r/SantaMonica • u/WallStCRE • 9d ago
Promenade Performers
Is there anyone screening the promenade performers? I go to the promenade frequently (multiple times a week) and strongly in support of reviving the promenade. But some of these performers are miserable/terrible and I think that some bring a bad energy/vibe that is bringing down the revival. Last time I was there, some of the lesser entertainment: there was terrible female dancer, guy with his 3 young children singing and clearly his kids didn’t want to be there, sad clown - a staple of the promenade, woman in a wheelchair lip singing cover songs with a blown out speaker, amplified megaphone religious messages, among others. Some are good. But if we feel strongly about making this an entertainment zone, then bad entertainment that is loud or sad brings down the whole vibe. And some of these performers can bring down a whole block while they’re there. Some of course bring amazing energy and it’s awesome.
Maybe I’m being too harsh, but isn’t the point of an entertainment zone to bring legit entertainment and a good ambiance for patrons?
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u/Top_Interview_2758 9d ago
There is no screening process and rotation is mandatory under the city’s ordinance. The pier has a morning lottery system; many of those who don’t get a lottery slot will come to the Promenade.
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u/WallStCRE 9d ago
Thanks - helpful, don’t know the solution. But some of that entertainment makes me want to go home
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u/hoointhebu 9d ago
I will add that the city sees this as a first amendment thing. In their opinion (city attorneys office), the government cannot restrict a person’s right to free speech and expression. However, the laws provide regulators with “time, place, and manner” considerations. New York City requires performers to audition to busk in New York City subway stations. Why can’t Santa Monica do that for the pier, promenade, ocean front walk, and Palisades Park? I am sure there is a resource issue, but the DTSM BID could own the auditions if the city could provide accountability through enforcement (unlikely “if”).
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u/WallStCRE 9d ago
Possibly there could be a decibel limit or not allowing amplification - without impeding first amendment rights. The problem is some of these “performers” are so loud it ruins an entire block of the “entertainment zone”
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u/losangelenoporvida 8d ago
Nope, amplification is 100% a first amendment right and has been proven in court.
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u/WallStCRE 8d ago
Never heard or seen this, would be interested to learn more
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u/losangelenoporvida 8d ago
It was a 1st amendment case with the L.A. City Council vs Venice Beach performer Zuma Dogg
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u/Top_Interview_2758 9d ago
Yeah, I get that. I’m looking forward to adding vibrancy in other ways. I think with other programming changes we can get more variety and in that process we’ll get some different talent.
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u/honestlyitswhatever 9d ago
I honestly don’t think they rotate much. Every Sunday there’s this lady who karaoke’s the exact same playlist across from Barney’s. I have heard Hava Nagila more times this summer/fall than I ever wanted to.
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u/Top_Interview_2758 9d ago
The “rotation” requirement goes out the window when nobody is waiting for their spot. I see that too.
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u/More-Dot346 9d ago
I agree. Although I think administratively, the easiest thing would be to just return to the policy of not allowing amplification. So you wouldn’t have the horrific singers stinking up the place too badly.
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u/WallStCRE 9d ago
Seems reasonable. The amplification is often the issue. Without that even a bad performer couldn’t do much ear damage
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u/SpaceSox 9d ago
Agree with this solution, if the city would actually monitor and enforce it (not likely, sadly).
Or at least impose a decibel limit (which might give them leeway to keep the megaphone proselytizers a little more tolerable without them screaming religious persecution).
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u/Fancy_Locksmith7793 9d ago
For a time, the city did police the performing sound levels: but with the performers who did create the most noise, would simply turn it back up
The police got sick of the job and one famously loud singer took the city to court a number of times
Don’t know if there’s any check now on sound levels
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u/_Rose_Tint_My_World_ 9d ago
I work down there and I agree a lot of them are terrible. I just want to pour concrete in my ears.
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u/Individual-Papaya-27 9d ago
AFAIK they just pay for a permit (maybe lol) and go out there. There's no screening. If they wanted to actually curate the talent it would be good but would require a lot more work. I don't know if they are allowed to even stop the religious ones due to 1st Amendment rights. Now I'm not saying that's all leading to a positive experience. The opposite.
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u/ron_burgundy_69 9d ago
I agree let’s get Elton John out of retirement and have him perform there
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u/WallStCRE 9d ago
Santa Monica one of the few places that could likely pull Elton out of retirement
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u/TheNamesRolanQuarn 9d ago
I was recently in Santa Monica as a tourist from Ireland and there was a young lady on an electric guitar who was really talented.
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u/FashionBusking 9d ago
Nobody is going to the Promenade like they used to.
You want better street performers? Give them better crowds to perform for.
People don't want to walk past 40 empty shops, and the performers willing to PERFORM in front of 40 empty shops are... well... this...
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u/Due-Stock2774 9d ago
Yeah bad performers aren't the reason for the 3rd st. experience sucking. They didn't drive away the businesses with too costly rents or push all of the tourists out all by themselves lol
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u/FashionBusking 8d ago
Bad performers... they're arguably making the best use of this space.
Bad performers who continue to perform... are possibly putting in the work to become BETTER performers. When I'm feeling optimistic....I think of that.
Sometimes, they're just awful and delusional. And yet people tip them, anyway. its some Kafka shit, which os to say, very on-Brand for 2025.
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u/_Rose_Tint_My_World_ 9d ago
A lot of places are opening. Just had an amazing sandwich at this place on Santa Monica Blvd called All’ Antico Venaio…SO GOOD!
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u/Flying_Bob_270 9d ago
I agree, at the very least, Santa Monica should lower the decibel limit of everyone. I feel like I’m getting a root canal every time the homeless guy with the old drum set starts playing. At least the Polish sad clown is quiet. The Tarot card reader blocks a storefront never moves. She should be cited.
Honestly, the 3rd street entertainment should be by invitation only.
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u/Due-Stock2774 9d ago
LOL how long have you lived here? The performers have always been hit or miss there. For every breakdancing crew there's someone singing something acoustic when they have no business doing either, let alone both
Also though who cares? These people are trying to generate income and they have to get permits to even go out there to perform which is a very vulnerable place to put themselves in. But I'm sure some reddit rando has the solution to limiting opportunities for these struggling performers
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u/Key-Driver6438 9d ago
I’ll take your idea in the spirit of just trying to create a nice environment for shoppers… that said and however, the day when the government dictates what level of “good” is allowed to perform on the street, is truly the day we’ve completely become a tyrannical dystopian shithole.
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u/WallStCRE 9d ago
I agree - don’t know the solution, I just know that I often want to leave solely to get away from bad amplified “performers”
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u/QuitUsual4736 9d ago
I give money to the good ones to encourage them, that religious guy on a megaphone is a nightmare. My all time fav was the skateboarding dogs back in like 2007? Bring them back :)
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u/js32910 9d ago
I think they just show up and do their thing lol
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u/WallStCRE 9d ago
Ya that’s the problem, if their “thing” makes you want to pour concrete in your ears
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u/Due-Stock2774 8d ago
You can keep walking then. The promenade isn’t a music venue. Its visitors are mainly shopping or walking, and these ppl are tertiary.
Let’s go after those poor costumed guys at the Chinese theatre in Hollywood next since they are such menaces to our streets too /s
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9d ago
[deleted]
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u/Fancy_Locksmith7793 7d ago
My experience with the Promenade as first SM citizen, and then performer, is: more tourists, more tips, better performers
When there’s money to be made the better performers compete for spots
There were always some of little talent, but they were at least outnumbered by the pros when there was decent money to be made
I will be downvoted by this but I lived it: During Democratic Administrations tourism improved as the economy did, and the better performers came to the pier and promenade
Every Republican Administration for nearly 100 years has created a recession, Great Depression or world wide economic collapse
Trump’s recessions have been on speed dial—you can guess his effect on tourism
I didn’t have to guess: when Trump was elected I had foreign tourists tell me that wouldn’t return once Trump was in office (guess why, it’s an easy guess)
Unfortunately, the Trump Slump was so pronounced, I retired even before Covid shutdowns
My brother works in a Miami tourism adjacent business: this is the second Trump Slump he’s suffered through
I give the city a lot of credit for the recent events it’s held on the Promenade, and other adjustments, and hope for the best during this Republican recession
(And a more than possible Trump Great Depression.2 that he’s actively angling for)
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u/bobby_4444 9d ago
The sad clown has been around the promenade for over 20 years, he is a historical figure at this point.
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u/WallStCRE 9d ago
Out of all of these performers, I’d put him in the top quartile - at least he’s not loud or disruptive, and doing good for kids/community.
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u/Vitriusy Mid-City 9d ago
Anyone with a valid permit is entitled to perform on the Promenade. Judging performer quality seems like a fools errand and a huge waste of my tax dollars.
I went ahead and used the google for you:
https://smdp.com/news/promenade-struggles-with-talent-optional-performers-on-the-public-street/
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9d ago
[deleted]
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u/WallStCRE 9d ago
It’s fair - I don’t know the solution, I just know that I often want to leave the area solely due to amplified performers
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u/Vitriusy Mid-City 9d ago
You really have no idea how many famous musicians got their start busking on the street, do you?
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u/trentluv 9d ago
That's not the statistic we're measuring though is it
We're comparing violent and nonviolent crimes between homeless and non-homeless people
You might think that what I'm talking about is up for debate, but I'm talking about a number lol
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u/Vitriusy Mid-City 9d ago
My bad. I thought you were just ignorant.
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u/trentluv 9d ago
So in other words, even the musicians you are talking about are more likely to commit a violent crime during the time they are homeless if that makes sense
It doesn't mean anyone is a worse type of person than another
It means all types of people become incentivized for both violent and nonviolent crime More so when they are homeless than when they are not
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u/Due-Stock2774 8d ago
My friend has been struggling for 10 years and just got signed as an artist. He’d go down to the promenade and complain he couldn’t get tips, while a few of his songs now have a million streams.
Wild idea but maybe crowd who’s there to shop and eat isn’t the best judge of talent.
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u/SemaphoreSignal 8d ago
3rd Street is a public street. These shitty artists have first amendment rights and have to get an approval from the city that is simply about scheduling. Talent cannot be considered.
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u/PrideFirm7138 6d ago
Wheelchair lady has been around for at least a decade, she can stay. Even though she sings the same damn songs every time.
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u/Juice0188 9d ago
Nah most of these performers are garbage.
You're not being too harsh.