When and Why Did the Busking Circles Start on Fremont Street?

When and why did the busking circles start on Fremont Street?

Up until fall 2015, performers/buskers were prohibited on Fremont Street. The city considered the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian mall private property. The ACLU intervened and FSE was judged to be a First Amendment-protected area, allowing for performers, artists, and reasonable facsimiles thereof.

Once buskers were allowed on Fremont Street, they tended to congregate around the nexus of Fremont Street and Casino Center Drive. As many as 100 could gather at busy times, which obviously impeded pedestrian access to stores, some of the casinos, and unimpeded passage itself.

In September 2015, the city developed an organizational ordinance that created 38 defined (six-foot-diameter) "performance zones" painted to look like oversized poker chips. A 40-foot buffer separates one busker from another; there’s also a 100-foot separation from Fremont Street concerts. The system was ready to be implemented two months later.

Buskers enter a daily lottery for the privilege of two-hour intervals in the zones. Thus, they can’t congregate in crowded areas, nor can they hound passersby.

The busker community greeted the ordinance favorably, as it provides a safer and more controlled atmosphere for everyone who is plying some trade or other along the pedestrian mall. It's not a perfect system, as we're sure commenters will note. But that's the when and why of the current situation on Fremont Street under the crooning canopy.

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Dave_Miller_DJTB Apr-23-2023

Oversized poker chips

As noted, they were painted to look like oversized poker chips. And they looked kinda cool. 👍

Now they just look like circles. Not that they faded, but removed (or faded to the point of invisible) and repainted with simple circles. ☹️

Kevin Lewis Apr-23-2023

Part of the Experience

One performer I saw back then was a 400-pound guy playing a ukulele and wearing only a thong and sandals. He was pretty talented.

Leonard Accardi Apr-23-2023

100-foot separation?

There is one circle very close to the third street stage, definitely not 100-foot separation.

Candace Corbani Apr-23-2023

When did Busking go to Begging?

My last visit 11/22 staying downtown made me think twice about coming back because of the beggars in circles.  Doesn't anyone else find that creepy & degrading?

rokgpsman Apr-23-2023

One guy's opinion

A similar set of street performers congregate on the sidewalk in front of the Bellagio Fountains. I don't think the city has a requirement for them to stay in certain areas like the ones on Fremont St. I guess that's because the sidewalk is considered a public place and not near a casino entrance. I know these performers are trying to earn a buck but in my opinion it's a detriment to the enjoyment that most tourists want to have. Most of these "performers" just buy or make a costume, similar to what young adults do at Halloween. In a city with businesses begging for workers at restaurants, bars, stores, etc looks to me that these "performers" could just go get a regular job, get some benefits and stop pretending they are a Vegas showgirl or other semi-celebrity. Some of them do have talent like the guy playing the saxophone or the guys painting with spray cans, but the majority of these performers are not talented at all and give the place a bad-circus kind of look.

Jon Anderson Apr-23-2023

buskers

it's like an immersive freak side-show that should be in a traveling circus...too bad it's not travel time...

Andyb Apr-23-2023

Not good

I have been a casino patron since 1966 at first only downtown I no longer go there as I feel it's unsafe and too loud and unruly

Dave_Miller_DJTB Apr-23-2023

@rokgpsman

You are right that there are plenty of regular jobs that these buskers could take. 

Except that busking is very, VERY lucrative, and you set your own hours. And it’s cash money, if you know what I mean.

rokgpsman Apr-23-2023

Abandoning the workforce

Dave,
yep, I figure a lot of these street performers are avoiding the TaxMan, plus many of them aren't suited to a traditional work ethic anyway, couldn't keep a job for long. Back in the day similar folks were often called gypsies or carnies. Hope they're saving some for their older years since they aren't going to have SocSec or a 401k. Maybe they're depending on the taxpayers to be there to pick them up if needed. Live for today and don't worry about tomorrow seems to be the motto for many young adults.

Christine Jakubek Apr-23-2023

Chris

I was staying Downtown last Sept. and saw very few buskers.  One memorable old lady sitting Indian style in circle with note around her neck saying she would sing for booze or cigarettes.  . Unfortunately we did see lots of drunks or druggies sleeping on sidewalks or street as we walked from Freemont to El Cortez.  I also will not be staying Downtown again.

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