Kicked off a spot today...

[YoYo Guy]

I've been doing my show in Newburyport, MA now for 3 summers and today a cop came in the show and told me there is no amplification. The crowd booed and it just made me feel unprofessional. I'm not sure what to do next since thousands of people tell me how much they like the show and now it takes one person to complain and it's over? There is a law that says no amps, but last night the cops were WATCHING the show. I even got a fiver from the bicycle cop! I don't want to rewrite my show where I just yell for a half an hour, that's for sure. I'm going to talk to the chamber of commerce on Monday and see if there is anything I can do. I'm so bummed!

[Jim]

Yo, It must have been that new Liberty system you have. You have to be careful. Those things can be loud.

I used to use only a Long Ranger to amplify my voice in Harvard Square. For a few years, I concealed the system in a black pillowcase by my prop case. (I guess I just wanted to hide the technology.) After almost every show, people would come up and comment on how well I could project my voice. I had the LR at just the right volume so it added to my voice, but didn't sound like an amp. People didn't SEE an amp, so they didn't notice they were hearing one.

This wouldn't work with recorded minidisc music, but for voice acts, try turning your speaker volume down a notch and concealing the system (and the mic.) People won't know you're using an amp. It could work with music, I guess... the tunes would just magically appear out of nowhere. Could be a neat, surprising effect.

Sorry to hear about your hassle, John. Definitely have a chat with the CoC. I'm sure you can work something out. Just turn down your system!

Jim

[ALAKAZAM]

I was there
I had been on the pitch maybe 5 minutes when a lady cop came up and said there had been a complaint about the noise,I replied "Neither of us have even started yet" i asked when the comlpaint came and they said only a couple of minutes ago from one of the shops.
So somebody looked out their window display,saw john and i and called the cops to make a complaint about noise,what kind of small-towned closed minded shit is that.
So with that in mind and the fact that there were no people around i decided to catch the train striaght back to boston.
I'm sorry to hear that you were shut down john,i hope you find no law that says you can't use an amp.If worst comes to worst,bring up the free speech law [that's a really old one that won't be changed by local by-laws]
Sad,sad people.
AL
frown.gif

[ 06-22-2003: Message edited by: ALAKAZAM ]</p>

[RINGON]

John, Im sorry to hear of your plite. Im hopeful all will work out. I am wondering if maybe through you anger/frustration, you have inadvertently taken a WACK at those performers that are not miked and yes, sometimes have to yell? frown.gif