Progress report from Deadwood! The city council is having a special hearing to determine if musicians will be allowed to play on the street for tips during the Deadwood Jam (a music festival fulla superannuated rockers)! I intend to be there, because I’m right in the middle of this. Seems my whistling has City Hall up in arms. Since I have no tip jar, I’ve not been busted for solciting, a nasty law that just about covers everything from the Rodeo Hookers to folks that are not very likable.) I’ve only got two points to make in our favor, and they are this: 1.) I play on Deadwood Streets because people ignore me. 2.) I’ve never noticed that playing on the street ever keeps anybody out of the casinos! All musicians do is add atmosphere to the place, and playing on the street is not about money, but tips are bsically just a token of appreciation! It may take years before we make any progress!
Maybe you can have a western theme–say HIGH NOON-dueling whistles. I can play faster than you–NO you can’t, I can slur,long roles quicker than you–No you can’t etc. etc.
It’s how you talk to them. Play “The Streets of Laredo,” not the Bard of Armagh; that sort thing. We had a few sayings in the army 1)if you can’t convince them confuse them; 2)BS baffles brains.
Or how about GaryOWen while sitting on horse in chambers. Don’t let them know its Celtic.
Mark
Neh, Mark, the city council tried to outlaw the gunfight and whips shows and weren’t very successful, Ole Wild Bill and Calamity fought anyhow and scared the bejesus out of some macho bikers. We (a biker banjo player)did manage to march some tourists into the Trial of Jack McCall to Gerry Owen by blocking the sidewalk. We were planted by the management…and march those tourists did. I kid you not, I am the only whistler here in West River, and nobody else does Celtic. The Franklin imports a Celtic Fusion group from Denver for St Pat’s Day! I probably spend more time telling folks around here I ain’t volunteering any more! And the 7th Cavalry marching band doesn’t even know Gerry Owen!
There’s a Yahoo buskers group. I don’t belong so I don’t know exactly what goes on there but their blurb implies that there are discussions of legal issues. I realize that you are not actually busking if you don’t have a tip jar or something but there might be some information there.
Just put a sign that reads:
“if you like my playing, sign the petition”
this way you can gather a bunch of signature to counterattack the city council in favor of street musicians.
S.
From the way things stand it looks like it might be about three years before we can make any difference, depending on if we get another mayor, and we do every year, and the new mayor junks everything and starts over!
Anna,
Then I guess you’re out of luck, unless of course…you are running for Mayor.
Now if you could find a crack in the system that would allow whistle players to vote by mail, there you have it!
Heck, it worked for the last elections…
\
Eagles may fly but otters never get sucked into jet engines.
[ This Message was edited by: Otter on 2001-08-28 18:01 ]
Otter, Chicago is a great place to be a non-conformist! However, here in small West River Towns, we all have to pretend we all get along, which in reality, we don’t. We just get ulcers, nurse resentment and die young. Someone like me who has no qualms about confronting issues and people would never get elected, simply because I’m not considered nice, but rather forthright. Seems folks around here like to pretend we’re still living in the good old days, but they weren’t so great! Think about it, horse manure three feet deep in bloody gumbo muddy streets! Most people tend to keep a low profile and get along, and will not risk rocking the boat!