ROTTEN FROM THE INSIDE

[livingspace]

this is somthing tht mr fish sam said supposedly representing buskers AND it makes me sick when peolpe havE had their chance and then want to turn the street into some sort of closed shop ! .......................We're also advocating the introduction of mandatory public liability insurance for all circle acts," says Sam. "It will help with the decongestion of pitches, as hobbyists may find the cost of premiums a disincentive, which will in turn heighten the standard of performers in our city.

ITS JUST WRONG!!

[gav]

It is wrong.
What pitch is he refering to ?
The street should be for everyone, not just those who can afford insurance.

You should get your dog to quit smoking.
Where you at tony ?

[Katiedid]

It's laughable really. He is trying to make insurance mandatory. Not to make people safer, or because he doesn't believe that being careful is enough of an insurance policy, and that street performers cannot afford any damage they might do. But because he wants people to go away from his pitch. What kind of backward ass logic is that?
Insurance makes people safer, therefore, it should be instituted to thin the herd?

In summary: That fucking stupid.

[thatjugglingfool]

I love seeing someone push regulation with the intent of self benefit. Anything we can do to stifle others while enriching our selfs sounds peachy to me. Besides, there is no way any crappy acts will be able to afford insurance. Where is this blessed pitch?

[ElectricBlue]

I love the fact that every one is jumping to conclusion on what is just hear say and rumor. How do we know that these words actually came our of his mouth?

I would hold my judgment until i heard the words from the man him self.

[martin ewen]

i love the fact that if you take the quotes out of Tony's first post and google it, it pops up the only valid link which is the blog of the guy Tony mentions saying the things you seem to say are heresay and rumour.

What's being speculated is very little, the guy wants to enforce insurance to primarily restrict access to the pitch by creating a financial disincentive to all but experienced performers who can earn enough to wear it.

But you go ahead and sidle up to your guy, or learn to use google. just a hint though, if you want to launch yourself into someone's defense, it helps to actually have one.

[gav]

The article was published in 2005, so i guess they either brought in that requirement or not by now.
I'm pretty sure all of Australia has the requirement of PL insurance these days, i just hope Sam is'nt to blame for that.

[martin ewen]

I can see both sides of this. The disincentive thing's just a byproduct, it's not the prime reason for insurance. Insurance is an issue because local bodies act like the corporations they are and try as hard as they can to protect themselves from worst case scenarios.

Tony's a purist, fair enough. personally I try and pick battles I have a chance of winning and if not I try for the cheapest workaround. I've had that 'clown insurance' $100 and you are covered up to 2 mil for a year. Or get a patron, some rich person who simply takes out a policy instead of putting into your hat.

I was a little harsh on electricblue, I'm like that. I tend to try and introduce the young and fresh to the logical realities of the world. I don't want to scare them off I mean their street scum like me. I'm still working the street just not as much, the good news is it never gets old. I'm 40 fucking 6!
[me, me, me, me,]