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D. Yoder Veteran user 376 Posts |
What happened to make a pitch like Boston's Quincy Market or New Orleans Jackson Square or Key West famous? What made people like Gazzo or other elite buskers want to perform there? How might other places be developed today?
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gallagher Inner circle 1168 Posts |
Hellö Doctor.
First, you made me smile from ear to ear(!), when I read your report of playing "...Indianapolis, Indiana. St. Joeseph, Michigan.,..ect." Fantastic! The thought ran thru my head: YOU should be hired to teach at this Busking School! Really. What makes a Pitch 'famous'? I think the Pitches you mentioned, as well as 'the few others', all have one thing in common. There was a great 'potential' audience there, BEFORE the Street Performers showed up. As for "great potential audience", I mean, a ''curious, interested, somewhat educated, comforatable (economialy), open,..." Boston's street scene begain at Harvard Square.... not the poorest, dumbest nieghborhood. New Orleans,...the French Quarter. As Jazz 'dead' was,..,an intellectual crowd came 'looking'. Key West,...the sunset. Hemmingway,.. a relaxed, 'situated' wanderlust audience. I believe these are the roots of their 'fame'. Do they still exist? hmmmm,... My stomach tells me, they are,..were exploited. Pumped for the money. Commercial acts,.. commercial businesses,.. rolled them over. Bus the tourists in, ..and trample them to death. As you spoke of Indianapolis, my eyes popped(!). Not a 'famous' Pitch,....yet. But, played by a 'great' Performer. 'Fame' is NEVER there, ...never ANYWHERE(!), ...until 'the Great' point to it. Recognize it. ,..show the potential. That's what makes 'the Great'. Their vision. Their courage(!). {Don't tell me your knees didn't shake!..!} Their successes,...based on their failures. uoopps,.. you got me going. I hope you keep going Doc(!). It's a pleasure hearing about it. Gallagher |
Zauberman Veteran user 314 Posts |
Gallagher makes a good point....the pitches were "GREAT" before the buskers showed up.
I have seen this before when a new area opens up or someone wants to attract the public to their area of th city. So they put out a call for buskers. They think if they get buskers performing there, this wll attract people. In reality it is the other way around. If there are lots of people/tourists milling around....the buskers will start showing up. Not the other way around. |
D. Yoder Veteran user 376 Posts |
I hope Dallas Saupe chimes in here about his work in making Clearwater, FL a place where people and buskers want to be.
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Nickoli Sharpe Regular user Worldwide 160 Posts |
Myself and Dexter Tripp. Opened Clearwater way before Lee Bousmen (Dallas) ever thought about working that pitch.
If you pass through that area I wish you luck all the prime spots are taken and it’s not just one spot it’s many. Just like Key West. Last time I was there I was with Gazzo, he did a show looked at his hat and said. Let’s get out of here. That tells ya something. All the best, Nickoli |
D. Yoder Veteran user 376 Posts |
Thanks for the responses! Nickoli,what does it mean to "open a pitch"? Be the first one there? Be there regularly? I live in Pennsylvania and regularly hear radio ads for Clearwater/St Petersburg Sunset Festival so someone has taken the idea and run with it.
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cbguy Veteran user 350 Posts |
There are good spots out there. Those of us who work those spots are "not" going to tell anyone else where they are because, like it was already mentioned, other buskers show up and that's the end of the good spots. I'll tell you this, if you are serious, and you want to find a good spot, go where there are no other workers. Know what to look for, then keep quiet about that location. Now, you know the secret to finding a good pitch.
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drmolarmagic Regular user Brooklyn NY 168 Posts |
Gazzo discusses this topic in an interview I heard him do on a podcast called the Busker Hall of Fame's Tales from the Pitch. Its an in depth interview with great stories from Gazzo about his early days Busking I highly recommend listening and then subscribing. They interview Buskers from all over the world and in all art forms.
But in a nutshell, you are correct Gallagher its when big business comes in, over the short time the pitch is not what is was.....then again it depends on what big business comes in. |
Zauberman Veteran user 314 Posts |
There is an excellent pitch. Lots of people, with spare time, enjoying a meal and glass of wine,....tourists walking about, couples on a date. There are a couple of more open areas to set up,...you do...life is good!
But the the shop owner looks out his empty store....and sees lots of people around YOU. And throwing cash into your hat. He rationalises. I pay taxes and rent. This guy sets up for free and is doing a killin'. If he wasn't there, those people would be in my store buying my things. He complains. Then word gets out about the pitch. Suddenly one evening they start to appear.....with their amps....cranked up. Going for that one big show with big crowds and record hat. Security or police get involved. Can't have crowds blocking the walkways. Along with the performers the fringe workers. Balloonists, fortune tellers, caricature drawers...Set up too close, too long....Suddenly pitch wars start. City council or local business gets involved. Maybe we should control things. Have auditions, make liability insurance mandatory in case we get sued. Or perhaps just ban busking here. Yep, it was a really great pitch, Deja vu :-( |
ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
Very sad, Zauber. Not incorrect, just sad.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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