Street performers in UK’s legendary Covent Garden may face some new restrictions from the property’s owners. New efforts by the Westminster Council Chamber seeks a 50% reduction in the total time that performers can use the spaces as well as a reduction in the length of each individual show from 40 minutes to 30 minutes.
Needless to say, many of the performers are not taking this lightly. This includes the regulars at “Magicians Corner” where many famous conjurors including Bob Read have busked.
Naquada’s Andrew Webb is quite fired up about this…
The idea of a street show, as veterans like Gazzo and others know, is that the true street performer does not perform to passing trade, they gather an audience, produce a show and collect or ‘hat’ at the end, implementing these changes could cost the performers between 25% and 50% of their total average income, making the venue unviable for performers, which will undoubtedly lead to street performing in Convent Garden to die out.
Head to Naquada for a list of ways you can voice your opinion against the changes.