South Street Seaport Dismissing Performers?!?

[jugglerjosh]

Thanks Again. Dang, Since I'm boycotting I can even learn about the "Half-Moon".

Dear Folk,

Thanks again for your support.

Sincerely, Josh.

[George Gilbert]

I would organize a buskers march on White House. They do have an area there, assigned for free speach, we should go there and demand our rights with a big fat copy of the Constitution. I think we will win just because Obama will like the chance to play a "good papa of the nation" and give the jesters their rights, he has 'real problems" to deal with and can use some comic relief and the fame of being a 'street performers liberator"... What I am talking about is 'feel good" performance/parade/political protest wich will just attract a lot of attention because of creative element. Hey, if you need something to do - you could do somthing like putting this together, sign me in and I will mail you a money order for te non-profit. I started a new thread on 'pitches' - it started like a wild idea, but I am feeling some really strong vibe about it, I am just not much of an organizer....but I will sure participate and support something like that!

this is a brilliant idea and should definately be persued.. I am back in Baltimore now but I rarely ever go down to DC. Anyway take a look at this case.. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...bbusker24.html . a lot of performers, lawyers + the ACLU have been using this case to fight regulation against street performers..

[jugglerjosh]

March on Washington?

Well, there's one thing we did right?

I hope you had a peaceful Veteran's Day.

Sincererly, Josh.

[jugglerjosh]

July 4th Update. NYC PROGRAM DONE? S.O.S.

Dear Folk,

I saw Nancy and Brian on the Subway yesterday. They are no longer working at the South Street Seaport. Since I organized to have a BUSKER FESTIVAL in 2005, I have had severe financial troubles.

I was arrested in 2005 just before the festival and held in jail for a weekend. I later sued and won an out of court settlement.

Each year I asked for an ANNUAL BUSKER FESTIVAL which was not added to the events at the SEAPORT, except for 2005. I was expelled by the Seaport Management after working in my time-slot in designated location on the property when arguing with a River-To-River act setting up in 2009.

The news from Nancy & Brian were a "divide and conquer strategy. I was expelled. Nancy was expelled for "charging $6 for a balloon". Yogi Lazer is gone. Robert McDermott did not "make the audition cut." Magic Brian? Bethany? Margot? Summer? Orange-man?

Could performers now expelled send confirmation of their expulsion to this blog? Perhaps a class-action suit could be filed, getting performers off the streets for the stage acts of River-To-River and Target series, without any official dissolution of the program which is now defunct?

I was evicted and fighting in housing court and lost nearly all possessions. I now have an apartment once again, but most props were taken by the landlord, along with other work, items.

I would like to pursue this matter, as a FAREWELL FESTIVAL should not be a policy to end a prime location property for street performing from a perk grabbing management that apparently has administrative impunity.

Please reply.

In Friendship,

Sincerely, Josh Weiner

South Street Seaport 1992-2009.
2005 Festival Organizer
Juggling & Circus Arts

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

Boo Hoo I'm homeless

Aint nothing new under the sun Break dance groups have been working there since the early 80's same shit different era. The seaport has been letting us audition work there for a short while then pull the rug from under our feet it's the same old song over and over for years. If your going to be a Street performer especially in New york you gotta be able to play different pitches and adjust to different environment because your not always protected by a management team on private property. If your not able face that reality that one day you may have to work the raw then maybe Street performing is not the business you should be in. Many Street performers make that mistake of hiding behind a marketing team and lose touch of how it is to work the raw then when shit like this happens they panic YOUR A STREET PERFORMER, FIND A PITCH AND GO TO WORK F**K THE SEAPORT...

[harmonicakev]

Hi USABD's ; While I might use different wording, I agree with your sentiment; i.e. it is wise to diversify.

Kevin M. - did not make the cut at Faneuil Hall Marketplace auditions ('05)

[jugglerjosh]

Wow. USA Breakdancers. Thanks for WRITING.

Dear USA Breakdancers,

Congratulations on winning the Street Performer Competition in Ireland.
Did you get an agent?

After 17 years at the seaport, I am working elsewhere. The fact of the matter is, after hundreds of hours working as an ORGANIZER FOR NO EXTRA PAY, it is of personal concern that their policies are so cold and impunitive to poor workers.

It is easy to pick on the downtrodden.

Do you have anything else to share that could help?

Peaceful days and safe travels.

Sincerely, Josh also from NYC.

[wildbill]

tis a shame

y'know, i first caught the street performing (though i gravetate more to the sideshow arts myself) bug in the uk in 01 with a trip to london, what they'er doing in nyc is helping noone and hurting us working and entertaining folks, I'm sorry to hear your situation josh, I'm a stones throw on the lirr so i'll keep you posted if i can get you any work out here

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

There you go buddy grow some balls, get out there and make some money, oh and yes we have an agent, we got a couple...

[jugglerjosh]

USA Breakdancers. Wild Bill.

Dear Folk,

Gee Wild Bill, I was in National Geographic in May 1992 Central Park article, when I was younger and stayed overnight in the park to get a good morning location.

I'm also a Graduate Student at Columbia University TC.

Thanks for your job offer.

USA Breakdancers: Who wrote this? Is this Julio? Clown, is that you?

Sincerely, Josh.

[jugglerjosh]

FORMER SOUTH STREET SEAPORT PERFORMERS

Dear Performers,

Please post to this thread if you were dismissed from the South Street Seaport in the years following the 2005 "Busker's Fare" in NYC.

There is a pattern of dismissal and phasing out of the street performers at this location and mistreatment by management.

A class action suit can be filed in violation of contractual agreements with these performers if stories of marginalization and mistreatment are gathered and presented in court.

Sincerely, Josh Weiner, Professional Performer 1977-present.

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

Yup it's me Julio aka Klown with a K....

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

I'm kinda with the break dancers on this one. As enjoyable as these posts are, they are riddled with that crybaby flavor. I stand behind my last post.

You were harvesting their crowds, and failed to be their little bitch. Dozens of performers lined up to be their next little bitch. Doesn't matter if you were a good little bitch three months ago, they want to know what have you done for (or to ) me lately?

Where is the mystery here? Half of walking forward is acceptance. Here is some more tough love but dude, take a get over it pill, and wash it down with a cup of shut the fuck up. You have no cause for complaint at all, not even a tiny one. Your problems with the seaport are of your own making.

And besides, the wind was knocked out of that pitch a decade ago, Josh. Its sterile there.

[Lee Nelson]

amen and hallelujah Taxi and Klown
Josh, get over it and get back to work.
They owe you nothing. You did well when times were good, now it is time to move on,

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

See what I'm saying Josh everybody agrees to what I'm saying, you should take notes. We didn't become World champions for nothing there's a lot of experience behind that win.