Why not more street performers in Savannah? (home, living)

[Tarzanman]

The requirement to 'audition' is just a pro forma activity to make it seem like the municipality isn't restricting what is essentially your right to free speech.

It would be unconstitutional to completely ban any/all performance or speaking in public places... so the closest thing they can do is require a permit and permission.

[Spoon Lady]

I am a professional street performer. I've played in most US cities and the cities with permit situations are the cities I go to least. It kills performing. Abby the Spoon Lady, Professional Spoonologist. Currently I live and play in Asheville, NC. - ABBY THE SPOON LADY

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by Spoon Lady

I am a professional street performer. I've played in most US cities and the cities with permit situations are the cities I go to least. It kills performing. Abby the Spoon Lady, Professional Spoonologist. Currently I live and play in Asheville, NC. - ABBY THE SPOON LADY

Can you explain to us HOW it kills performing? Without an explanation, this just sounds like a gripe.

[ellie]

Originally Posted by Spoon Lady

I am a professional street performer. I've played in most US cities and the cities with permit situations are the cities I go to least. It kills performing. Abby the Spoon Lady, Professional Spoonologist. Currently I live and play in Asheville, NC. - ABBY THE SPOON LADY

It keeps out the suckiest performers, if that's what you mean. I don't see any reason that you wouldn't be permitted to play.

But Asheville is so much cooler than Savannah. Maybe you should just be happy where you are?

[pink caddy]

Perhaps it's because the permitting takes the "grit" out of the city. You know, a performer needs to play from the bottom of their soul. It's special. You need to feel it without the BS of all that permitting crap and people auditioning you. Gets in the way of a "true artist".

OP .....is that what you mean?

[ellie]

Originally Posted by pink caddy

Perhaps it's because the permitting takes the "grit" out of the city. You know, a performer needs to play from the bottom of their soul. It's special. You need to feel it without the BS of all that permitting crap and people auditioning you. Gets in the way of a "true artist".

OP .....is that what you mean?

Caddy, you're not wrong. But.

One of my friends, who was a busker at the time, helped get the permitting started.

Why? Because River Street was inundated by people who couldn't play their instruments/perform to a decent standard and who would position themselves in locations where they'd block or drown out performers who could play.

It was becoming an aggressive turf war. Permitting brought sanity to the situation. It wasn't big brother trying to control anybody. The permitting was initiated by artists to protect artists' right to busk.

[gentlearts]

If Yo Yo Ma is playing cello on River St, next to someone less good, the one who is less good is not going to find it very lucrative.

[Tumbabrazo]

See attched the site for the rules and regulation of street music performing in Savannah:

http://www.savannahga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1324

It is not indicated on the rules and regulations, but the permit is "FREE" of cost. You are however required to provide your fingers prints for a criminal background check.
If you take a look at the squares that music is permited, is on the commercial squares. Residencial squares are off limits. You need to understand that if the city allows everyone to perfom, sell art, palm roses etc. and one of those peddlers attack someone the city could be held liable. I perfom in Savannah and have no problems with the regulations, except for the fact that we are not allow to perform on Wright Square anymore.

[gentlearts]

Thanks, Tumbabrazo, that's interesting. It seems like a pretty easy policy to comply with.

[SavannahLife]

Yea, that part about not being able to perform in Wright Square. I was wondering why it was quieter. :/