stressfull street story

[Evan Young]

I was doing a show the other night, and it didn't seem to be going very well. I had caught some of Mark Riggs' break, and zip code man got the rest. The people I had were really routy and keeping me on my toes. I looked over and some middle age, middle class, white guy was walking through my circle, so I walked behind him with a torch and said (don't fart). He muttered somthing about having the right to walk on the sidewalk. As he walked away I yelled "enjoy your tax cuts asshole" and then went back to my show. The audinece told me that he fliped me off, so I yelled after him, "screw you too dad". Everything I said got big laughs. This interaction turned the show around from a struggle to a smooth success. My hat was about twice what it usually is for the size audience it was.
After my show while I was counting my hat the guy came back and sternly talked in my ear, "you need to respect the citizens". I told him that if he didn't want me to make fun of him he could walk around the show. He retorted about how he has the right walk on the sidewalk, and I told him that I have the right to say whatever I want.
So he got in my face and started yelling at me; and I stood up and stared him down. He told me he would drop me. I don't know if he realized that the seven or so people standing around us were all my friends and very capable of ending his agression quickly and painfully. So I encouraged him to do it.
The characature guy came over and explained the consiquenses of his actions, and then lied to him; telling him that it's illegal to walk through a performers circle. He left after telling me that it's not over.

I really wanted him to hit me. My plan was to take the fall, start crying, watch him get his ass kicked, watch him get arrested, and then sue him for everything I could without ever throwing a single punch. Then I wouldn't have to worry about money this winter.

The end result? It really shook me up and it's been on my mind. it doesn't feel good.

The thing is this. If this were some bum, or some other kind of under class citizen I would have been nice. but he clearly was a white, upper middle class, man, and he should know better than to be agressive. He was probably just having a really bad day, but I didn't feel very sorry for him. I said the things I did because I needed to stay in controle of the show and did so very succesfully.

Anybody got any coments?

[Hydrophobia]

Way cool, Evan!

Interesting that this guy obviously doesn't consider you a citizen, if he did, by his own logic, he'd have to respect your space.

Actually, I really like the idea of taking the fall and starting crying, that sort of unexpected reaction would probably have been enough to stop him before your friends got their knuckles bruised, and any witness is on your side straightaway.

I'm not sure about encouraging him to hit you though. I realize you were both feeling pretty wound up, but there's always the risk that someone will take you up on the offer. At the end of the day, getting hit hurts.

I wouldn't feel bad over it (well, I would ... but I tend to brood too much, which is the same reason I assume you posted this), at the end of the day this guy walked onto a stage. If he'd been heckling, he'd have expected a couple of comebacks, so surely there's no difference with a physical move like walking through the circle?

Chalk it up, and sit back happy in the knowledge that he's fuming away and feeling totally impotent about it. You won, he lost, and with a bit of luck the memory of that will stop him from ever intruding on another circle.

Han

[Steven Ragatz]

*** WARNING ***
*** Highly Opinionated Content Follows ***
(Evan, if you are looking for support, skip this one)

Reality check:

First off, I think the guy is right, he does have a right to be able to walk down the sidewalk.

Look at the situation from his perspective, he's just going down the sidewalk, when he makes his way through a group of people standing around. Maybe he knows why they are standing around, maybe he doesn't. Then, some piss-ass punk kid singles him out, and starts waving fire around him trying to make fart jokes. The kid then calls him an asshole and he and his friends think it's funny.

Staying in control of a street show is one thing, but I think simply insulting people because they aren't doing what you want them to is something else.

If nothing else, consider the ramifications of the incident. You made double your hat - how much was that? An extra twenty? Fifty? An extra hundred dollars? In exchange, you've had to have a stressful confrontation with some guy, one that may very well come back an haunt you both later. You both will remember the incident for a long time to come. Is the money worth it?

I know, this sort of thing happens all the time, in comedy clubs, bars acts and street routines, and though resorting to low-level insult comebacks "Yeah, your mother did too..." may get some immediate gratification, in the long run they can't serve any useful purpose and won't help you move your act, and career forward. There's nothing clever, insightful, or interesting about putting someone down just to elevate yourself. Even Andrew Dice Clay weaves some content into his slanderous and bigoted show.

I would suggest taking this experience and learning something from it. Consider writing some other, less hostile lines to deal with a person breaking the circle. Or consequently, devise ways of tightening the circle so that there is less likelihood that anyone will walk through your show. Of course, if someone does, you should acknowledge it, and include it, thereby maintaining the control you want, but there are so many ways to do this other than to lower yourself to simply calling them an asshole.

If you want to brain-storm on ideas, I suspect you could find people on this forum who would be willing to generate some less caustic ideas.

Steven Ragatz

[Stretch]

All it takes is one person, white, male, middle class or otherwise,
to raise enough hell at the city council meeting to raise a world of hurt.

Better to make friends.

But, you knew that, a sign of maturity.

Do good, avoid evil, do well, be well.

[Evan Young]

In your physical body, right inside your flesh, there is a being of no rank who often goes in and out of the doors of your face. Who is he? Tell me right now!

Zen-Koan

my roomate, Jake, wanted me to post that

[ 08-23-2003: Message edited by: Evan Young ]</p>

[scot]

Ethan,
You're pretty hard-core. I don't think I've been that unwarrantedly mean to someone in a street show before. Maybe I have. I don't remember, just like you won't remember this incident as being any different from others.

You're young and sometimes you tell stories that I don't think are so impressive because they happen to me all the time. I don't mean to berate the importance these events have for you, but the fact is, they happen to everyone.

I find it's helpful to have an aggressive character while performing. If someone comes up to me afterward to complain, I'm usually myself. I am friendly and cordial and explain that I wouldn't joke with someone I knew was so serious. After they saw my edge, they saw that I can be aggressive and wild, it's calming to see me back down and let the offended party have the high status in the conversation.

Scot

[Pyromancer]

Well, since you ask for comments...

You call someone an asshole and then be surprised he is upset. Would you like it if any person of any colour, any class and any age calls you an asshole just because you are walking where you do?

It is disturbing if people break your circle and you should respond to that. But if that response is calling someone names, then be not surprised you might offend people. Find your own boundaries, see what you can get away with without upsetting people. And if you do upset people, face it, you crossed a line and you should learn from it or just deal with the consquences any time it happens.

And then, challenging someone to hit you, only to let other people do the dirty work for you afterwards is, sorry to say that, somewhat cowardish. How easy it is to pick up a fight if others have to do the actual beating. If you can't do the time, don't commit the crime, brother.
And where you really thinking about sueing they guy if he had hit you, just because he then would have done did what you made him do? Why not just be responsible for yourself? The world is full enough already with people blaming others for their very own mistakes.

And what exactly is an "underclass" person? How much respect you have for people youserlf to make statements like that? And why do they, together with bums, have more right to get angry with you than "middle class" men, of any colour? Do you really believe more money automatically means more civilized behaviour? You should know better, my friend.

[ 08-24-2003: Message edited by: Pyromancer ]</p>

[Jim]

[quote]Originally posted by Evan Young:
<strong>I really wanted him to hit me. My plan was to take the fall, start crying, watch him get his ass kicked, watch him get arrested, and then sue him for everything I could without ever throwing a single punch. Then I wouldn't have to worry about money this winter.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Getting hit in a street fight does not mean you will walk into some court room and have someone cut you a check. What kind of prosecuting attorney could you afford? Well I bet that middle class white guy would have a pretty powerful defense attorney... even if this thing made it to a trial, which is unlikely. Even if he hit you first, you started it all when you followed him around with a lit torch. He clearly felt threatened and embarrassed. And he does have every right to walk on the sidewalk. You'd have your ass handed to you in a court.

Don't fuck around with people who aren't playing along. They're the kind of people who walk into city hall with a complaint. And before you know it, there's no street performing in Boulder anymore. It can happen.

Like Steven Ragatz said, that immediate gratification of the big laugh isn't always worth it when it comes to insult humor. Robert Nelson, Gazzo, etc. have a knack for picking on people who WANT to play along. Or at the very least, they know how to backpedal out of a sticky situation. Getting into a fight over a guy walking through your circle is just dumb. And it could have much larger ramifications than just a black eye.

Chill out, man. Street performing is supposed to be fun. If someone in your crowd isn't having fun, let them go. Don't make it worse by pointing out to the rest of the audience that they have a bug up their ass. That's their problem. Don't make it yours.

Jim

[Evan Young]

Somthing that really bothers me about performing is when people try to push me around. I'm 21, but I look like I'm 17, and people talk down to me all the time (yes I know this isn't somthing special to performers). The older performers play mind games on me all the time, and I'm getting pretty good at standing up for myself there. When some random guy off the street thinks he can just start yelling in my ear it makes me want to embaress the hell out of him.
I did try and tell him why I made fun of him, and he told me he would "drop me".... Ya know, fuck that.

All that being said; most of your coments are pretty consistant with the way I've been feeling about it.

It's hard to think rationaly when your all hyped up on adrinelin from a big show. I'm sure I'll get better at it.

Anyway, thanks

[upjuggler]

I am also 21 years old, and have been performing for 4 years. I also look like I'm 16 or 17 years old. Don't complain about looking young. We are lucky. Because people think we are still kids who are doing something interesting with our lives, and found a way to make money doing it, only encourages them to drop the extra buck into the hat.

I don't think I have done a show where someone hasn't "walked through the circle". When it happens, I do non-offensive jokes in a way that they are encouraged to reply to. I make them part of the show, in a good way - not "whether they like it or not".

I suggest that you drop the "fart" bit and come up with something different. If you can write a bit where the joke would really be on you (pretend you don't realize it, of course). The person may enjoy being part of the joke, and stick around for the rest of the show. I bet he or she will never step over ones props during their show again, because they have gained some respect from their last experience.

I hope this all makes sense to you. Good luck!

[firegirl]

okay... given i don't do street... i'm strictly club and ren faire with my show... but, i find that the excuse of "i'm twenty-one and look younger" is a pretty lame one indeed... people fuck with performers everywhere... (and, by the way try being a GIRL and performing for drunk frat boys in bourbon street bars... talk about directions for disaster... sheesh.)

i think that the way that performers deal with hecklers is touchy -- as there are some people who LIKE to play along... the hecklers you can have a good time messing with... and, then those who are just obnoxious blow-hards... inebreiated or not. and as a performer it is muy importante to know the difference... because i've found that if you push a blow-hard to far than even the fact that you're a girl isn't gonna stop them from getting aggressive with you... (i've had drunk idiots at ren faires get into my face before...) above all one has to remain in control of the direction of the show... that's the most important thing... and, confronting aggression with more aggression is a sure fire ticket to an out of control situation.

in my opinion.

but, then again - i'm more likely to stop my show and just silently wait for the offending person to get the hint and chill out or leave. if that doesn't work i generally say something along the lines of "yah - buddy... you really want to fuck with the girl with a flaming torch in her hand?" (it is the only time anymore i pull out the f-word in my show... i used to a lot more... but, going blue is a cheap kind of funny... not what i am aiming for.) and, i just stand there silently after that and just every once and a while gesture towards the exit with the torch... with my patented raised eyebrow... (sometimes i wish i could wear my glasses during my show because then i would look over them at the person... subtle mom look... tsk, tsk... and all that... tee-hee.) it is subtle, it indicates i am unwilling to take the person's abuse... it keeps the audiance on my side... and, above all *I* remain in control of *MY* show by indicating that i do not want the offending party to remain as part of the audiance... you'd be suprised at how many times the audiance rallys around you and *helps* to encourage the person to leave... or, the if the asshole is with people how they become embarrassed and encourage the person to chill out. and, all without being outright offensive in return... just calm and in control...

eh... that's my two cents worth... take it for what you will.
smoochies,
kate

[ 08-25-2003: Message edited by: firegirl ]</p>

[Pyromancer]

[quote]Originally posted by Evan Young:
<strong>
It's hard to think rationaly when your all hyped up on adrinelin from a big show. I'm sure I'll get better at it.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Now that is so true... I think we all get carried away sometimes. There's many moments in the past that made me wonder how I could ever get away with what I did, plain embarassing or facing sheer agression. It happens... And everytime when it does, when situations stick with you for too long, it's for a reason...

It's a wunderful world, isn't it? [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[Steven Ragatz]

Evan,

Hindsight is 20/20, but that's also when some writing can occur. If the situation happens once, it can, and probably will, happen again. It's not very helpful to hypocritically shake a finger at you, so here are a few off-the-cuff ideas for the problem of someone breaking the circle in the middle of a set. Maybe we could divert this thread to a brain-storming session...

Picking up some papers stapled at the corner. "Excuse me sire, but I don't see you anywhere in the script... Oh wait! Here your are! 'Guy interrupts show by crossing to stage right.'"

How about simply stating the obvious? "Excuse me sir, but you're blocking my view of the audience."

Instead of making him your dad, how about making him your agent? (To the audience) "That's my agent." (To the guy as he leaves) "If you'd booked me real shows, this sort of thing wouldn't happen!"

One device that can be used in situations like this is to redirect the joke. Often, you can redirect it towards yourself, but in this case, would it have worked if you told the guy - "Here, let me help you. 'Scuse us - coming through!" taking the torch and waived it through the crowd to create a path for your stage-walker to exit the stage? That way, you could still use your fart joke if you wanted to, only on an audience member, someone who has shown that they are on your side.

Steven Ragatz

[The Amazing Beaumanz]

Mr. Ragatz has some excellent points and ideas that should help if situation arises again.

Here in the sunshine state, where the average age is 68 years old, we encounter this on a regular basis. Old folks often with there head down, oblivious to what is going on around them. I have even seen an old couple walk right through a crowd, UNDER someone on a slack-rope, and right on through to the other side!!!! It was hilarious.

I often print these threads and show the to new performers at our pitch, i will surely use this one.

[Stretch]

Perhaps an over the top profuse thank you would have been/would be in order?

"Man! You were GREAT! I couldn't have done it with out you! The audience LOVED you! Your timing couldn't have been better! You played the part PERFECTLY! The tension was dynamic! THAT is what street theater is all about! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! YOU WERE WONDERFUL"

AND BE SINCERE when you say it. After all, any other audience volunteer, you would have thanked, and would have had the crowd applaud as the exited the stage.
This guy not only "volunteered", he did so with perfect timing, just when you show needed a boost.

Some times there is NO substitute for experience. It is good to see you are willing to learn from yours, and others experience. Good luck.