Stupid Performers in Los Angeles

[GlassHarper]

The Los Ageles Times for 2/3/07 has an article on how a street performer in the vicinity of Grauman's Chinese Theater has sullied the reputation of our profession. Costumed as Chewbacca, Frederick Evan Young -- clearly not our friend Evan (I can eat 50 eggs) Young in that he is 44 and over six feet in height -- apparently lost it when reprimanded for hasseling a Japanese tourist for money for a photo and head-butted his critic.

"These folks are our ambassadors. We expect the highest standards from them...." said an L.A. city councilman in an interview.

It points up, once again, how precarious is our livelyhood when one bad egg (sorry Evan) can set off public (and official) reaction that can affect us all.

The article can be viewed at the URL

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...?track=tothtml

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Its what Chewy would have done.

[The Renaissance Man]

"What a Wookie!"

[jayrodin]

Well chewey was still working there a few weeks back when I was at mans. I never could understand anything he said though...

[Juggalicious]

yo jay - im living in LA now if you need a place to crash.

[Butterfly Man]

Garcetti said there are two kinds of street performers.

"There were the characters that wanted to have a code of conduct and ethics about interacting with tourists, which comprised the majority," the councilman said. "The second group of performers were renegades, who didn't want to abide by any rules ...."

and that would include?

[Evan Young]

what is really strange is the guys name.. Frederick Evan Young. My name is Evan Young, and my Dad's first name is Fred........

you have just entered the twilight zone

[charliekarl]

As a funny side note the news about the angry Crewbacca made it all the way into the Swedish press.

[Juggalicious]

Lost Angeles sucks - i feel like im in middle school trying to perform for the other kids in my class on lunch break. i'd rather perform for pre-schoolers for the rest of my life. it's that bad.

[Frisbee]

it takes time to work on a new environment and an new pitch...sometimes it happens quick and other times it can take you a few years to break into a new scene. perserverence and persistence will pay off...keep at it.

[jimmy talksalot]

i gotta go with L.a. sucks.

i think i'd be afraid to finally work it out there cuz it would suck any talent i have out and would ruin me in other pitches.

i like growing and expanding my horizons... i do!

really.

but thats just it L.A. don't do that for me.

i should say i have not worked it in the summer months and i heard it was good,but i think its the culture[or lack of] and the overwhelming regulations that gets me depressed. or the unemotional audiences that i have not experienced any where else in the world.....its just up tight man!

and superficial.

i should say it was good enough in the winter to pay for a hotel and subsist for me workin venice 12-4pm and the promenade after that...so if i was in a tight spot [being in L.A.] at least i know i could survive....and thats more then could be said about many towns that have no foot traffic.

[jimmy talksalot]

and by the way frisbee you gotta great show i saw you in frisco

[Frisbee]

Thanks man...it was nice to meet you out there, I am sure our paths will cross again.

[johnhuber206]

At least it was just a headbutt. Chewie could've easily ripped the tourist's arms off.