trouble in Paradise (Surfers)

[Mr Qwirk]

I just got a call tonight from James, (another Surfers regular)

So the new retail complex has opened up right next to the pitch, and theres been rumors for the past few weeks, that they don't like us busker "scum" dirtying up there image.

the Surfers Paradise Alliance is having a walk through Tuesday morning, to try and identify "other" spots to work..... if any ones ever worked Surfers, you'll know, there is no where else worth working.

does anyone have any ideas, or arguments I can bring up to try and convince them, that we are a good thing to have around?

[Lee Nelson]

contact the shopping centre. try and make a deal where you shows are scheduled and in promotion of the shopping centres opening. If they still dont like you your fucked.
The basic problem is a misunderstanding and a lost in translation in the case of a suited shopping centre development person. Talk to him. Approach him in a way he understands. Use good promo and present yourself as a professional. And professionalism is the basis of the misunderstanding.

[gav]

Demonstrate to them that you are a professional and that cities and festivals all around the world pay you to entertain in areas just like surfers.
Point out the benefits of having entertainment and not just shopping for people. Mainly it puts them in a good mood and people in a good mood stay out longer and spend more money.
Try to explain how important it is for everyone to have access to quality entertainment and point out that surfers is an ideal venue for it and one of the best in the country.
If all this fails, get together a petition and go to the press !!

You might want to gather some comments from performers all around the world that have websites that says something like 'Surfers paradise was one of the best places I performed in Australia and it would be a shame if the performance area were to be closed down bla bla bla'
I'd write one even though i haven't been there recently.

[gav]

Just checked out the guidelines and it's yet another place I will never be at the right time for auditions ! Ever heard of anyone getting round the audition process ? Not only that but if they enforce the rules in the guidlines, then it's pretty restrictive.
You can not request or imply that the audience gives you money ? What the .... !! No wonder hats are small.

You might want to read back to them the first line in the guidelines, it put's us in a good light.

[scoot]

They are a bunch of tossers, The meeting is just to keep us happy but the reality is that we would be too loud anywhere in that mall, noise travels up real easy and its a very small mall, and did ya hear about southbank in brisbane there not giving out any more permits untill they have a busk off type comp in may or june and the winners get permits for the year and the losers have to move city? its new managment there so looks like all of buskers in Queensland are getting the flick, the lady said they are doing this to improve the quality of acts but most good acts are working overseas that time of year. i dont know what to say at the goldie, we will find it hard to beat corperations that don't like us i think in this case we are at the bottom of the food chain. sorry im not a bit more positive about it but i cant see the new construction and residents putting up with shows on there door step.

[gav]

Paradise for mimes perhaps.
If South bank want better quality acts, then they should be a bit more flexible with their audition process, then they would get some of the worlds best acts come through there. As it is, they have an audition when no International acts would be in Australia, and when I contacted them they would not accept a promo kit and references in place of the audition.

So much for working my home town when I visit my family.

[Mr Qwirk]

yeah, QLD is turning into a busking backwater, it took me 3 months to get all my permits. Byron Bay even wants you to have a First Aid Certificate, I got the certificate, and then decided i don't really even want to work there.

Apparently South Bank is open to suggestions, but we'll see. I'd like them to loosen up the process, because as it is no one works there. Its only been me and Steve London there over the summer months.

[gav]

Please Quirk, suggest to them that they accept applications for acts the reside overseas via promotional material or at least be more flexible with the audition times. Remind them that South bank was once the site of expo 88, which was pretty much the birth place of the street performance boom in Australia.
Myself and several other acts saw their first shows there and went on to become performers.

[scoot]

Paradise for mimes perhaps.
If South bank want better quality acts, then they should be a bit more flexible with their audition process, then they would get some of the worlds best acts come through there. As it is, they have an audition when no International acts would be in Australia, and when I contacted them they would not accept a promo kit and references in place of the audition.

So much for working my home town when I visit my family.

Hi Gav,

Yes you are spot on, i have had the same conversation with scott chocolate about this, the managment keeps changing hands and this is a big problem the all just follow rules and dont consider why they are there in the first place, i think it is wrong for any pro street performer like yourself not to be able to get a permit if you can prove that you are a quality act without auditioning, apparently the audition is to acess your ability to perform your act safely and is not judged on the content of your show however i failed an audition there and i was told it was because they already had a busker performing a simmilar act there and they wanted variety? if they bothered to consult with street performers when creating their policy and procedures they could have a efficent system which would allow performers like yourself, scott, jp etc. to perform whilst visiting relitives and this would be very benificial for them and the pitch, over a year ago myself and james and mitch joined the union and tried to get managment leval meetings to fix the issue unfortinantly the union was not overly willing to put in huge hours unless all the performers this issue concerns joined which was impossable, any way they dont fine you if you get cought so if your popping through just bang out shows anyway, at the goldie they give you a $385 fine if your caught without a permit so that battle continues.

[Mr Qwirk]

Please Quirk, suggest to them that they accept applications for acts the reside overseas via promotional material or at least be more flexible with the audition times. Remind them that South bank was once the site of expo 88, which was pretty much the birth place of the street performance boom in Australia.
Myself and several other acts saw their first shows there and went on to become performers.

thats exactly what ill suggest to them, the current situation suits nobody, and everyone loses. No new people on pitch makes for a very stale pitch. Performers get bored, audiences get bored. A shame really, because South Bank is actually quite a good pitch - everyone you ask will tell you otherwise, but i've had good shows there, and the crowds are fun.

In saying that though, i wouldn't want to be trying out new material there, Brisbane crowds either love you, or they hate you.... theres no in between.

lets see what happens.

[Mr Qwirk]

We had the meeting today, and all is good in Surfers. the decision was no amplified circle acts on the main pitch before 6.

Also, some positive news. I was talking to John, one of the organisers, and he told me that temporary permits will be issued to performers WITH references...

He also said that this was already their policy, but I didn't have much luck trying to get a permit outside of the usual auditioning dates.

So I guess, if you're visiting the area, it's worth a shot asking?


Still haven't heard anything about South Bank in Brissie yet.
I just sent them an email to see if we can work something out.

[gav]

Nice one Quirk !
What's it like pre and post Christmas in Surfers ?

[Mr Qwirk]

Nice one Quirk !
What's it like pre and post Christmas in Surfers ?

early dec is a write-off, unless your'e good at dealing with 10s of thousands of drunk Schoolies. after they leave though, its great. Hot, but great.

all my electrical equipment failed in Dec, due to the high humidity.

a change of costume is a must!

[Mr Qwirk]

More good news,
I just heard back from South Bank.


<edit>I probably shouldn't just paste the entire email here, but the gist of it is as follows:

an audition event will be take place in May and then again in October/November for local buskers.

International and interstate visiting buskers/performers will see temporary and time limited permits issued.</edit>

[gav]

Looks like it's good news for my family visit later this year then.
Thanks for all your work on this.