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Downtown busker rant

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by shiner18, Feb 29, 2020.

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  1. Vegas Todd

    Vegas Todd MIA

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    Actually, she IS a professional drummer, she's just marketing herself & making a little dough between bands.
    Quite ingenious.
     
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  2. Roccoscollar

    Roccoscollar VIP Whale

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    Let's stop the supply of buckets. Either don't eat pickles or we got to get on Jimmy John's or whoever is giving them those damn buckets, lol.
     
  3. Vegas Todd

    Vegas Todd MIA

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    Heh. Let them drum on red Solo cups.
     
  4. HeatherC

    HeatherC Low-Roller

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    My first trip to Vegas was 2017 and I really enjoyed Fremont Street. I enjoyed the atmosphere, live music, light show. Then something changed. Or maybe I just didn't notice it until last year. I don't know but now we will go for a few hours and then head back to the Strip.
     
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  5. Drewm1972

    Drewm1972 VIP Whale

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    Yup, I know what you mean... what I kinda miss is that as I recall - even 5 to 6 years ago there used to street singers performing light music... people actually “painting” selling their art work (I mean ppl w actual talent), ppl w custom (some funny & all “classy” dressed up Vegas show girls) perhaps occasional veterans asking for $$ to me these were Vegas downtown, but now when we go there’s smell of marijuana all over omg and I see kids all around! not to mention ppl just being plain stupid wearing next to nothing (w out any talent) begging to take pics and demanding $$$ etc.

    Anyhow, that just my personal experience, perhaps ppl see it different then me I’m sure. But just my 2 cents :)
     
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  6. parallax

    parallax High-Roller

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    About 3 or 4 visits ago, we went Downtown for the first time in 5 or 6 years, We went to visit and had a nice time and almost spent two days there. During subsequent trips, we went Downtown and enjoyed it less and less. The busking, the smokiness of the casinos, and the panhandling just started to get to us. I told my wife for our next visit that if we go Downtown, it is only to hit Pizza Rock and 1 or 2 bars we like. She agreed.
     
  7. Vegas Todd

    Vegas Todd MIA

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    All my trips to Wrigley Field kinda makes me used to all the bucket drummers....
     
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  8. Drewby2b

    Drewby2b Low-Roller

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    On the bright side, the street performers DT seem to actually have some skill. At least more often than they do on the strip
     
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  9. thebeachbum

    thebeachbum High-Roller

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    I enjoy the downtown experience. I like the actual buskers. Some are real talented, sum just enthusiastic, and others are just beggars taking up space not even trying to entertain anyone. I don't care for the beggars just sitting in a busker circle. Outta be a law, you have to entertain to be given a circle.
     
    Need a good trip this time
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  10. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    About those buskers that don't entertain but just have signs that beg for money: Why aren't they going to the proper agencies that are there to help them?

    Like those who claim to be veterans.

    And those who claim they have families to feed.

    Those in wheelchairs, crutches, eye patches......

    Go to these agencies, get the help you need to get back on your feet, and start becoming a contributing member of society. There are countless stories of people that were down on their luck who are now very successful because they asked for help and were willing to help themselves.

    I think that is the key. Are you willing to help yourself? For a lot of them the answer is no. I think that's the biggest reason a lot of them are on Fremont St. and yes, hard to believe (gasp) on the Strip and pedestrian overpasses of the Strip.
     
  11. woodsie

    woodsie VIP Whale

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    It's simple. Their appearance and mannerisms are an act. It's fundamental to their trade that they look convincing to people like me and you. The reason they look so genuinely down and out is because it's their job to look that way and they get good at it with practice.

    We had a local beggar in my area who for years hobbled around on crutches up and down main street asking for money. He was extremely convincing looking. I certainly didn't believe he was anything but crippled but then one night I saw him dashing through the alleys at a full gallop with his crutches tucked underneath his arm.

    Most of these guys are real deal method actors. I'm not saying they don't have problems but they treat begging like a job and their appearance is contrived specifically to evoke an emotional response from people passing by. It's not like they happened up it by accident.

    If they have a ratty looking dog or a kid with them, you have to understand that these are props. It's not like they got evicted out of their apartment the night before and miraculously landed on Fremont St. trying to beg enough to get back on their feet.

    I usually upset some people when I talk about this and that is sort of the point. It's their job to be so convincing that when someone talks about how it's an act, your first emotion is "how dare you..." so if you are feeling that right now, I apologize but at least stop and think about it for a minute. I'm definitely not trying to offend anyone or sound insensitive. I've just lived in the city for the past 20 years and have had a chance to get to know these guys and watch how they operate.

    When you see the same guy for 20 years with the same sign that says "need money for a bus ticket to Toledo", you eventually start to get hip to the fact that maybe he does not in fact plan on traveling to Toledo after all.
     
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  12. comfortablynumb

    comfortablynumb Dogs have owners, cats have staff

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  13. Vegas Todd

    Vegas Todd MIA

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    ''I have legs!!!''
     
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  14. checkchange

    checkchange Low-Roller

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    Agree :thumbsup:

    BUT that sh.t is out of control, it gets worse ever year. Cmon I don't need to see an old man with diapers (oh oh my future :D) or the what shall I say heavy breasted drooping over person. Some of it is ok....saxophone man, spray painters
     
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  15. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    So does Lieutenant Dan! :)
     
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  16. greekjim

    greekjim King Gyro

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    On Fremont right now and those bucket drums’ sound does carry
     
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  17. dukeofdarby

    dukeofdarby High-Roller

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    I like downtown----do not like the buskers or the bucket bangers and the whole scene under the canopy
    I limit my involvement by staying at mss and frequent casinos on the outskirts such as California,plaza, downtown d,golden gate, el cortez and go into the back entrance at the fremont
     
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  18. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    Some of the shall I say scantily clad buskers are actually nice to look at.

    But for every one of those there are 10 or more of....OMG.....yikes....:eek:
     
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  19. greekjim

    greekjim King Gyro

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    When I was there this last Monday night, there was a Deadpool hanging out with Chewbacca, a bucket drummer, a guy who could contort his body to fit in this small metal box, a guy with political signs and a girl walking around in her circle with a sign asking for college money. That is all I can remember
     
  20. tvon

    tvon VIP Whale

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    I'm not claiming their aren't a far share of con artists out there, but this is really not very fair. I fear this thread has de-evolved into bashing the homeless. Hope Sonia closes this one soon.
     
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