Poll : 20 May - 02 June 2015

Analysis

Sincere thanks to all who took part in this survey, and for the thoughtful and non-reactionary email feedback we received. There are moves afoot to limit where these "entertainers" can perform, and perhaps more of a time-of-day demarcation for what's permissible, or not, may come into effect - we'll keep you posted. But here are some representative samples of your thoughts on this matter:

• "I think there should be a line. Where that is, I'm not quite sure. Pasties and G-strings, even with body paint, crosses that line in my mind at some point. Perhaps there should be a time limit or hours set- that stuff is okay after a certain hour or between certain hours, then if parents bring their kids down there, they know it is no holds barred." [Ed: As above, something along these lines is being discussed - it's a tough area to navigate, where decency is balanced with constitutional rights, but this writer agrees that as things currently stand, it all seems to have gotten somewhat out of control - or is in danger of being so, if things keep escalating exponentially. It won't benefit the amusing or talented folks if anyone and their dog/diaper is permitted to dilute what there is of a talent pool, imho.]
  
  
• "We love downtown and wouldn't think of NOT staying there for part of our yearly ten-day trips. We're not intimidated by any of the 'characters' who frequent Fremont Street. It sure is different from anything we see the other 355 days of the year! That being said, the only buskers who have any hope of getting any kind of donation are the ones who actually have some talent. Especially loved the guy playing the steel drums when we were there last September."
  
  
• "As far as I'm concerned, the characters on Fremont, as well as the homeless that party on the street, are part of the Fremont Street Experience. Without them, I'll just keep playing BJ at MSS." [Ed: Aha! So, perhaps they're being paid by the casinos?! j/k]
  
  
• "I find the street people to be a deterrent to going downtown. While visiting one summer, another couple asked me to shoot a picture of them on Fremont Street. A few minutes after I snapped it, 'Rick James' approached me, demanding to be compensated for using his likeness, 'Rick James don't do this shit for free!' I told him he owed me money for photobombing my picture. He persisted until I offered to give him a Texas ass whoopin! It was a couple of years (seven visits) later before I went there again. Too much drama!"
  
  
• "The characters and entertainers lend a certain 'old Vegas' vibe everybody complains about disappearing. I get a kick seeing at least one new one every trip. Just keep moving and don't make eye contact, like with the porn slappers, and mostly they'll leave you alone. Occasionally worth a couple bucks to get a photo, something other than the usual landmarks."
  
  
• "Even the Strip is not entirely pretty during the daytime and parts of the sewers really stink! Beyond the Wynn it gets seedier as you get closer to The Strat and SLS. Not entirely an area to wander around day or night. Downtown just seems depressing, entirely. Worse than last year."
  
  
• "I have stopped going downtown. I had never given money to panhandlers but the last time about eight years ago I saw an old guy with a sign that said 'Army Vet.' I gave him a couple bucks. At the time, my son was an Army Captain and I have a passion for our military men and women. A few months after I was watching a TV show (don't remember the name) but it featured drugs in Las Vegas...and there he was, a drug addict! Tall, old man in a hat with long un-kept hair. Lives in motel close by Fremont Street and pan handles for money to do drugs. I have a passion for our military but NO passion for drug addicts! Lesson learned."
  
  
• "I have visited Las Vegas approximately 80 times over the last 20 years. I understand the 'Sin City' concept. For example I have no problem with the Golden Gate hiring dancers for it's blackjack pit and outside bar. It's fun, safe and it adds to the party atmosphere. But somewhere a line has been crossed. The sight of a 70 year old man wearing only a neon jockstrap is not fun, it's gross. It's sleazy and it detracts from the fun atmosphere. It makes people feel unsafe. No casino is going to hire a naked old man to dance on the bar, because it's not good for business. Even worse is the sight of a skinny 19 year old girl standing on a corner wearing only flip flops, a thong and pasties, begging for change as a 'busker'. It's just plain wrong! I hope they find a way to fix this before Fremont Street regains its bad reputation from the past."
  
  
• "I find myself leaning a little bit on both sides on this one. Yeah, I know I sound like a politician but I won’t name any names here. I remember when the 'entertainers' started to show up downtown and I thought it somewhat lent itself to the carnival, party, circus atmosphere that made the FSE. But in recent years more and more of them are coming out of the woodwork like roaches on a bread crumb. I would have to assume that the sellers that operate out of the semi-permanent booths are licensed to do so or pay a rental fee, but I’ve wondered if the buskers also pay a fee or need permission to be there? I would guess they don’t, since some of the costumes just aren’t very good and sometimes even look like they haven’t been washed in weeks, or worse. I think just like anything else, a little is okay but too many is just overkill. Maybe they can be given schedules or have their time regulated, so they can all still get in on the action?"
  
  
• "My visiting grandchildren always looked forward to strolling Fremont St. and taking in the lights & sights at night. The characters have become so risqué and obnoxious there now, that I refuse to allow my grandchildren to include that experience in their visits. As an adult, I object to it too, and avoid taking my usual walk from The Plaza to El Cortez. I object to the Zipline landing zones too: The Plaza has basically disappeared."
  
  
• " have no problem with the decent ones who dress up for pictures with tourists but there are some really raunchy ones wearing hardly anything with no talent other then to show off their bodies, which even in shape can be downright gross to see. I can take a guy dressed like the baby at the 'right' time, like New Year's Eve, but when they are wearing nothing on any given day I do not want to see that. You might be built but to quote a sign someone posted on Facebook, and this goes for boobs as well as penises, 'It's good to have them, and you can be proud of them, but don't whip them out in public and wave them around.' Now they were talking about religion, but the point is the same. If I don't know you, I don't necessarily want to see what you've got." [Ed: And with that, we feel 'nuff said!]