Covent Garden Performers Under Threat

Naquada has written a post that makes worrying reading. He writes that the present owners of Covent Garden are trying to impose restrictions to how street performers are allowed to present their acts, the main restrictions being:

- A 50% reduction in the total time that performers can use the spaces
- A reduction in the length of each individual show from 40 minutes to 30 minutes

This could quite possibly have a devastating effect to the income of these performers. Convent Garden has played host to street performers since the 1600’s and this move might see them all move to better locations.

So what can you do about it?

1. Read Andrew’s full post and understand the issue further.

2. Sign the North Hall petition.

3. Sign the South Courtyard petition.

4. Joining the mass email campaign - send the following text to beverley-churchill@capcount.com.
I am writing to express my opposition to the reducing of the street theatre performance times by 50% in The North Hall, and South Hall areas in Covent Garden.I urge you to reconsider this direct attack on the livelihood of the famous Covent Garden Street Performers and Classical Musicians.

5. Spread the word through blogs, email, down the pub or any other way you can.

Technorati: Magic buskers, covent garden, news, street magic, street performers

Strange Travellers by David Blaine

This is David Blaine's single favorite effect. The actual deal-closer David used for most of his professional career. It helped him close the deal on his first Network T.V. special: Street Magic. You show someone a batch of twenty cards... all different. You give her ten of the cards to hold. You now have her just think of one of the remaining ten cards. She never says a word. No one except her knows what card she's thinking of. These ten cards are counted again. Strangely... there are n... [more...]