Comments on: #8: Better Street Performers http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html News and information about urban infill development in the Mile High City Wed, 23 May 2012 05:26:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kristin http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-4658 Kristin Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:47:03 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-4658 I am actually looking for Statue Chick. Is she still in town? Her web site doesn't work any longer. Any information would be appreciated! Thanks I am actually looking for Statue Chick. Is she still in town? Her web site doesn’t work any longer. Any information would be appreciated!

Thanks

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-3545 Anonymous Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:03:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-3545 Im there!!!!Some people know some people dont!! Denvers Only Living Art!!!!I bring Europe to Denver! www.statuechick.com Im there!!!!Some people know some people dont!! Denvers Only Living Art!!!!I bring Europe to Denver! http://www.statuechick.com

]]> By: Jason http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-3209 Jason Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:18:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-3209 Look to the 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica, CA for a way to organize this for Denver. A permit is required to perform, yet it is completely free. It has seemed to work extremely well for many years, so maybe emulating how they organize their performers would be a key for success in Denver. Look to the 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica, CA for a way to organize this for Denver. A permit is required to perform, yet it is completely free. It has seemed to work extremely well for many years, so maybe emulating how they organize their performers would be a key for success in Denver.

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-3207 Anonymous Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:40:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-3207 you're right, there are a few good ones. FYI, the old guy with the scooter is not playing synthesizer music. it's a CD of him playing clarinet. he used to be a fixture by coors field on game days, until (it seems) he couldn't play anymore. now he drives his scooter and sells CDs of himself. as for more and better quality of musicians, i'm all for it. right now the ratio of 4 or 5 denver voice sellers to 1 musician is a bit much. you're right, there are a few good ones. FYI, the old guy with the scooter is not playing synthesizer music. it's a CD of him playing clarinet. he used to be a fixture by coors field on game days, until (it seems) he couldn't play anymore. now he drives his scooter and sells CDs of himself. as for more and better quality of musicians, i'm all for it. right now the ratio of 4 or 5 denver voice sellers to 1 musician is a bit much.

]]> By: Anonymous http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-3153 Anonymous Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:27:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-3153 There are drummers at the Sage - Foutus Building, usually 3 at a time. There are drummers at the Sage – Foutus Building, usually 3 at a time.

]]> By: Freddie http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-3148 Freddie Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:40:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-3148 It was once suggested to me long ago that I should perform my music on 16th Street. But being from Denver and having not spent enough time elsewhere, I took that as an insult. To me performing on the street was no different than begging for change. To me, street performers that are actually talented was something that only happened in movies and novels that over-romanticize everything.<br /><br />Now that I'm much more traveled, and have actually lived in world-class cities, I have an entirely different opinion. Street performers can greatly enhance the street-level culture one experiences upon a visit to a strange city. There are very respectable street-performers across the world that greatly deserve the income they generate on the street - performers that go so far to supplement the cultural value of their respective neighborhoods that it's hard to imagine life them.<br /><br />I used to enjoy the robot guy around the Pavilions, but now realize he is merely conducting a poor imitation of the many more-talented "robot" performers that have become cliche in bigger cities. It was once suggested to me long ago that I should perform my music on 16th Street. But being from Denver and having not spent enough time elsewhere, I took that as an insult. To me performing on the street was no different than begging for change. To me, street performers that are actually talented was something that only happened in movies and novels that over-romanticize everything.

Now that I'm much more traveled, and have actually lived in world-class cities, I have an entirely different opinion. Street performers can greatly enhance the street-level culture one experiences upon a visit to a strange city. There are very respectable street-performers across the world that greatly deserve the income they generate on the street – performers that go so far to supplement the cultural value of their respective neighborhoods that it's hard to imagine life them.

I used to enjoy the robot guy around the Pavilions, but now realize he is merely conducting a poor imitation of the many more-talented "robot" performers that have become cliche in bigger cities.

]]> By: Johnnie http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-3147 Johnnie Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:14:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-3147 You know its the lame Jack Johnson, Dave Mathews and John Mayer movement in singer songwriters where all you have to do is play five or six chords and sing using a vocal quality which i like to call "breathiness." <br /><br />Five points a long time ago once had a very dominant Jazz scene that was respectable among the other big cities in this country. It was a refuge for oppressed black people and there, they played in their haven. It would be nice to see our city planners revive that culture and support the opening of many clubs that are exclusively jazz and blues in 5*. DU's Lamonte and CU Denver's jazz programs have a lot of sutdents in combos that could fill up these venues. With a real jazz culture presence, maybe all these dumb Jack Johnson wannabe singer song writers would change their musical direction to something with a little more culture. I'm sick of this neo jamband crap as well. All these dumb hippies think they have an eclectic taste in music because they watch phish or umphries mcgee at Cervantes do a cover of Donna Lee and then jump into a talking heads cover. I'm sorry it doesn't cut it. I think with a little more support in the conservatory music scene, eventually we would see that translate into better street music, and maybe Ken could a hear a 3/4 time sig. Night dreamer anyone? You know its the lame Jack Johnson, Dave Mathews and John Mayer movement in singer songwriters where all you have to do is play five or six chords and sing using a vocal quality which i like to call "breathiness."

Five points a long time ago once had a very dominant Jazz scene that was respectable among the other big cities in this country. It was a refuge for oppressed black people and there, they played in their haven. It would be nice to see our city planners revive that culture and support the opening of many clubs that are exclusively jazz and blues in 5*. DU's Lamonte and CU Denver's jazz programs have a lot of sutdents in combos that could fill up these venues. With a real jazz culture presence, maybe all these dumb Jack Johnson wannabe singer song writers would change their musical direction to something with a little more culture. I'm sick of this neo jamband crap as well. All these dumb hippies think they have an eclectic taste in music because they watch phish or umphries mcgee at Cervantes do a cover of Donna Lee and then jump into a talking heads cover. I'm sorry it doesn't cut it. I think with a little more support in the conservatory music scene, eventually we would see that translate into better street music, and maybe Ken could a hear a 3/4 time sig. Night dreamer anyone?

]]> By: S. Nowlan http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-3142 S. Nowlan Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:37:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-3142 The difficulty is determining what is talent and what is not . . . .<br /> <br />The most memorable "performer" (using a loose definition of the word) is that angry old man in his scooter who plays a shrill synthesizer (or a tape of a shrill synthesizer), usually has a sign on his scooter involving a "liberal conspiracy" or denigrating Bill Clinton, and who sort of glares at passers-by as he tools his way up and down the 16th Street Mall (and occasionally on 17th Street). <br /> <br />I'm always curious about his story, but I'm not about to stop and find out why he feels the need to inflict his squeaky version of big-band hits and patriotic songs on innocent pedestrians -- not sure I trust his mental stability. The difficulty is determining what is talent and what is not . . . .

The most memorable "performer" (using a loose definition of the word) is that angry old man in his scooter who plays a shrill synthesizer (or a tape of a shrill synthesizer), usually has a sign on his scooter involving a "liberal conspiracy" or denigrating Bill Clinton, and who sort of glares at passers-by as he tools his way up and down the 16th Street Mall (and occasionally on 17th Street).

I'm always curious about his story, but I'm not about to stop and find out why he feels the need to inflict his squeaky version of big-band hits and patriotic songs on innocent pedestrians — not sure I trust his mental stability.

]]> By: Leslie http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-3138 Leslie Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:02:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-3138 I would like to see some good music along the mall. When I lived in London there was always a bongo player at the bottom of the escalator at my station. The drums would echo up the long staircase. Several times you caught people starting to grove and dance to the upbeat rythms. Considering it was 7am and most commuters were brittish- this was quite a feat! <br /><br />I would love to see some drummers along the mall. Maybe get a drum circle going? Or hire the guy from the movie Once? A guy like that would be fabulous! I would like to see some good music along the mall. When I lived in London there was always a bongo player at the bottom of the escalator at my station. The drums would echo up the long staircase. Several times you caught people starting to grove and dance to the upbeat rythms. Considering it was 7am and most commuters were brittish- this was quite a feat!

I would love to see some drummers along the mall. Maybe get a drum circle going? Or hire the guy from the movie Once? A guy like that would be fabulous!

]]> By: holygrail33 http://denverinfill.com/blog/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html/comment-page-1#comment-3137 holygrail33 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:57:00 +0000 http://denverinfill.com/wordpress/2009/01/8-better-street-performers.html#comment-3137 I would agree with anon 10:00am. One great way for the city to encourage this would be to get out of the way. <br />Additionally, being in the music scene myself, and knowing many fabulous local musicians I know how hard it is to have productive day (make money) on the mall. Maybe some of the more talented musicians may stay away from the mall because they know they can't count on donations, and or worry about getting 'busted' for playing without permit.<br />Density would help, but really I think there is enough action on the mall to support more (and yes Ken, better) street performers. <br />There is a great local music scene here in Denver, and I hope everyone makes an effort to check out local shows! <br /><br />Thank you Ken! I would agree with anon 10:00am. One great way for the city to encourage this would be to get out of the way.
Additionally, being in the music scene myself, and knowing many fabulous local musicians I know how hard it is to have productive day (make money) on the mall. Maybe some of the more talented musicians may stay away from the mall because they know they can't count on donations, and or worry about getting 'busted' for playing without permit.
Density would help, but really I think there is enough action on the mall to support more (and yes Ken, better) street performers.
There is a great local music scene here in Denver, and I hope everyone makes an effort to check out local shows!

Thank you Ken!

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