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This is a larger town at the beginning of the Yucatan Peninsula, on the way from Mexico City to Cancun, Merida or other points on the peninsula.
Very, very happening atmosphere - busy, lots of street traffic, general air of festivity. They just redid their pedestrian streets and are really pleased about it, and they look good.
The Pitch - Park Juarez, two blocks up from the water near Zaragoza st. This is a bustling public square with lots of vendors and lots of ambient noise. Attracting an audience was easy, we did two shows at 7PM ish and 8PM ish. Again, they expect hat pass before finale, and they all stay whether or not they give. The crowd was families and young people. Very, very welcoming, very positive audiences, wanted to know if we'd be back the next day. Helpers carried stuff to our car, and giveaway postcards were popular. We made enough to cover two days' expenses (hotel, food) for two people, though it's still not a huge hat by US standards - then again, we're not spending the money in the US, either.
The Deal - we approached two cops who took us to the police station after we wouldn't take "no, you have to have a permit" for an answer and politely kept asking. The local "Zone Coordinator" was very friendly, and after we showed pictures, mentioned we were insured, and said it was ok that the square was dark, gave us permission to do shows with our aerial rig. Cops watched both shows, and the Zone Coordinator also showed up for part of one. PM me if you want his email, but there's a new mayor and the Zone Coordinator is appointed, so he might be there three more years or he might be gone next month.
We also found a club that wanted to schedule to have us do a show, which we may do on the way back through town. PM me if you want their info.
Lodging - there are a ton of cheap hotels opposite the Best Western on the main drag, one block down from the park. We stayed at Hotel Oriente, nothing fancy but clean. M$300/double is standard. There is secure parking in a garage across the street, 60 pesos a night from 7PM to morning.
Great people, very friendly town. VIPS is a good place to eat that's open late, next to the Best Western. It's a Mexican Denny's basically
Very, very happening atmosphere - busy, lots of street traffic, general air of festivity. They just redid their pedestrian streets and are really pleased about it, and they look good.
The Pitch - Park Juarez, two blocks up from the water near Zaragoza st. This is a bustling public square with lots of vendors and lots of ambient noise. Attracting an audience was easy, we did two shows at 7PM ish and 8PM ish. Again, they expect hat pass before finale, and they all stay whether or not they give. The crowd was families and young people. Very, very welcoming, very positive audiences, wanted to know if we'd be back the next day. Helpers carried stuff to our car, and giveaway postcards were popular. We made enough to cover two days' expenses (hotel, food) for two people, though it's still not a huge hat by US standards - then again, we're not spending the money in the US, either.
The Deal - we approached two cops who took us to the police station after we wouldn't take "no, you have to have a permit" for an answer and politely kept asking. The local "Zone Coordinator" was very friendly, and after we showed pictures, mentioned we were insured, and said it was ok that the square was dark, gave us permission to do shows with our aerial rig. Cops watched both shows, and the Zone Coordinator also showed up for part of one. PM me if you want his email, but there's a new mayor and the Zone Coordinator is appointed, so he might be there three more years or he might be gone next month.
We also found a club that wanted to schedule to have us do a show, which we may do on the way back through town. PM me if you want their info.
Lodging - there are a ton of cheap hotels opposite the Best Western on the main drag, one block down from the park. We stayed at Hotel Oriente, nothing fancy but clean. M$300/double is standard. There is secure parking in a garage across the street, 60 pesos a night from 7PM to morning.
Great people, very friendly town. VIPS is a good place to eat that's open late, next to the Best Western. It's a Mexican Denny's basically