Buskers allowed in Santa Fe

Subject: RE: Buskers allowed in Santa Fe
From: GUEST,Harpleblues
Date: 28 Jun 09 - 07:18 AM

Busking has been very successful in Santa Fe, and has enriched the Plaza with a wide variety of talent. See them here: http://www.youtube.com/harpleblues.

Subject: RE: Buskers allowed in Santa Fe
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 11:59 PM

Expanding of Freightdawg's comments- Not only must sellers be native American Indians, but during the 'big one' in August, there is competition for both booths in the area around the plaza and sidewalk space- some are refused, and for good reason. Those who have been approved are legitimate craftsmen and craftswomen.   

Most of the stores in the Plaza area are legitimate, but NOT all, so one must have some knowledge of handicrafts before buying. Merchants are attracted by the cheaper jewelry copies made in southeast Asia and foist them off on the tourists as native American.
Two years ago I visited several of the pueblos. At two of them, Vietnamese dealers were selling sterling and turquoise jewelry and findings from SE Asia to the Indians for resale. Much of the same occurs in Gallup, where some of the biggest "pawn and trading" stores are Vietnamese and Middle Eastern.
Genuine native craftsmen abhor the practice, but there is much money to be made from unwary visitors who look for price and not quality. Those native Americans who have been approved for space in the Plaza area are legitimate.

Q, also born in Santa Fe, of mongrel descent including Indian, Hispanic and varieties of Anglo.

Subject: RE: Buskers allowed in Santa Fe
From: freightdawg
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 11:10 PM

Open Mike,

The city has for many years allowed only Native American Indians to sell their products on the plaza at Santa Fe. You must, if I understand correctly, be a member in good standing of one of the local tribes, or at least be able to prove your ancestry. I believe this is really appropriate because a lot of johnny-come-latelys were crowding in on the square and (1) diminishing the artisan nature of the works for sale there and (2) giving the plaza a really bad reputation. The city cleaned it up, and now when you go purchase something on the plaza you can know it is genuine. You will probably be buying it from the artisan who made it as well. There are just some things that should never be allowed to yield to "progress" and the plaza at Santa Fe and the shops in Taos are certainly two of them.

Freightdawg (a proud born in Santa Fe native New Mexican, although of definite European descent)

Subject: RE: Buskers allowed in Santa Fe
From: Francy
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 05:50 PM

Might make a trip down there.....My busking fever is returning..Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: Buskers allowed in Santa Fe
From: freightdawg
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 05:21 PM

With the number of tourists in Santa Fe it would be nice if they passed an ordinance allowing locals to walk around the plaza every once in a while.

Freightdawg

(p.s. - I'm all for the busking. As long as it didn't get too crowded and was limited to acoustic that would be a nice addition to the ambience of the plaza. Especially if they encouraged native American musicians or groups to perform.)

Subject: RE: Buskers allowed in Santa Fe
From: open mike
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 05:18 PM

The old town square in many of the new mexico towns and cities is a perfect place for street music. there are often many artisans and
crafts people on the sidewalk with their blankets full of wares, as
I recall. I hope you will keep us posted on this issue, and what is
the regulation on the other booths and salespeople there?

Subject: RE: Buskers allowed in Santa Fe
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 04:54 PM

GOOD!

Subject: Buskers allowed in Santa Fe
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 02:34 PM

Buskers came to the Santa Fe Plaza legally on August 11, 2006.
The first tune played was "Whiskey on a Sunday."
Michael Combs, a substitute teacher, and Gary Schiffmiller, a State of New Mexico biologist, and both amateur fiddlers, had enlisted the help of the American Civil Liberties Union to convince the city to allow busking (performing on the street for tips).
"Itsy Bitsy Spider" was a hit with a two-year-old in a stroller.
A vendor dropped $5 into a fiddle case and asked the buskers to come and play by his stand some time.
City councilors expressed concern, but City attorney Katz said the City risked a lawsuit if it didn't lift the ban and stop police from running off street musicians.
Donaldo Coviello, a vendor and frequent candidate for city elected office, yelled Frank Zappa lyrics from a ladder. He said "Free expression is out of the bag...".

Meanwhile, city councilors are working on a new City ordinance; the City can impose regulations but not a complete ban. It will be interesting to see what the restrictions will be.

At this time of year, the City is loaded with outsiders, and few locals except vendors and merchants from stores in the area, are seen in the Plaza.

Santa Fe New Mexican: http://www.freenewmexican.com/story_print.php?storyid=47729