So far: A review

So here is my "official" review of Santa Monica and the busking scene:

Busking Regulations


So we've all seen the other posts I've made about the busking regulations in Santa Monica (here and here, for those of you who missed them) but I figured that an update on how I feel about them now would do some good.

They suck. Hardcore.

On any given weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) you need to be at the Pier to sign up to be assigned a spot somewhere around...oh...6 to 10 hours in advance of the sign-up...which is two hours before you can start performing. That's right...on a weekend, you will spend a regular job's workshift waiting to start working. Oh, and don't leave the sign up spot for more than 10 minutes or you're off the list and all your waiting is in vain.

Weekdays are generally ok, with you showing up 2 hours before you are assigned a shift (once again, 2 hours before the shift starts.)

Also, once you're assigned a spot, they do a lotto for the empty spots from last shift. There are some on weekdays but don't count on any on weekends.

Holidays? On Memorial Day, people were lined up 17-20 hours beforehand, just waiting to be assigned a spot. That's right: 17-20 hours for a three hour gig.

Also, the City of Santa Monica is trying (against the wishes of all the buskers) to change from this sign-up, first come, first assigned system to a lottery. The lottery would mean that spots were drawn every week or two and you had a spot for that week (or two). What if you're a performing duo? Trio? One of your group may get a spot and another may not. So much for you musicians and dancers.

Of course the lottery system is illegal (as is the current system), but none of the buskers want to buck the system. They like what they have (for some god-forsaken reason) and don't want a standard first come, first served setting.

So what's the pay like?


For the artists that are out there, they make a pretty steady paycheck. People understand them: they give them a $20, they get a drawing or sculpture or whatever. It's a bit different for the performers.

For the performers, so far I haven't seen a performer walk away with much of anything. On the Promenade, a good (I mean good) singer can clean up, and a dance team can kill, but the Pier is different. No one cares. No one even notices you most of the time.

For me, it's easy to get people to stop most of the time, but as soon as you hint that you accept tips, they're gone. I've had crowds of thirty people and hatted them for $3. But say you manage $100 for your three hour shift. Sounds great, yeah?

 That breaks down to a half hour commute (for example), parking, four hours waiting (on a weekday) and three hours performing, then a half hour commute back. So add it all up, that's an eight hour day. That's 12.50 an hour minus parking. Not bad at all. But maybe it's a Saturday. That's an eight hour wait (average), hour commute, parking, and three hours performing. That's a 12 hour day. Now you're making 8.33 an hour. Yea for working at McDonalds without the food benefits.

So what then?


If you view busking on the Pier as exposure or practice or marketing, then you're fine, but if you're relying on it for a living (unless you're Kozmo or Jimmy Talksalot), it's not happening. You'll need a part-time job.

 That's not to say that it can't be done, it's just saying that it's amazingly hard and all sorts of problems pop up (like not getting a spot one day, or props blowing into the ocean, or people just not showing up.)

I actually had a guy sit there and talk to me, taking up my time for a half hour. Finally I used him to draw a crowd and did a great show (about 25-30 people) and I wound up with $4.86, including the $1 that the guy (who had now taken up the better part of an hour talking to me and watching my show) tipped me.

People think you're a beggar. They don't see you as a skilled performer. Case in point:

I showed up for my shift and the guy was five minutes late tearing down when a young family ran up and begged him to do on last characiture. I didn't have the heart to say no. So another seven minutes go by and the drawing is done. The family thank me and apologize for taking up my time, give the guy his $20 and walk off. The guy, who is cutting into my time, tips me $0.50. That's right. Fifty cents. He just made $20 off of being 5 minutes late and another $20 on me letting him do one last drawing. That's $40 and the guy tips me fifty cents.

But it's not all bad, right?


No, it's not all bad, in fact most of it is great. It's a lot of fun and you meet some incredible people. I met a beautiful young woman who was traveling the country talking to people who were doing amazing and interesting things, and she was putting together a documentary of sorts. She was a great person, amazingly positive and energetic, and it really made my day meeting her.

I also have run into people who are amazingly kind and truly do appreciate what you're doing and understand how long it takes to develop these skills and they just don't have cash. I've also had parents who insisted that their kids take pictures with me because I "made their vacation."

Conclusion?


Busking on the Pier (and the Promenade) is a series of ups and downs, very much like Los Angeles itself. This city is packed full of amazing, beautiful people who exude awesomeness and at the same time there are horrible, disgusting people. Busking is kind of like that. Sometimes it's beautiful, and sometimes it's a thankless job.

Would I trade the experience of going out there? Would I give up the frustrations of a $5 day? Would I give up meeting all of these people, the pricks and the noble? No. No I wouldn't give any of it back. It's an incredible thing, and I think that if you're thinking about doing it, go for it. Just remember, it's twice as hard as you think it is...at least.

Magically yours,

Cameron Rivers, Kings To You