This is a cross post of mine regarding Pennsic as a "venue" for music acts.
"Proper work visas take time as well. This is important as I know of a group from Europe scheduled to perform a guest weekend in the US was detained, interrogated, and eventually deported for the offense of not having a proper work visa (and not having paid taxes for a previous working visit). Mab is also correct in the market being saturated. It seems to me like Pennsic is slowly turning into a busking battleground with the occasional aggressive performer pushing others aside. At some point it may require detailed policies to handle this issue - IE making sure work visas are available (if applicable), tax ID numbers for sales (keep it legit), handouts detailing Pennsylvania laws governing said performances, etc... I would personally vote to remove busking for money at Pennsic so that the music can shine through."
I have been asked to perform this year with a couple of friends and will be playing a concert as well. It is my personal goal to make sure that we provide some fun entertainment, that we work well with other performers, and that we are mindful of our volume and duration in any particular set we play. As much as it is fun to play, I personally have no desire to upset people with music (noise to some).
The two most popular spots for busking at Pennsic (next to the Stave Church & under the tree in the Merchant area by the Cooper's store) can and should be shared by all performers. Staking claim to these spots for the day is simply rude (and obnoxious to those who don't enjoy the act but wish to visit the merchant spaces/food court). Estrella War had a performance space set up in the food court area with a sign-up sheet (not a bad idea but it didn't seem to be used much). I suspect as Pennsic continues to grow, the need for regulation (of when & where) may become a hotly debated issue (in some ways that is already beginning).
I love the music at Pennsic and have been involved in it since I began attending. I have truly enjoyed drumming around the campfires, listening to people sing songs, hearing a single instrument off in the distance on a dark night across the lake, and the thunder of HUGE parties filled with roaring laughter and joy. This has made Pennsic a very special place for me and I have met some of my favorite people in my life there. It has also changed my life in many ways. I hope it all works out and that music will continue to be a big part of Pennsic and that money (or those that lust for it) won't turn it into a very ugly business. We already have the music industry to take care of that.
I realize this may be controversial but I am willing to take the heat for opening the can of worms. In the end, I just want to play my drum. :-)
"Proper work visas take time as well. This is important as I know of a group from Europe scheduled to perform a guest weekend in the US was detained, interrogated, and eventually deported for the offense of not having a proper work visa (and not having paid taxes for a previous working visit). Mab is also correct in the market being saturated. It seems to me like Pennsic is slowly turning into a busking battleground with the occasional aggressive performer pushing others aside. At some point it may require detailed policies to handle this issue - IE making sure work visas are available (if applicable), tax ID numbers for sales (keep it legit), handouts detailing Pennsylvania laws governing said performances, etc... I would personally vote to remove busking for money at Pennsic so that the music can shine through."
I have been asked to perform this year with a couple of friends and will be playing a concert as well. It is my personal goal to make sure that we provide some fun entertainment, that we work well with other performers, and that we are mindful of our volume and duration in any particular set we play. As much as it is fun to play, I personally have no desire to upset people with music (noise to some).
The two most popular spots for busking at Pennsic (next to the Stave Church & under the tree in the Merchant area by the Cooper's store) can and should be shared by all performers. Staking claim to these spots for the day is simply rude (and obnoxious to those who don't enjoy the act but wish to visit the merchant spaces/food court). Estrella War had a performance space set up in the food court area with a sign-up sheet (not a bad idea but it didn't seem to be used much). I suspect as Pennsic continues to grow, the need for regulation (of when & where) may become a hotly debated issue (in some ways that is already beginning).
I love the music at Pennsic and have been involved in it since I began attending. I have truly enjoyed drumming around the campfires, listening to people sing songs, hearing a single instrument off in the distance on a dark night across the lake, and the thunder of HUGE parties filled with roaring laughter and joy. This has made Pennsic a very special place for me and I have met some of my favorite people in my life there. It has also changed my life in many ways. I hope it all works out and that music will continue to be a big part of Pennsic and that money (or those that lust for it) won't turn it into a very ugly business. We already have the music industry to take care of that.
I realize this may be controversial but I am willing to take the heat for opening the can of worms. In the end, I just want to play my drum. :-)
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Cincinnati
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Re: Cross post - SCA, Music Biz, etc.
Mon, July 9, 2007 - 8:31 AMthis gives much to think about.
I agree with most of what you are saying, except on tiny detail. not everyone can afford to go to pennsic unless they busk. (me.)
busking is an age old tradition. an honorable art. true capitalist society. the good buskers make the money, the bad buskers get the shaft.
I want to try out new material at pennsic, I want to see how it works. and nothing gives me feedback quite like tips. if I can't get hats from friendlies, how am I going to work a street? it's my favorite practice ground.
there is a lot to think about. and I apologize for this terribly abbreviated post.
*where else did you cross post? when I write a longer reply, I will post it there* -
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Re: Cross post - SCA, Music Biz, etc.
Tue, July 10, 2007 - 9:51 PMheh, I was actually thinking abut busking this year. Not with music but with the hooping. I'm a little (read: a LOT) tight for money this year and that would help a bunch.
Now, busking with a performance skill instead of music probably doesn't employ as much competition, but performing without music is boring, so I might have a proximity to music groups, hopefully working in a symbiotic relationship. I'm open for contact if I'm hanging around an area and someone is irritated by my presence or what not. Please just let me know...
I don't think people should go to pennsic expecting that busking will be their income. That makes the money in the hat/basket become more personal than if you're just doing it for fun and have the option if someone really wants to drop some money.
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"Mod comment"
Wed, July 11, 2007 - 4:22 AMThanks for broaching this subject now, Kevin. :) It really doesn't take much effort to be considerate of fellow performers, and to share the more "desirable" busking locations.
There's been all of one Pennsic where I *had* to rely on the proceeds of my busking-bowl for survival. Mostly I do it for exposure: to be seen and heard, and pass out demo CD's and business cards. The coins in the bowl are a good way to gage whether I'm reaching people — but it's only ONE way.
I started busking for 2-3 hours a day (and I mean, TOPS!!!) under the tree across from the Pennsic Post Office, back in 2004. Ironically, I chose this location *because* no one else seemed to want it, but yet it looked like a good strategic place to be seen and heard.
Eventually some folks started drifting over who wanted to work that pitch as well. But in most cases, a polite two-sentence verbal exchange has been enough to establish when their shift was going to be done, so that someone else could use that spot.
It helps that these individuals (mostly) tend to use a reasonable rotation schedule, and have neither intention nor desire to monopolize that spot for *six to eight hours* at a time.
Now, I *really* enjoy the current relaxed, "we're-all-friends-here" atmosphere at Pennsic, and the freedom of things like busking not being strictly regulated. I'm not keen on adding another layer of bureacracy to regulate things. But if that freedom's going to be abused by people who have no professional manners...well, bring on the extra paperwork, if it'll keep things civilized.
