman's wharf now has a permit system for buskers, gods help us...

here are the gory details:

http://www.sfgov.org/site/port_page.asp?id=69524

I think this stinks and has loopholes in it large enough to drive a truck thru- 600 bux a year and required insurance? WTF?

On the + side it does allow some wiggle room for pitching items like 2 card monte and wondermouse. And also I think it might clean up the circle a bit. THe "breakdancking" thugs and Statue Gangs won't be able to dominate for hours at a stretch (we'll see: think loopholes)...

Mostly this "program" will help musicians- who now have official sanction to sell CDs, and will hurt jugglers and escape shows who must work a large circle. Sidewalk shows will probably be able to ply the trade with little interference (at least I've been able to... but then it's the slow season...)

Gaddy

[jayrodin]

I've never made more $$. I've been out 3 summers. The big cobble stone pitch is always occupied and it's nearly impossible to play there unless you are one of the locals with a permit or a silver-man with a crack habit. I'd always play out in front of Hooters. You can get a nice big half circle going there. Get there around 10am and you got the spot. Play a show, go have a beer at hooters, play a show, go have a beer at hooters, and on and on untill you get to tipsy or your just tired of making money or god forbid get a date (not a good idea )