Performing Around The World

[gabbyS]

Hi,

I am trying to learn about the street performance scenes in a few different cities around the world...

London, New York, Sao Paulo, Berlin, Tokyo, San Francisco.

I'm wondering if anyone has worked in any of these places RECENTLY---especially the cities outside the US--- and can tell me what it's like... how they compare?

What's the mix of performers (musicians, dancers, puppeteers, etc), how do performers get along with each other (competitive for space? ever jamming collaboratively?), if performers are full-time or casual?...how much money can be made, if audiences are receptive... if you need a permit, if people really pay attention to the permmiting process and how the local officials treat performers...

I'd like to hear about any experiences with any of these cities--- any stories?

thanks!

gabbyS

[jeep caillouet]

what do you do?

[gabbyS]

I don't perform, I'm a student at NYU in New York, and this is a research project for school.

I'm trying to understand how busking is different in different cities around the world.

gabbyS

[jeep caillouet]

passing the hat

Gabbys, there's a book if you can still find it called "passing the hat" ,the authors name is Face. I tells all about busking in America. It was printed in 1979. It's probably the most famous.There's also a film called "Playing for change"that was done 4 or 5 years ago that shows and tells about busking in America.

[Butterfly Man]

around the world in 30 years

London, New York, Sao Paulo, Berlin, Tokyo, San Francisco.

gabbyS,

I've done some street performing in these places (though I worked only in Rio) and can tell you there is a VAST difference in how you are perceived and accepted in all these different countries and cultures.

The book Jeep mentions was written by Patty Campbell and really only covers the mainland US during the late 80's ... Chad Taylors recent film "Buskers" has many of the pitches that you mentioned in it ... perhaps he (or I) could help.

[jeep caillouet]

your right

Your right B man, P. Campbell did write that book. There are 4 for sale on Amazon for $ 8.75. I haven't seen a copy of that book in years, B man are you in that book?

[Isabella]

I've recently been in London, and I wrote a short essay about what it was like that I sent to my friends and family. If you want to see it, email me at info@angelsintheair.com and I'll send it along.

[Butterfly Man]

Passing the Hat (volume 2)

Patty also wrote a second book about the busking scene in Europe in the early '80's (specifically about London and the search for the King Of the Buskers) ... it was never published ... I believe I have the only copy (she gave it to me a long time ago) ... I'm not sure what do do with it, really ...


and Jeep, yes I am... you?

[jeep caillouet]

nope

I had gone to the rest room when she went by my pitch. axially I was smoking a joint behind the fence in Jackson sq. in the bushes, Sturatinni the magnificent was playing my break. He was playing the auto harp.He told me that someone had come by and took his picture and interviewed him for a book. You may remember him,he works out of Baltimore now. The last I heard of him he was in Spain. AnyoneRemember him?

[pablo]

Passing the Book

A performer in Chicago gave me a copy of "Passing the Hat" about 8 years ago. I read it and then passed the book to the juggler Marcus Monroe. Hopefully he passed it on to someone else. It's like a fruitcake or an STD - sooner or later you'll get it.

[Butterfly Man]

so true...

It's like a fruitcake or an STD - sooner or later you'll get it.

One day Charlie Brown (the juggler) showed up to visit me with MY copy of the book ... he had had it for seven years.

P.S. He also gave me a fruitcake and a STD but at least I got the book back.

[gabbyS]

san fran hot spots?

hey there-- thanks for the recommendation on the book/fruitcake. But I'm looking for a bit more recent information...

for san fransisco specifically-- if any of you have worked there recently:

aside from fisherman's warf, are there other hot spots for performance in the city? parks? streets? BART stations that are particularly popular?

how often do performers get hassled by the police?

is the local audience receptive? is SF a positive environment for street performance/busking?

are there any street performance festivals in SF (in new york there used to be an annual busker's festival)?

any info/stories would be appreciated...

thanks!

G

[Dan The One Man Band]

gabbyS wrote

I'm trying to understand how busking is different in different cities around the world

Seems like you don't know what you're researching if now all you want to focus on is San Fran???

[Dan The One Man Band]

gabbyS wrote

I'm trying to understand how busking is different in different cities around the world

Seems like you don't know what you're researching if now all you want to focus on is San Fran???

[gabbyS]

nope, i know what i'm researching, thank you.

i already got most of the information i needed about the other cities. just looking for a little more on SF, to compare.

if you can help, pls post!

thank you.

G