Experience Music Project

Subject: Experience Music Project
From: reggie miles
Date: 04 Jul 00 - 01:47 PM

From the field: I was there and as usual busking my brains out but the lure of so many other free performances made it a challenge. I had fun just the same. I got to enter the building, (without paying), by repeating the name of a friend who was giving a demonstration inside. Okay I know this wasn't fair but it worked and I couldn't really afford the $ for admission. The outdoor stages were loud and made it difficult to entertain in an acoustic fashion. That first day I'd forgotten my chair and so was limited to places around the grounds where a seat could be found. One such place was the East side of the building itself which sports a few ledges that are part of the structure and are just the right height for sitting. The fact that they had windows behind them through which one could gaze in or out didn't bother me. I sat down at one such location but was almost immediately ousted by the security personnel who told me that no one was allowed to sit on the building. They also mentioned that they had been having trouble with people tagging the building, especially on the brass portion of the exterior where one could simply touch the surface and an impression would remain. Now this idea of defacing the structure was something that I was not a part of, rather I just wanted to make music but this didn't seem to cut any slack with the security. They shuffled me off. Sadly a short while later I walked by the same location and found the same security people ignoring two other folks sitting right where I was previously trying to perform. Wouldn't you figure that a guy like Paul with all his millions could afford to let someone who enjoys busking slide? His patronage only seems to extend to those who have made it to the big time in some form though I guess no one would pay $20. to check out a bunch of small time no name entertainers. Or would they? Fame is so strange. Weren't they all obscure at one time? Now everyone scrammbles to catch a fleeting glimpse of some jacket that Elvis once wore or a guitar that was once owned by Dylan. I tried to explain to the few folks that stopped to check out my sawing that EMP actually stood for the Experience Musicalsaw Project. ;~)

Subject: RE: Experience Music Project
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jul 00 - 02:45 PM

Reggie, please let those of us who might not be familiar with EMP, where it is and who is involved. It sounds interesting....thanks...kat

Subject: RE: Experience Music Project
From: reggie miles
Date: 05 Jul 00 - 05:54 AM

Uhoh, okay. Paul Allen, (partner of Bill gates, the richest man in the world I think, you know the guy that runs Microsoft), decided to hire the guy, Frank somebody, who built that latest Gugenheim, er, Googenhiem (sp?) museum over there in, where was it, Portugal, anyway Paul hires this guy to build him a building in Seattle. A big odd shaped thing that's vaguely remenicent of a blob of melted plastic toys. Then of course there was the gala grand opening weekend event with a large assortment of free live concerts on huge electric stages as well as a few megashows that cost plenty to get into. I got to see Bo Diddley at one of the free concerts. He was a kick. The building itself is a sort of museum with a permanent Hendrix display and a number of others that will change over the course of time. There are also demonstrations that take place inside where various musicians display their unique abilities. There's a fair share of high tech gadgetry involved with the tour, enough to confuse some and delight others. Then of course the usual trappings of any such stop, a gift shop and food joint and even some sort of ride to go on. While I'm certain the effect was to place yet another point of interest on the Seattle map, the overall effect on me was a bit side showy. My only real beef with the whole mess was, as I stated above in my intitial post, being asked to stop playing music while seated on the ledge in front of the window at the east side of the building. Hey the building "is" called the Experience Music Project not the Experience Security Personnel Harass Street Musicians Project. ;~)

Subject: RE: Experience Music Project
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jul 00 - 07:52 AM

OH! Thanks! We did have something about this recently in a thread, but I don't think anyone posted that that was its actual name, that's what threw me. Guess not just anyone gets to make music there, huh? Whqat twits!

kat