How Are the Buskers on Fremont Street Organized?

I’m dying to know this. Fremont Street has become a haven for carnival acts — mini magic shows, scantilly clad woman and men, disabled veterans, impressionists ... It all, however, seems organized and on some sort of schedule/timer. My question is, how does it all work? And do the beggars have to be on the same schedule as the other acts? I would think so since they always seem to be in the right place and move when someone else comes in.

You’re right. Prior to the organizational ordinance that was passed in September 2015 and implemented that November, the buskers – sometimes as many as 100 – tended to congregate around the nexus of Fremont Street and Casino Center Drive. This impeded pedestrian access to stores and some of the casinos.

The ordinance created 38 six-foot-diameter defined "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. "Performers" enter a daily lottery for the privilege of two-hour intervals in the zones. Thus, buskers 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.

As for the beggars, we doubt that they register with the city, enter the lottery, or are part of the performance-zone rotation. The panhandlers and hard-luck stories we usually see on Fremont Street stand around randomly or walk along the mall. If one is occupying a poker-chip, it’s probably only because no one else is; when a Fremont Street Experience security officer or someone who can claim that space for a couple hours shows up, like you say, the mendicant moves on.

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Comments

LadyLuck Jun-02-2018

Talent

I wish they would clean this up a bit. I love downtown. Just sitting there and begging is trashy while there are some talented people on the poker chips.

Pamela Jun-02-2018

Too much exposure!

Some of these "buskers" don't have any talent other than exposing far too much of their bodies. I can't unsee a 400 pound man in a diaper!

Carey Rohrig Jun-02-2018

Stopped

I stopped going downtown because of this

Marty Jun-02-2018

License??

I would suggest that all of them be licensed and have a visible ID.  Costumes are traded off from one to another.  At times you cannot walk because of the audience and  I do not appreciate the "free" water and beer sellers and beggars that use the elevators as their toilet.

Karen Kradle Jun-02-2018

Freemont Street

What about the painters in front of Four Queens?  We really enjoy watching them, and have even bought.  Are they a part of a purchased "Kiosk"?

Deke Castleman Jun-04-2018

Via email from Karen H.

I don't go to Fremont street often but was there twice last month. The first of those times my friend & I stood on the deck by the D's upstairs entrance. Below us was a homeless-looking guy in a defined circle, surrounded by stuff he might have been trying to sell, including a torn book, a jar of yellow liquid with a raggedy cardboard sign saying "my piss" and a plate of something brown with another raggedy  sign saying "my shit".  My other visit was with conservative guests from out-of-state and we all tried not to look at a topless woman with band aids on her nipples as she walked around, probably hoping for a photo-op & a tip.  

I used to love Fremont & felt comfortable there, felt fine taking people there, now I don't. Given the controls they put in place why can't the security people do more to keep the rule violators out?

Also, I realize the buskers are only there because of the freedom of speech lawsuit (since Fremont was a public road before they closed it off to cars). But

Deke Castleman Jun-04-2018

the rest from Karen

But can't the casino owners BUY the road, and take more control of what happens there? If it's private property the freedom of speech/right to occupy/whatever goes away right?

Thank you! Keep up the good work ;)

Question of the Day - 02 June 2018

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