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What's the current busker situation Downtown?

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kingslender

kingslender

Low-Roller
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Jan 10, 2011
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Trips to Las Vegas
5
Was there about a year ago and they had significantly cleaned up with situation with buskers, making them register and be on their designated "poker chip" and just wondering if that's still the case?

2-3 years ago it was an absolute shit show Downtown.
 
I find them annoying as ever. Worst part is the the noise level seems to have increased, and not just at night. I was there 2 weeks ago and the ones that bugged me the most were the "musicians". I find the dudes beating on the plastic Home Depot 5 gallon pails to be the most annoying, followed by the karaoke "singers". Some of the singers are not awful, but the equipment they use is low quality and when they crank it up to full volume all I hear is distortion. As far as the percussionists, I am not a fan of drum solos. Maybe the percussion enthusiasts will disagree with me. Or, maybe I am right and they really ARE annoying?
 
The worst to me are the sales people when I walk to Golden Gate!

During the day, there is one on the left, hard selling expensive cosmetics and if you take the sample, they will grab your arm and tell you to come inside
and let them put lotions on you and super hard sell.

The other side there was a guy at a stand who caught me trying to avoid the cosmetic salesman, and hard sold walking in front of me to buy a cell phone
case with charger.

I had to hard say NO to both.

On my way back out of the Golden Gate, there was a new salesperson out there and I got on my cell and acted like I was arguing with someone,
haha, it worked, he walked toward me, but backed off when he heard my fake conversation!

I also dislike the almost naked guys who invite you to take a picture with them, just,......ewe!
 
zoey11 said:
The worst to me are the sales people when I walk to Golden Gate!

During the day, there is one on the left, hard selling expensive cosmetics and if you take the sample, they will grab your arm and tell you to come inside
and let them put lotions on you and super hard sell.

The other side there was a guy at a stand who caught me trying to avoid the cosmetic salesman, and hard sold walking in front of me to buy a cell phone
case with charger.

I had to hard say NO to both.

On my way back out of the Golden Gate, there was a new salesperson out there and I got on my cell and acted like I was arguing with someone,
haha, it worked, he walked toward me, but backed off when he heard my fake conversation!

I also dislike the almost naked guys who invite you to take a picture with them, just,......ewe!
Click to expand...
All these are the reason I avoid going downtown ..... too many crazies lol. They should really clean it up ... I haven't been downtown area for past couple of years.... first or second time it's weird fun but anything after it becomes annoying
 
I went in December.

If you need to hire a palm leaf artist, there is a plethora of them. Take your pick.

Glad to see the single mom w stage four cancer is looking like she feels better than every time I've seen her over the last three years.

And yes, the bucket drummers are annoying as hell.

The wheel chaired veteran who plays the accordion is a treat though. It's not too loud, he has some talent, and generally seems like a good guy.
 
I was there during the week of Thanksgiving. They seemed to be out in force but stayed in their allowed circles and didn't really bother me. There were some really questionable buskers though. One really mangy looking guy sitting in his circle with a sign that said F*** You!! The only one that really brought a smile to my face was a Micky and Minnie Mouse that were taking pictures with children whose parents brought them down to Fremont. The kids really seemed to like it which was kind of cool.

Overall they seem less aggressive now as opposed to previous years but there are a lot more nasty and ridiculous buskers now as well.

I always stay downtown and I've just made up my mind to not let them bother me although at times they test my patience. Still, the strip has just as many and just as ludicrous but they are in a much more congested area downtown which makes them more notorious, imho.

:peace: :beer:
 
zoey11 said:
During the day, there is one on the left, hard selling expensive cosmetics and if you take the sample, they will grab your arm and tell you to come inside
and let them put lotions on you and super hard sell.
Click to expand...

The hard-sell "lotions and potions" people are on the Strip too! The ladies at the Flamingo in the shop (or rather outside of it) by the brewpub are extremely pushy! "Miss, I need to talk to you!" (I am seldom called "miss" anymore.) A year or so ago they were equally obnoxious at Bally's in the passage to the food court and Monorail.
 
zoey11 said:
I had to hard say NO to both.
Click to expand...
I just smile and keep walking.

I was on Fremont just after Christmas. Plenty of people but the characters were all in their circles.
One guy asked me for money, this was in the area between the Cal and Binion's.
 
They are only allowed in each circle for 2 hours. Lottery system. Some are good. Some suck. I saw FSE "cops" go up to amps with detectors to check volume and make some turn down. Same on strip. Some good some suck. But don't see anyone passed out drunk or begging on FSE like I do on the strip, mostly overpasses
 
zoey11 said:
The worst to me are the sales people when I walk to Golden Gate!

During the day, there is one on the left, hard selling expensive cosmetics and if you take the sample, they will grab your arm and tell you to come inside
and let them put lotions on you and super hard sell.

The other side there was a guy at a stand who caught me trying to avoid the cosmetic salesman, and hard sold walking in front of me to buy a cell phone
case with charger.

I had to hard say NO to both.

On my way back out of the Golden Gate, there was a new salesperson out there and I got on my cell and acted like I was arguing with someone,
haha, it worked, he walked toward me, but backed off when he heard my fake conversation!

I also dislike the almost naked guys who invite you to take a picture with them, just,......ewe!
Click to expand...

The Pokie Queen just grabs my arm harder when she has to go through this lot, ditto for above for her, l cannot get her to have a picture with any of the naked guys for my amusement. Myself, l could not care less, just adds to my amusement / entertainment and that is why l came in the first place. Relax and enjoy, you will not see it anywhere else that l know of.
 
We simply look at the lotion girls and salesmen and as we keep walking ask if they aren't supposed to be in a circle somewhere. They don't bother us on the way back. You just have to act and treat them as you would the timeshare people on the strip.
Fortunately no one has yet to grab one of us by the arm. That would not work out well.
The noise is just part of the setting but yeah, I liked it better when the canopy was not and you could see the sky (hotter) and cars drove the street.
 
Maybe we could taks a note from that one guy and carry a small sign that says "..Fuck You!". Just flash it when they try to get your attention.
 
zoey11 said:
The worst to me are the sales people when I walk to Golden Gate!

During the day, there is one on the left, hard selling expensive cosmetics and if you take the sample, they will grab your arm and tell you to come inside
and let them put lotions on you and super hard sell.

The other side there was a guy at a stand who caught me trying to avoid the cosmetic salesman, and hard sold walking in front of me to buy a cell phone
case with charger.

I had to hard say NO to both.

On my way back out of the Golden Gate, there was a new salesperson out there and I got on my cell and acted like I was arguing with someone,
haha, it worked, he walked toward me, but backed off when he heard my fake conversation!

I also dislike the almost naked guys who invite you to take a picture with them, just,......ewe!
Click to expand...

If you make eye contact and take the sample, you're going to get hounded.
 
I didn't spend as much time downtown the last two times I was there but I noticed a difference for the better. It's still annoying, especially if one manages to gather a crowd that blocks the sidewalk, but it's not as congested.
 
We stayed at the Four Queens...I know the guys you are talking about....A simple "No thank you" followed by a "Get the F out of my face" if they persist is usually sufficient ...they remember you after that and leave you alone.
 
I treat them all like the porn slappers on the Strip: I am not turning my head or breaking my stride and god help you if you touch me. If I can ignore them while they beg me to pay attention then why are they surprised when I ignore them cussing me out. Anyone who gives them money doesn't understand the pigeon principle.
 
Thanks for the feedback - seems like they are still being kept in check. I agree that it's part of the quirkiness of Vegas - where else are you going to see 4 dudes dressed up as KISS in thongs?
 
The proliferation of these damned buskers (and resort fees) has pretty much ended my love affair with Las Vegas. I really miss the days when you could walk down Fremont or the Strip and enjoy the sights without getting harassed by beggars in costumes. Sure, there was always the occasional street performer singing or playing guitar somewhere but they were few and far between. And now, tourists are veritably assaulted by cheaply costumed bums and psychos demanding money...as if they're entitled to it. It's been pissing me off more and more as time goes on, even after the buskers were confined to their little poker chip circles.

I yearn for the days of the porn pamphlet slappers. At least they were respectful and pulled their arms out of the way when you didn't take their material. Plus they never talked to you.

Since the early 90's I've paid 3-5 visits to Vegas every year, but in 2016 I only went once. Too much has been going the wrong way since 2012. No more Imperial Palace, resort fee robbery, and buskers. I just haven't felt like coming back...but the casinos will not miss my $40 daily gambling budget.
 
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