tension on the pitch

[Evan Young]

Pearl St. Mall, Boulder CO. PETA showed up and decided that my pith is the best place to set up their stuff. They set up in the back of where my audience builds to, which doesn't hurt me too bad, but just enough to make it worth asking them to move. So Alex (a juggler working the same spot) and I went and talked to them.
This isn't the first time we have talked to them about this. Last time they tried to set up right in the middle of our spot, and we convinced them to move to the back. They gave us a lot of grief about how they have to load stuff in from the parking lot and BS. Well, the lady in charge was argumentative, the other one was very nice.
Ok, so the Pearl St. Mall is four blocks long, and they feel like they have to set up on the spot that we have been using for years, but it's "not our spot". They bring in a TV and play their propiganda tape which shows horrible images of slaughter houses, pretty scary stuff. it's not somthing that's fun to try and put on a live show next to.
Alex and I did get them to move, but only to a different spot on the outskirts of our pitch. Durring the process this bitchy woman told me, "we are trying to make a difference in the world, you are just trying to make a buck".
I'm just trying to make a buck..... Fuck that stupid cunt and everything she stands for. Performing isn't worth doing just for the cash. I like to belive that live street theatre stands for somthing wothwhile on it's own. By the time my last show came up in the rotation I was really pissed, so I made plenty of comments about the horrible images they had playing on the TV right next to a playground and a live theatre venue. It pissed them off, which is what I wanted. Some militant PETA kid with a skateboard came over and told me what a disrepectfull dickhead I was after my show, which pissed off some friends who happend to be close by and just about started a fight.
bleh, there was no fight, I told my friends that they were just gonna make my problem worse and they backed down. But I'm still mad at these PETA people. The TV and the presence of a big table in my on my pitch bugs me, but that comment is a slap in the face. She even tried to pretend like she was a nutritionalist, ha! I mentioned that I work for a famous nutritionalist in the winter.
There is one woman I mentioned earlier who is nice and easy to deal with. Next time they show up I'm gonna have a chat with her and recomend that she not let her co-activist talk to me.
yeah, so that's that, more or less.

[em]

hmm...did they disrupt yer show though? or lower yer takins? perhaps they have a point about makin a difference and makin a buck that struck a bit of a cord? i know that political activists or animal rights supporters can be somewhat intense...but the street is a public place...none of us own it...had they set up during or before yer show?

i am on the fence on this issue...but i am not on the fence about sayin "fuck that stupid cunt" about a woman on a public forum..........................

[Steven Ragatz]

So Evan, what makes you think that you have the right to ask them to move? Is there any site administration in place that dictates the where's and when's of your shows? If there is, then it should be up to them to uphold the rules. If there isn't, then it sounds like you and Alex are just being bullies in hopes of driving off any competition.

Maybe it is time to look for some other spots? You may find something better if you force yourself to branch out and try new places rather than simply defend the tried-n-true with aggression. After all, the pitch that you are using now was a new spot to you at some point.

I agree with Em - the foul language has no place here and only points out your own immaturity and pettiness. Just because you are a street performer doesn't mean that you have to act like one...

Steven Ragatz

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Great, but Evan's language is hardly the point. I was just at Pearl Street for one night after Denver, and those Peta folk are killing one very viable pitch, out of 2, where they could set up in any number of remaining spaces and have the same impact they enjoy now.
Sure, slap his wrist for the bad word, but parenting aside, there is a real encroachment, and he's looking for feedback on that. The anger comes from a viable place. Sheesh.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Actually, Steve does make a point about new spots. Why has no one been able to crack the huge circle in front of the gov't building there?

[Evan Young]

what I did today. called the city and found out that PETA does not have a permit to have their TV. they are breaking the law, no big surprise, it's a way of life for them. they are gonna get tickets next time though.
finding other spots:
I have overflow spots I use when there are to many performers in the line up and here is what people tell me: "you should do shows with all the big acts up by 13th st." or, "why do you have to take over the whole mall, leave some space for the musicians". it's a whole other battle. pearl st. has been conditioned to having all the circle shows in one half of one block, and sometimes just across the street. in front of the courthouse is a fair place, but people can watch from too far away, its too open. the other problem with performing in front of the courthouse is that it doesn't work as well with our system of sending our breaks to eachother.
my point is that we have reasons for keeping it confined to these two spots.
lots of performers share my spot and have for years and years. I'm not cool with one table encroaching on it all night.
they set up before my show, but I had my stuff on the spot several hours before they did.

the cus word. wow, sorry, but whatever. I didn't call her that to her face. she was a bitch to me and really cut me down. fuck her, the lady at th boulder office thinks she's a bitch to. the other PETA lady (who wasn't in charge) was really nice and dind't piss me off, so I know it's possible.

[le pire]

Evan,

Many groups / people have showed up at harvard square and have wanted to take the pitch-- There's been everything from a bunch of singing menenites to a guy who does tai chi "demonstrations." Myself and the other performers have politely told them that where we are performing is "reserved" for circle shows and they are more than welcome to go to any number of other pitches where circle shows simple are not possible, but where their act will work fine. Every one of them has complied with a smile. Except the Tai Chi guy-- but we had to talk to him through an interpreter so I think something was lost in translation.

Truth be told, no pitch is "reserved" and at the heart of street performing is freedom of speech (something I'm sure you agree with, Evan). They have as much right to be out there as anyone else. However, It is also true that circle shows at HS aren't really possible except at that one pitch, and we are trying to manage the limited spaces as best we can. Different pitches suit different acts.

Steve's right about opening up new pitches-- but I think he's addressing the wrong party. It sounds like you and the other performers have "staked a claim" to this pitch for quite sometime, so it is really PETA who needs to find a new spot.

that being said--Instead of getting confrontational with PETA (which, having been with the circus, is exactly what they want you to do) why not try working with them to find a different pitch for them. Be reasonable, and tell them "you respect their right to protest and get their message out." At the same time, they should respect your right to make a living.

I'm a bit surprised that you, who have posted about your dislike of cops, are so quick to send johnny law after peta. So what is it Evan, you like the rules when they work to your favour, otherwise fuck 'em?

Your anger is not helping you solve any problems-- it is only creating more.


étienne


p.s. the word is "nutritionist."

[Scot Free]

I agree with étienne, playing snitch is lame, you
should just add a meatball juggling routine to yer show and drive 'em out.

[The Amazing Beaumanz]

lay a hoola-hoop on the ground and place a hamster in one of those exercise balls so it can run around abit and people can see it.
Later in your show introduce "Herbie the Stunt Hampster" and make a switch with an exercise ball from your prop case with a "mock hampster" in it. Start juggling the exercise ball and a couple of machetes or some fire. When you are done, take a bow, hold up the exercise ball and tell "Herbie" to take a bow as well. When there is no movement, Shake the ball a few times while looking terrified.
Call on them to help revive "herbie".

I also performed on a circus and know exactly how these people can be.

Good luck Evan.

[Steven Ragatz]

My suggestion is to try diplomacy rather than hostility. Hamster jokes may be fun to imagine, but will only cause the problem to escalate, not help solve it.

You should avoid confrontation at all cost, because if you start feuding with these folks I can tell you what will happen. Either the public, local store owners, other vendors, or whatever is around the pitch area is going to see the hostility, then they will call in the authorities (whether that be police or site administration.) The authorities will solve the problem the quickest way possible by shutting everyone down, PETA and jugglers alike, because your presence is (indirectly) causing a public disturbance.

FOL - if you want to work in a public place, you must share it with the public, and that includes people that have differing social, religious or political views than your own.

Perhaps you could strike a deal with PETA table? They turn off the TV during your set, and you direct the crowd's attention to their booth at the end of your show. You don't have to give them an endorsement, just point out to your audience that the PETA booth is there and that they should check it out if they are interested.

Remember that saying about scratching itchy backs?

Steven Ragatz

[Spike McGuire]

The import and thing to remember about PETA is that it was founded by rabble rousing ass-holes, and kept a live by people with minds that are easy to mold.

At any rate, here's what I recommend; go to their table next week and apologize for the confrontation. Then tell them that you bought them all tofu dogs and Boca burgers to show there are know hard feelings. Only (and this is where is gets good), give them real hot dogs and burgers.

Also consider;

Wearing all leather during your show (weather permitting).

Do some research, take a week off of performing and set up a pro meat table next to theirs listing all the reasons meat and dairy products are important parts of life.

Slap them in the face with a dead fish (the bigger the funnier)

Or just make fun of them for having bad skin because they are vegan.

-----Spike

[Evan Young]

Well, it's friday night and they arn't back (yet). They won't be bringing the TV back because the authorities have already been notified. (I was trying to get a sound permit and when it was rejected I asked how the PETA TV was legal, and it's not). If I can't plug in they can't either, end of story; but I didn't even have to tell the police, I just asked the city a question. Boulder has a lot of codes that govern the pearl st. mall, and they act as a sort of "site management".
Maybe I forgot to mention the fact that we were very nice to these people up until the point where they told me they were better than me. It was as much a concern for them as it was for us; we lock them into our aud. for half the night. I thought one night of that would discourage them but it didn't, they came back and wanted to set up again, with insults.
good diplomacy.... It only goes so far and then you have to fight for your space. if they had tried to work with me a little more they would still have the TV.

I'm not gonna use it, but the hamster joke is funny.

[scot]

It's like the saying goes. I keep getting older, but Evan Young is always the same age.

Ethan,
It's not your space. You are much more self-righteous than them if you think it is. I agree that I think you see yourself as lacking benevolence. Maybe that is why you're so angry.

You are definately missing out on a world of joke opportunity.
"If you don't eat animals, do you just let the meat go bad?"
"Fur is murder, but what you're wearing is just torture."
"Forget humane treatment to animals, treat yourself like a human. Shower"
"These ladies are over here trying to save their relatives... save the wales."
"Maybe I shouldn't make fun of them, they might come attack me, if they can muster the strength."
"You don't need a protest, you need a drug test."
"What's more important, racism, or the mistreatment of animals? This lady hates black people /or/ then, why aren't you working for equality of people?"
"Watch my show, then go over to the PETA table and see how people are mercilessly slaughtering and stuffing bell peppers."
"You think this stinks, you should smell a vegan fart."
"They're not thinking this through. If we all became vegetarians, what would the cows do for a living?"
"You guys can go check out the PETA people. Stop by their table (made from our stuggling forests), and pick up some flyers (printed and coated with toxic chemicals) which you won't read and will eventually end up as litter."
"You've heard of the ugly stick? Looks like somebody's been hugging that tree."

Eric, Robert, what you got?

[Evan Young]

they did show up eventually on friday.
they somehow figured out how to keep the TV. A loophole in the law or somthing. it's easy to convince the boulder police of anything (remember Jean Benet)(spelling?). They did turn the sound off durring our shows though (I talked to the nice lady about it and told her I wouldn't be mean). Kenny Lightfoot and I have a meeting with the permit lady on the 16th about how we absolutly can't have amplified sound on the mall, so it should be an interesting point in the meeting.
they make a small negative impact on our shows. we lock them up so that people can't see their table while we are performing. We arn't gonna move and it doesn't seem like they are either so I guess we will just be mutually bad for eachother.
what's their #1 reason for not moving? "it's too far to load in". Oh damn, that extra half a block sucks pretty bad.
I'm more or less over it though, my show sucks anyway.

[ALAKAZAM]

Yo I heard you taxi trix
I Went to boulder about 6 years ago,and worked that big spot down the street.Why didn't i work the main spot,cause the performers there said i couldn't join the rotation,losers.
So i went down there and did back to back shows all night,then again the next night.which made it impossible foir their precious little pocket money pitch to work.
I showed up in boulder another time and the performers were a completely different crew and they were cool as hell.just goes to show if we respect each other everyone does well.
Why don't you cats work that big spot?the hats are huge down there.
Until next time i'm in boulder.......
AL