Material Study

I did my material study based off the emotion/physical aspects of Santa Monica and Venice beach. The environment of the street performers inform the personality and background of the artists. I created a color pallet based on each beach. The steel plate is symbolic of the gates/roofing used in Venice. The marble block represents the high class and simplistic element of Santa Monica; the plastic confetti represent the vibrant and diverse culture of Venice Beach.

Day in the life of a Street Performer

Through my experience as a street performer at my local community I have learned street performing is as serious of a profession as any other occupation. Street performers endure the same long hours, competition, critiques, and economical struggle. By putting myself in a street performer’s shoes, it further validated my thesis that acts without high volume action does not attract as big of an audience. My act as a amateur guitar player only caught the attention of a few bystanders but none were willing to donate to my cause. I realized without a ‘hook, line, and sinker’, I am without bait and hopeless to become the next Joan Jett. 

Work Cited

Works Cited

Adams, Lisa. "Lisa Adams: Downtown Is the New Downtown: L.A.'s Latest Greatest Art Scene." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. 17 Aug. 2010. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-adams/downtown-is-the-new-downt_b_680924.html>.

Anderberg, Kirsten. "Street Performers Buskers History Ben Franklin." Buskers, Street Performers, Street Artists, Law, Legal, History, Urban Studies. 21 Apr. 2007. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://www.buskersadvocates.org/saahistory.html#saafranklin>.
Baker, Denise. "The Creative and Diverse Venice Beach Sidewalk Vendors and Merchants." Associated Content from Yahoo! - Associatedcontent.com. 29 June 2010. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5615570/the_creative_and_diverse_venice_beach.html?cat=8>.

Bill. Personal Interview. 1 March 2011

Broad, Nick. "About « The Busking Project." The Busking Project. 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://thebuskingproject.com/about/>.

Bywater, Michael. "Performing Spaces: Street Music and Public Territory." Cambridge Journals. 27 Feb. 2007. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S1478572207000345>.
Carl, James. "Los Angeles Beaches - Venice Beach." Eioba - Publish Your Text and Get Many Readers. 29 Nov. 2006. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.eioba.com/a22886/los_angeles_beaches_venice_beach>.

Casuso, Jorge. "Santa Monica Street Performers Fight for Permits." The Lookout News, Santa Monica, California. 24 July 2009. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2009/July-2009/07_24_09_Santa_Monica_Street_Performers_Fight_for_Permits.html>.

"Chris Zedano, Staple Street Project, Manhattan Street Performers, Photography, Street Photography, New York Street Photography, New York Street Performance, Fbombmagazine, Map of New York, Map of New York City, Guide to New York, | Undercover New York | Street Performers and Artists." UndercoverNY Brings You Street Performers / Artists of New York. 21 June 2009. Web. 09 Feb. 2011. <http://undercoverny.com/performances/staple-street-project/>.

Echavaria, By Vince. "The Argonaut: Venice." The Argonaut: Front. 7 June 2010. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://www.argonautnewspaper.com/articles/2010/07/08/news_-_features/venice/1v.txt>.

Green, Brendan. "Downtown LA Art Walk An Explosion of Urban Culture - LA Inc." DiscoverLosAngeles.com - LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau - DiscoverLosAngeles.com. 23 Nov. 2008. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://discoverlosangeles.com/play/arts-music-and-entertainment/art-galleries/downtown-la-art-walk-an-explosion-of-urban-culture.html>.

Grimes, Shawn. "A Photographic Exhibition of Street Performers." Shutter On The Street. 9 Apr. 2009. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.shutteronthestreet.com/>.

Hoag, Christina. "As Economy Sours, Vendors Crowd into Venice Beach." Boston.com. 28 Mar. 2010. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/03/28/as_economy_sours_vendors_crowd_into_venice_beach/>.

Jarvey, Natalie. "Artists Protest Boardwalks Loss of Originality." SMDP.com. 1 Aug. 2009. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2009-07-31-61025.113116_Artists_protest_boardwalks_loss_of_originality.html>.

John, Arit. "Daily Bruin :: Bus Stops: _Venice Beach Is Always Vibrant, Even in Winter_." Daily Bruin :: Serving the UCLA Community since 1919. 10 Jan. 2011. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2011/01/bus_stops_venice_beach_is_always_vibrant_even_in_winter>.

Michael Vandegaer. "The Juggler." JugglingSubculture.com. 14 June 2010. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://www.jugglingsubculture.com/?cat=9>.

Moore, Mary. "Santa Monica Street Performers Ordinance." Mike Feinstein -- Santa Monica -- Green Party. 22 Jan. 2008. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.feinstein.org/smoutlook/smstreetperformordinance.html>.

Morin, Monte. "Santa Monica Street Performers - New Rules for Santa Monica Street Performers - Los Angeles Times." Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. 24 July 1999. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jul/24/local/me-59144>.

Oligny, Jay. "Traveling Through Downtown Art Walk - Los Angeles - Slideshows." Los Angeles News, Events, Restaurants, Music LA Weekly. 28 Aug. 2007. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/traveling-through-downtown-art-walk-29299973/20/>.

Peach, Katharine. "City Council Scrutinizes Street Performers in Santa Monica." Smmirror.com | The Santa Monica Mirror Online. 10 Oct. 2010. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. <http://www.smmirror.com/?ajax#mode=single&view=31275>.

Pollack, Andrew. "A Free-Speech Fight in the Chaos of Tourists and Vendors." NY times. 20 Aug. 2005. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/20/national/20venice.html>.
Sherman, Michael F. "Venice Beach Performers Win Legal Victory Against Los Angeles City Permit System." Associated Content from Yahoo! - Associatedcontent.com. 27 Oct. 2010. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5943090/venice_beach_performers_win_legal_victory.html>.

[object Object]

Unanswered questions (???)

1. How much does each performer make exactly?
2. How do group acts divide the tips they get?
3. Has any of the performers been offered a contract or gig from street performing?
4. What brings all the performers to the specific locations where they perform?
5. Are there hidden drama and rivalry between the performers apart from competing for the spots?

Conclusion

There are two kinds of street performers: the bottlers and the circle show performers. The bottlers are the ones that camp for couple of hours at a time and people tip them as they go but never really stay for the whole act. The circle shows are the ones based on the concept ‘a crowd attracts a crowd’. These acts have a beginning, middle, and finale. They get their tips by going around asked for the money. The bottlers usually stay in the same spot because it helps with recognition and if the income is steady they are more reluctant to move. The circle shows are far more profitable because more viewers equals more donations. But in order to pull the audience in first, the hook must be exciting and fast paced. In my opinion it's better to give an action packed act if you're physically capable because more audience brings in more money. It leads to free publicity and bigger profit.

Interview with the One & Only .. BILL

Material Observation

3 key similarities/differences

Difference
1. Santa Monica is more upscale Venice is more run down

2. Venice is affected by the strike, Santa Monica not as much.

Similarity
3. Both observations include fashion, performers dress codes vary from location.

Observation 2

Observation 1

Pictographic Sourcing

Here are some examples providing evidence to my thesis. These are pictorial reference to what the crowd is more drawn to; the action/high movement acts. The sequence shots show the performer during their grand finale when a crowd circles them.

Mind Map

This mind map gives an overview of the research process and the step in which direction I took in regards to making a thesis on street performance in LA.

What is an action act?

Action acts include high volume, high intensity and lots of movement in the act. Most action acts have a beginning, middle, and end. In other words, it contains the 'hook, line, and sinker'.

Hook: a brief intro about your act what the audience should expect. Its a teaser to reel them into joining the circle.
Line: when you throw a line in fishing you put something out there as bait. In the case of the street performer this can be your act.
Sinker: Many successful performers use their grand finale as the sinker. Usually this is the most exciting and anticipated part of the performance. This is the best chance to persuade your audience to drop some change in our tip jar.

Foundations of Street Performing

The "Foundations" give you a brief summary of the history, current issues, and designer examples of street performance. It also includes my argumentative thesis on what type of act draws a crowd as a street performer.

Welcome to Art of Busking!

You are one step closer to accomplishing your dream of being a successful street performer.
My site will teach you the key elements to bring the crowd and the cash.