Hello fellow Magi,

Are there any of you that busk regularly at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. I was going to go get me performers permit and start doing it but didn't want to step on any toes. I have been a few time over the past couple of weeks and only saw one guy doing card tricks trying to pitch DVD's and a mime that did a couple of tricks, but didn't see any traditional magic busking acts. Lots of musicians, lots and lots of musicians, but that was about all.

The money is ok, but the regulation is so huge and complicated you are left beyond offended, your left stunned.

this tyranical said reasoning has cost the income of the busker there dearly.

most of us are left with awe and confusion that this sort of fascist hatered could still exsist in a 1st world country.

the way they got that thing muddled up over there can only be discribed as dark humur.

I wont bother trying to explain it all to you, I don't have to they give you a thick booklet of regulations to memorize....no really just ask "the venue director"....no really a venue director.

and don't get me started on the variety of time and foot limits etc. etc.

smoking a cigereetes on the street out side could get you thrown in jail [asper one of the officers told me there.]

which should answer your question that, no, you wont be stepping on any body's feet, southern california control freaks in local government have done that for everyone.

but this does put the other buskers a little on edge.


the other buskers are eithier upset that this has jeapordized their money and the quality of acts or they are local new buskers who are not familiar with the rest of the world and are just excited to be there, because they don't know any better

or

they simply don't have talent and don't know any better.

if your talented you can work anywhere, even a place that doesn't need permits venue directors etc. etc.

try venice or the mexican market.

won't cost you a dime and you don't have to memmorize anything.

I might add that there is a very nice way to get tips from Mexicans (it is a cultural thing). It is discussed in Jimmy's book...

http://www.leapinglizardsmagic.com/lure_with_spectacle.htm

Jimmy might think it crass to always plug his book but I sure don't. It is on my permanent shelf. I have read it several times and will again. It answers most all the questions I see asked here and many that are not asked.

It is a fun, fun read written by someone who cares about what he does and if you busk magic it will save you years of mistakes.

You weren't kidding about the little rule book. It's basically telling you where you can and can't perform, and not being able to perform in a set place or within 100 feet of said place for longer then 3 out of 6 hours including time to set up and strike your show stuff. It's a lot of legal talk but it's only $37 and a short bus ride away so why not. Plus people have to be sick of only seeing musicians right?

Is anybody even going to read this.

I'll read it...there are a ton of acts on the promonade so its tough and if you aren't strong you will suffer...BUT I consider it a $400 a day pitch....so if you can go out and work in a tough envirnment you can make really good money...but if you can make $400 a day there you can make it anywhere.....

koz

I'd need to use a hand grenade as my hat load to make that kinda money

CRAZY!!!! I was born in SM and would love to perform there....
Soooo great to hear from you real Pros! Regulations bust balls
and encourage unemployment lines.... grrrrrr!

Ain't "Socialism" a great thing? ?.... ? Hmmmm.

I'll be hitting Nürnberg with a Music/Magic Act soon,
but want to "Shout Out" SM and all SC Workers.

I might be headed to Venice beach in the next couple of weeks and was thinking about stopping at 3rd street on the way back. What is the best time to see Magicians there?

Thanks,
Big Jeff

I have been a handful of times, both mid week and weekends, nights and days, and the only magicians I have seen there was a mime/magician and a guy doing card tricks and selling DVD's. I have also been to venice and didn't see any magicians there either. I was told that Tom Frank performs at City walk near Universal Studios. I can pick up my permit tomorrow and was going to work over the weekend from noon or 1pm to until it gets to loud and crazy or until I get completely depressed, which ever comes first. And if near the Santa Monica pier check out "Trevor's Amazing Balancing Act" it is terribly great.

As far as being a strong act I don't know. time will tell. I have done some busking in Sacramento where I am from at a tourist area unfortunately named "Old Sac". I feel comfortable doing what I will be doing and know the crowd will be entertained, I just don't have a sound system so hopefully I won't end up next to a loud band. Although since 90% of the acts there are loud bands that might be tough.

Last time I was in lA (2 months ago) my amp broke and I worked without one....can be done...a little tougher but I made money ...like I say 300 to 400 a day...thats what it is out there

koz

Any updates on what it is like nowadays busking at the 3rd Street Promenade or the Santa Monica Pier?

Just curious.

Victor

Hollywood Blvd. just West of Highland has worked well for a few of the guys and I don't know if you need any permits. I think not. JUST DO IT.

The rules are still insane (I did an in-depth look at them on my blog here)

My biggest advice is that you need to get some sort of amp to compete with the trash can bands and hip-hop artists on the Promenade and be willing to show up 4 hours (Mon-Thurs) or 10 hours (Fri-Sun) before your three hour shift starts and wait to be assigned a spot. O memorial day there were people waiting for spots 17-20 hours in advance.

It's a bit insane.

The pier is much worse then the promenade as far as finding a spot. If you don't mind working slightly off the beaten path its easier to find a spot, but a little tougher to get draw a crowd.

A couple of weeks ago the LAPD stopped allowing characters on hollywood blvd. I have still seen a few break dancers and some bucket drummers, so I don't know if the crackdown includes performers.

"O memorial day there were people waiting for spots 17-20 hours in advance."
Makes me wonder if the waiting around worked out financially practical. Any idea how much most people/group would hat for their session?

Also you're competing with obnoxiously loud hip-hop dancers and trash can drummers all the time.



From what I understand talking to most of the guys out there, if they make $50 a shift, they're doing well. Most people don't think about the extra time of commuting and waiting when figuring out how much they made.