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let me explain....
An event calls me and wants me to travel 100 miles, stay 3 days and entertain their crowds. This will cost them.
This place and ours, says, we will let you come work, EVERY night, no travelling, no hotel, etc.
You know coming here, that if you wish to perform 365 days a year, you need to get your OWN apartment, figure out how to get to the pitch, etc.
And you also know, that there is much more to these events than a bunch of performers doing tricks. There are vendors (food and other), there is ON SITE security, musical acts, etc. All when combined, NEED to have some organization. This takes time and patience. And many people take the time out of our own busy days to go to meetings, and the like, for one common goal: We want the wheel to spin smoothly.
A band comes out and plays for what seems like 4 homeless people and I am trying to converse with a crowd of 400. They are sometimes very aggrevating and loud playing for those 4 homeless people. And they get a CHECK!!
In the early stages, I'd get pissy about it. Even angry.
Then I spoke with some of the people who visit these events...
And I hate to burst some bubbles here, but a major percentage of the TOURISTS that come to our event, come to the EVENT. It's the whole thing. The loud ass bagpiper, the conch fritters, the juggler, the jewelry and art. ALL OF IT.
Clearwater's festival is situated right next to a covered, $2 million dollar, playground. A few years ago, the city shut down the playground for rennovations. HOLY CRAP!!! I got to see first hand how many people come just for that. NO LOCAL KIDS AT ALL! Sounds like a dream to some, but I'll be the first to say how much I MISSED THEM!
You ask about selection, yes. Whether you know it or not, we as organizers protect our best interest(the wheel) and I personally will watch/listen to each and every act to ensure that your material doesn't offend the families that visit our event. I will ask you to tone it down, and when needed, I will ask you to leave. PERIOD!
We LEASE, from our city, this park for 4 hours every day. And YES, we can say what goes on in this park during these 4 hours. If ours Rules and Regulations, don't fit into your routine, then there is another 20 hours of the day that you can be in a "PUBLIC" park. Invoking your rights and artistically expressing yourself.
For those of us who have chose to make one of these wonderful places our home, we knew this before we even unpacked our bags...YEARS AGO.
It's the people who after a period of time habitating one of these places, that decides that they might be able to make the "wheel" spin smoother and when their idea is, for lack of better words, "shot down". They try to throw a wrench in the "spokes".
Both of our events have been going on for a LONG time. Theirs, twice as long as ours. And if you spent less time worrying about the "wheel" and more about your show, then everything would be great. Granted, things at both aren't "perfect" for everyone and will NEVER be.
There will always be riffs between performers, riffs between performers and vendors, performers and the musicians(not that they aren't performers), etc.
But, if you can put up with us, we will put up with you. 365 days a year.!!!Comment
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Thanks for clearing that up.Comment
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no problem
not a problem.
I have sent acts to Key West and have never sugar-coated anything. I know once I send them, they probably won't come back to Clearwater. The money is better down there. Case in point Storm Surge. One of my best ideas, i gave away, he did a WONDEFUL job here. We miss his act here. But I knew, if he can put up with the "crap" "you'll never come back" and he hasn't. Except for a visit and I understand.
Also, if an act wants to come here and contact me first, I will let you know EXACTLY "how it is".Comment
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Damn, what's all the rucas?Comment
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despite the press...
Key West is one of the coolest and best places to visit in the country. No place like it!!! Love every second including the long-ass drive out there!! BEAUTIFUL.
Mallory Square should be on every street performers "Bucket List". It's not for ALL. Many won't make money. But you atleast leave there saying you've done it. Because if you can gather a crowd in Key West, you CAN gather a crowd ANYWHERE!!! I won't say my favorite quote of all time and it came from Jeep!!!!(I'll leave that for him)
Atleast in the U.S. anyways.
Because lets face it, anyone can get a crowd in a place where there are alot of children. It's the huge crowds of drunk adults that can really test your skills.
Hope things get better down there. And I'm trying to plan a trip down in January with Nick and Sharon. Her jewelry does better down there than anywhere!!
Happy Holidays and PHAT hats for all,
DallasComment
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Will Soto and Mallory Square
I've been on Mallory now for about 3 months. Trying to put on shows nearly every day, and here's my take...
Will Soto is an honorable, helpful and genuine man who does his best to help new performers get going. He's been nothing but helpful and accommodating, even to the point of giving up his pitch after one or two shows (many times) so that I could get a show in.
The Mallory Square politics are so messed up that nearly any act that hasn't been there for three years or more is most likely not going to get a pitch during season.
I've shown up to the "lottery" nearly every single day for the last three weeks. I got a spot waaaaaaay over there twice.
The "grand fathers" as they call them take up all good spots first, and with the exception of a few really good guys (Will Soto, Dr. Juice, Rondini, Stickman Tim), they pretty much don't give a shit about new performers or treating other performers with any kind of respect. One of these old timers actually told me after pulling my crowd during my first show (his third that night), "It's elbows and assholes here....and...you aren't big enough to do anything about it".
In addition, there's a group of 4 acts that all pretty much copy Mark. They're all in the "regulars" bucket which chooses first. Three of these acts are in High School! Supposedly it takes 7.5 years to make the regular bucket, yet 17 year old performers are in there....hmmm. Their habit is to snatch up 5 of the 9 circle show spots currently available, and then either ping pong the crowd between with little regard to other acts, or to sit on the pitches without using them, then team up and do shows together and use only the ones near a big crowd, effectively keeping new comers waiting for a spot with no chance for a show while they sit on empty pitches. In addition, if someone gives up their spot to you, one of these 4 acts will come take your spot if it's better than theirs (siting seniority and doing it all legal-like through the pier manager), leaving you with a less viable pitch.
In all...if you are a new act (to Key West) expect a lot of competition and difficulty getting a spot, and if you do get one from some nice old timer giving up his pitch, your crowd will have already seen 3-5 shows and the hats are much lighter than earlier shows.
If you're coming to Key West...strap on an extra elbow and pucker the starfish...Last edited by aztommyb; Jan-20-2010, 01:50 PM.Comment
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Good for you. I hope you keep your eye on the prize. The dock will be open next Mo. or the Next. If you learn from this, you will be able to pull a crowd any where you go. Keep trying anything new and keep your ideas to your self, they won't be yours long. Start bulding a small group, nothing builds a crowd like a crowd. Hang out and pull a a quick show @ the end of the night. I have'nt found much more love any where else I've performed, same sort of shit, different town, I think it's just the nature of the beast, IE: easy as hell to make money with out a need for kindness, self awareness/improvement. Just some advice from a Mallory guy. If you can learn to keep a crowd in KW you will be well on your way to success anywhere. Luck em....Comment
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Hey, ya wana buy an over sized Holiday tree?Comment
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Well hey Ringon Haven't heard from you in a while. Where you been?
Hey Aztommyb,You still sleeping in Will's front yard? Sounds like it!
It appears this post is about slamming me... and Mallory Square...
We have rules that we set up here probably before you where even born,Will made most of those and we've lived by them for all these years.Now you want us to change them to suit you,good luck.
To get in the regular bucket you have to put in 5 years ,the grandfather status is 10 years. It took me 11 years to get in the regular bucket and 16 to get in the grandfather bucket. You came here with little to no show maybe 3 months ago, and we all tried to help you out including me when you first started out,remember?
It's my believe none of us out here o you anything, much less respect. In my book you gotta earn it ,but I'll be easy on ya.
You have a beautiful girl in your show,a loud barking dog, a really good drummer,more fire than 3 people need ,and I'm talking fire every where.And I out drew you on a change of crowd one time. OMG,What a whiner!
I'll tell you about them 3 jugglers they came her as very young children,they studied juggling in school .They had no show when they started and where just like you making 10 15 20 dollars a night, Now they do a lot better as they've been doing it for a few years now. To bad they seem to wanta copy Mark, but they'll grow.Oh and I'm the one who advanced there status to the regular bucket.
This is street performing so lighten up, 'cause if you can't get a crowd,get a job!Comment
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Woooo, big fella. Is the Island out of Beer!!!!!! He'll get it or he won't. The guy will figure it out. I would'nt slam you on a post, Just letting the man? know " It is what it is"! I'll be sure to give ya a hug when I see ya.Comment
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That actually sounds like a really crap unfare system going on down there.
Personaly I wouldn't stand for that on any pitch. In my mind whether you been there 100 years or 1 year, if there is a draw, then everyone should have equal chance in it. I worked the same pitch in Fremantle Australia for over 7 years and never once felt that I should have priority over a show that just turned up last week. It's bad enough we have governments and police putting restrictions on us and giving us less places and chances to work.
We don't need other performers doing it too !!!Comment
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Well said Gav,
Australia has a rep as being a pretty tough place to perform, but Ive called it home for 14 yrs now, worked on/off the street for the last ~8 yrs, in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. And ive gotta say, Its pretty straight up. Theres a LOT of shit-hot acts here, (and you'd think big egos) but to be honest, I've had more trouble on pitches in Europe. Everyone here does gets a fair chance.
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