Mardi Gras Pitches?

[DavidDoyleEnt]

Hey all!

i'm going to check out Mardi Gras for the first time this year and thought I'd do some street performing while I was down there on some of the side streets and such.

Street suggestions? Time of day? Any other good tips for an environment like this?

Thanks,
Dave

[GlassHarper]

Mardi Gras in Mobile, Ala? Cajun Mardi Gras in Lafayettte? Mardi Gras in Rio? Faux Mardi Gras in Cambridge? There's so many -- you've got to be more specific!

[DavidDoyleEnt]

Mardi Gras in Mobile, Ala? Cajun Mardi Gras in Lafayettte? Mardi Gras in Rio? Faux Mardi Gras in Cambridge? There's so many -- you've got to be more specific!

;P Mardi Gras in New Orleans I figured if I didn't mention a suffix people would assume the most famous one.

[GlassHarper]

A primer on the French Quarter

Actually the one in Mobile may be more famous in the South, it was, allegedly, the first one over a hundred years ago.

To answer your question will require a great deal more information. What is your act? Are you a juggler, a magician, a musician, a mime, something else?
Something else would be great because a truely unique act would be refreshing and, probably, a good deal more successful.

How much experience do you have at gathering, keeping, and controlling your tip?

Do you have merch. for sale?

As others have pointed out New Orleans is a difficult pitch. By in large the police and political hassles of the '90's have mitigated since Katrina, but you still have to make sure you have identified the friendly police vs. the unfriendly police. During the couple of weeks leading up to Mardi Gras the streets get more and more crowded. There is no police force I have ever seen that is better at crowd control that NOPD. But that means you have got to be a partner in keeping control of your audience and not blocking sidewalks or store fronts.

For your first day here I would suggest you spend your time surveying the scene and talking with the other street entertainers you meet. As you know this can be a mercurial profession we have chosen and situations can change quickly and radically at any time. Make friends early and stay in touch with your compatriots.

Royal Street is Busker Central. It is closed off as a pedestrian mall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. It is genteel and elegant. Bourbon Street is much more gritty and crowded. Don't, under any circumstances, try to do performance on Bourbon St. after 8 p.m.

The rules on Jackson Square are complicated. Generally speaking performers get run off the area right in front of St. Louis Cathedral. The licensed street artists have sole rights to ten or fifteen feet from the fence line of the Jackson Square gardens. No performance is allowed inside the garden area. That leaves precious little room for performers, but getting shows off there is possible if you are careful.

The "steps" on Decatur street leading up to Washington Artillary Park is for BIG shows and is generally occupied by a troup of tumblers/break dancers. They can be very nasty if you try to horn in on "their" space. Before they arrive or after they leave you can sometimes pull off a show there.

The "Moon Walk" on the Mississippi Rive levee is a great place for solo musicians or small combos. Generally the income is not as good as the streets of the Quarter, but it is largely hassle-free.

Every act has an optimal pitch, and the only way of finding it is trial and error. Good luck and break a leg!

[Dallas]

PS

When I come through I get with the office in The French Market who has control over those steps. Have insurance on file with them and they have even paid me during Mardi Gras to stroll their property.( I think it was $100/hour)
Roslyn or Madeline are the ladies int he office. even though you may get the permission, the breakers still rule the roost. They have always been cool with me.

Valentino works his puppets there in the afternoon and is a really Cool Cat (haha) to talk to.

whatever you do, control your crowds and keep em tight.



Peter, I just signed my contract to work Mudbug Madness in May in Shreveport. Maybe I'll catch ya then. Also thinkin about French Quarter Fest.

[GlassHarper]

Look forward to seeing you, Dallas!

[DavidDoyleEnt]

That Glass & Dallas for the info!

We have a few acts we try out in areas. A Geek Show, a Fire Show, and a more child/family focused circus style show. It's 2 of us doing the show.

[vconaway]

Hey Glass, sorry I haven't seen you in NOLA for awhile!

DDE, depending on your act and traffic patterns, Pirates' Alley can also be a decent pitch, and one that isn't usually claimed by a local. It doesn't tend to get much in the way of crowds, but if you can do a small-scale individual show sometimes will work out OK.

Vince

[Irina]

What do you do? If you are a musician - GlassHarper answered all your questions. If you do something else - feel free to send me a private message.