Too Many Artists

[Alison]

How many vendors are too many in an area the size of a kitchen?
How many vendors are too many in an area the size of a small street?

I had bought a permit at a park - got a spot in an intersection the size of a kitchen.
Looked up to find FOUR other vendors having joined me there. 

I don't believe they gave out five permits for the same spot.
And the park changes it's rules back and forth as to whether or not we need permits, anyway.
Changes like the wind.  But I figure that I'm always alright if I have the permit, so I wouldn't go to any spot that I don't have a permit for.

I spoke up.  Security came and confiscated the blow-up toys from one of the other vendors.
And I ended up making much less money because these other people were 'in my spot'.

We all would have done better than we had done if we were spread out around the park.
(even though the 2nd-best spot in the park was the one where we were - and we all would have done best if we could have gotten that spot alone). 

Am I wrong in thinking they should have moved? 

And, BTW, these people are NOT street artists, what we're officially 'supposed to be' at the park.  These people would buy blow-up toys because they're the same as the balloons they make.  Stamping out heart on stick, dog on stick.  Or even just blowing up big round balloons with a shaky-sounding thing inside.

[Sherry]

Why didn't security move the others out as well?  Do you think it's more prevalent now, or has it always been a struggle with too many artists in the same area offering similar products?  I'm just wondering if it's the economy sending more people out,  or if it's always been this way.

[Alison]

I think it's always been this way here.  And the people in Security want to be nice to Everyone - It is a public park.  There's a lot of red-tape.  All sorts of rules.  All sorts of different agencies that make different rules.  The exact park runs what goes on in the park - so I pay for a permit.  The city gets sales tax for individual items sold in the city - so I pull sales tax out of each sale.  The State wants a big cut from any Income (income taxes).  And so does the Federal Gov't.  By the time I pay everyone and buy supplies and pay for transportation, it's amazing that I can still afford to pay my house-taxes for them.

And yes - I also think more people are coming out and trying this.  Looking for any way to make money.  And seeing/hearing about what we do that they might not have known about (or noticed) years ago.  Many of them don't pay for permits and taxes and stuff.  In particular, there's no way of saying for sure, because some people born right here in the States are raised only speaking Spanish, but I even think the people I'm dealing with here could be illegal immigrants. Not even on the rosters to pay for it like I do.  

When I started, it was almost embarrassing to tell people that I did this - as though I was a beggar.  And now, they're dreaming of this as 'the good life'.  As though we're only playing while we have to keep commitments and handle clients etc.

[Sherry]

It's funny, the different perceptions people can have of what we do.  I did the St. Judes Dream Home Giveaway earlier this year, big mistake and I won't do it again, but that's a different story.  While I was doing a tattoo on one lady, she started asking me questions about what I do and how I got into it, etc.  She asked me what my mother thought of it, but interrupted me as I was giving my answer.  I was trying to tell her that my mom was pretty proud of me.  She mimicked what she thought my mother would say, "Get a real job!"  and then she laughed at her own joke.  I was thinking, o.k.! 

[Alison]

I guess that comes along with maturity.
When we don't have to make our 'story' clear to everyone.
When we choose who to spend our time with
and who to let pass by.

[colormyworld]

Alison...are you in NYC?  Because I was told that all you need is a tax id number and that's it.  DOn't worry, I wasn't one of the others...I want to set up in a park so bad but have an extremely bad back and can't carry the table and chairs . 

[Alison]

There's all sorts of red tape for Face-Painters in NYC.
I guess some people just get their tax id and set up,
but I would be afraid to do that.

If you don't find all the right agencies and offices
for permits and who to pay,  you're open to tickets
and confiscations and who knows what else.  

Thanks for acknowledging my complaint, Color.
Actually, I Prefer to be with One other artist at a time.
Makes me feel 'bonafide'.  (More than One - cuts into
my income).  

I really don't do it very often at all.  Only for days that
I manage to get a permit, the weather is good, nobody
chases me away, and I don't have a Party.  It's like
the stars have to be in their exact orbit for me to get
out there.