I'm from here and I dont like sharing...

[Sunshine]

WHAT A "WIERD WORLD" WE LIVE IN.

I've been threatened to be KILLED in almost every city I've played in------always by very mediocre performers.

Unfornately, I've come to view this behavior as a COMPLAMENT.

The best performers on each pitch have always befriended me. The one's that feel SO THREATENED FOR THEIR WALLETS really just need to go home and practice.

At any rate just do the best possible show you can do at all
times. Try to stage your show so that it does not interfere with someonelse's show and let the JERKS amoung us SELF-DISTRUCT. Chances are the next time you come through town they will be WORKING A DAY JOB.

T

[AJJames]

Jeez Sunshine,
EVERY city eh? maybe you should change your name to Storm or something ,you don't seem to be spreading much sunshine man...as for me personallly if I like someones show I say "I like your show " or maybe "I really like your show" but I swear I have never ever attempted to complement someone by saying "I'm going to fucking kill you "
That's because death threats aren't complements dude. You need to take one of my work shops , a beginners guide to the Zen of pitch relations ,I believe Lucky will do the Master class if you make it through the beginners.
the course costs just $5000 which includes refreshments.
If you can't afford the course your self , perhaps you might initiate a scheme where as the cost is divided between all the many groups of street performers that you've angered.

[Noel]

Zen?

You're kidding, right?

(How's things?)

[The Pretty Good]

Well it happened again.
ME: "Hi my name is Brendan and this is Roc."
Them: "Dont care, dont care"
Them: "Every week its a new face coming to take our spot."
ME: "Thats wierd, for us every week its a new city and new friends."
I Still dont feel like fighting about it.

[Scot Free]

TPG where are you?

[The Pretty Good]

Well right now I amin Belguim but when thishappened I was in Central Park in NYC. It was crunch time so I had notimeto argue.

[Glenn Orange]

"my" spot, "your"spot

Originally posted by The Pretty Good
Well it happened again.
ME: "Hi my name is Brendan and this is Roc."
Them: "Dont care, dont care"
Them: "Every week its a new face coming to take our spot."
ME: "Thats wierd, for us every week its a new city and new friends."
I Still dont feel like fighting about it.

The way we do it in Charleston, Sc: It's YOUR spot if you are on it. No one has any right to come up to you when you are laready set up and claim it as "their" spot.
We have this one loser "One-Man-Band" who comes into town for the Spoleto festival and tried to pull that with me, and I LIVE in this neighborhood!! He tried to tell me he was hired by the city for that particular spot, which was bullshit. I mean this guy had all the class of a someone who's used to saying "the check's in the mail". Of course, I didn't move, and when he tried to run interference, I had the backup of other performers.
The guy then decided it was best to find another section of street.
I have never gone on tour; I'm not sure how I would handle it if someone tried to move me off my spot in a strange city....I'd like to think I would stand my ground.

[The Pretty Good]

musicians are a different story all together. Don't forget to ask for a $5.

[jayrodin]

Some dude threatend my life last night in Washington SQ. One of those little bands that come out with thier acoustic guitars and mike stands and amps late at night trying to be "discovered" or something. I was playing the one man band prolly 100 feet away from them unamplified and the dude walks right up next to me in the middle of my show putting on some fighting gloves and telling me how disrespectful I was and how I needed to stop playing (His crowd had sadly left him and the band once I showed up) I told him we'd leave it up to the crowd and then asked them they of course cheered for me to stay he left saying a number of threatening words I told him to take it up with my four big brothers pointing four very large dudes out of the crowd, one of them turned out to be a street fighter, and another a pro boxer. They walked me out of the place after my show and took me out to dinner. NICE.

I would agree with sunshine on the mediocre performers thing. Just keep an alright distance and don't take any shit. First come first serve. Everyone else can just fuck off. The crowd is on your side.

[USA BREAK DANCERS]

Dude be careful in that park your crowd is not always there especially at night. When the police and park rangers leave it's a free for all out there sh** can get crazy be careful.
I'll be in the park this weekend if I see you out there i'll talk to you in peron and answer any questions you need answered about Washington square park and any other NYC hot spots...

[jayrodin]

Thanks for the advice. I'll be in Friday and maybe Sat. See you I hope.

[kennethkahn]

We have the same problem

In San Fran(sillyness)cisco, we have the same problem. So called "professional buskers, and street punks, thinking they have a special right to claim performing turf (Fishermans Turf, I mean Wharf).

I feel as though buskers need to come together and unite on one simple point, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, regardless of performers talent level. If not, there to much confusion, and then it becomes a matter of might makes right.

Peace

Kenny teh Clown

[kennethkahn]

Turf wars

I would just like to add to my last comment, that buskers theory have absolutely fantastic jobs that allow them to come to work when they want, and leave when they wish as well. Along with this freedom, in my oppinion, comes responsability to make sure the people who come after them can enjoy this same freedom. And unless we can insist upon justice for everyone, there will be no freedom for anyone.

I say that to say this, I think buskers need an international code of ethics help us as a community to decide right from wrong. Perhaps there is one, and I'm just not in the know. Either way, I think that code should involve the code of the streets, since afterall that's where we all perform.

I'd like to hear Jim, and others way in on this subject.

Thanks

Kenny the Clown (KTC)
aka Kenneth Kahn

[kennethkahn]

He's right...but

Alakazam is right, but I've seen some of his act on video, and it's very extrordinary. Way more so than mine, particularly my act before I added the fire torches while riding a uni-cycle. The problem though, is what about the act/performer who is not as spectacular. They still have the right to perform. I think there is something to be said for letting the more spectacular advance performers use certain the locations, and the one's that need to work on their craft take the smaller less competitive venues, but this should not be done by the performers themselves, who have a stake (not to mention ego) in deciding that their act is the best.

Plus, a pissing contest does not build up harmony within a community, becaues the guy who gets blasted out of the water is left with hard feelings.

[MagiCol]

Buskers Ive met so far have all been friendly

GlassHarper: "When I hit a venue that's new to me I always look around for the most professional of the performers there, wait 'till the end of his/her show, drop a buck in the bucket and ask what are the local rules, regulations & traditions. Some times it results in new friendships."
I also like to introduce myself to fellow buskers - and it might stand me in good stead if some time some bad eggs turn up.