Clearwater vs. Key West...which should I try?

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  • Cate Emily
    Member
    • Nov 2009
    • 22

    Clearwater vs. Key West...which should I try?

    Hi Everyone!

    My name is Cate, I'm new here and I have some questions for all of you who are familiar with working in Florida. Recently, I've found my self unexpectedly out of work (the show I was supposed to be on until Feb. suddenly ended) and living in South Florida. I'm thinking of doing some street shows while I look for other work and I'm trying to figure out what the current conditions are in Key West and Clearwater and which pitch would be better for my show. Right now I live in Ft. Lauderdale and the drive is about the same to either.

    A little bit of background: I'm a juggler and a handbalancer. I guess you would classify me as a circus performer who does street more than a street performer who does circus. I learned to street perform in Boulder I worked there three seasons and did pretty well but half my income was coming from other gigs (ie I've never supported myself on street alone). I have a good show but not a superstar show. Like, I can't roll up and make a huge hat out of nothing like some people can, but under the right conditions I do really well (under the same conditions I was probably making about 1/2 to 2/3 of what someone like Derek Derek would make but I was probably that much ahead of some of the other acts on the street).

    Right now I'm kind of leaning towards Clearwater since I've heard that Key West is down by half it's pitches this year and that with the seniority system I probably wouldn't be able to get a pitch easily. Also, I'm not super aggressive and I'm not sure how I would do in that kind of environment. However, my show was developed and designed for an unamplified pitch (I have really good projection) and I don't own a mic or have any music that goes with the show.

    So I guess my real questions are:

    -is Key West really as competitive as everyone says? Would it be possible to go down for a few days at a time get in some shows and make some money?

    -Does Clearwater have decent traffic at this time of year? How many shows could you do in a day? What are the week days like? is it possible to make good hats with an unamplified show?

    Any information you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks in advance,

    Cate Emily
  • Dallas
    Senior Member
    • Feb 2009
    • 157

    #2
    call me

    call me 727 678 9728

    Comment

    • jeep caillouet
      Senior Member
      • Jan 2006
      • 752

      #3
      Key West

      Spots are a little hard to come by these days,sense we only half a pier but I've not herd any real griping about it. Every one seems to get a spot. Two shows a day if your lucky. Hey then we could always go sailing! So come on down.

      Comment

      • gav
        Senior Member
        • Apr 2003
        • 916

        #4
        off topic

        This is off topic, but interesting.
        Alfred Hitchcock once said......
        “Zadar(Croatia) has the most beautiful sunset in the world, more beautiful than the one in Key West, Florida, applauded at every evening.”

        Comment

        • Daniel Mooncalf
          Senior Member
          • Jun 2002
          • 117

          #5
          I'll probably be down in Clearwater before too much longer. Other than the Sunsets at Pier 60, how's the busking there year round? What about in St Pete or Tampa?

          If Pier 60 goes quiet in mid January, I'll need about to find a place I can busk for the following two or three months after.

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