Living statues - Mime artists on Marienplatz

You know who I'm talking about; that beeotch with the rose painted silver head-to-toe, that tosser in gold dressed as a Sarcophagus.

I'm not a violent person, but I just want to tackle these people at full gate everytime I see them (good idea for a Jackass sketch).

BAH! OK, that's my vent for the day.

its known as ART!

LOL! I agree that the term "art" applies subjectively but to me that sure as hell isn't art.

A few weeks ago I saw a normal-looking guy in front of Frauenkirche holding a stuffed gorilla at arm's length. I went in, and 15 minutes later came out, only to see him in the exact same spot. Weird.

That was me waiting for my gf to come out of a shop.

It's a free market thing DW: there is a demand for living statues, therefore there are living statues. The fact that there are several is just an example of healthy competition at work.

@ MM

Hah! I don't dispute the market for it nor their right to do it, I just plain can't stand them!

I've seen some pretty cool ones. Theres a chic that does a bitchin' jewelry box dancer in SF. But I guess thats a bit different. The one I hate here is the poser wearing a gold mask. Is he the Sarcaphogus? I've never seen "artists" of this nature in a mask...that just seems weak.

Aiight on another note, der mann told me he saw someone in the Englisch Garten yesterday playing the star wars theme on a bag pipe. If you're reading this thread the mann says it was weird but not bad. Keep it up

it's not a Munich thing though, you can see them everywhere.
Fisherman's wharf in SF is worst for them...

Always at least one in covent garden and Florence was stuffed full of them!
They don't do it for me, but they do seem to make plenty of money!

I accidently walked into one in Munich one day and knocked him off his
platform...was to busy talking to a friend and did not notice him...he
was a little angry, but told him he should not have blocking the pavement...

Never seen them in the US but have elsewhere in Europe (Paris mostly).

@ alwayshappy

I'm going to "accidently" knock one off his platform too

The better question is, "Why do idiots give these people money?".

I guess it must be some kind of eurocentric pinko charity type thang

You would think that they might make a bit more money by taking off some clothes and standing there.
NYC has the Naked Cowboy and he makes a ton of cash. Kudos for being original.

Hey DW. Let's stage a Jackass type thing. We'll get the cameras out and head down there with our silver paint, juggling balls, unicycle, etc. The germans wouldn't know what to make of it! We will argue and push each other around and antagonize each other till the cops come!

edit: Hey. Do we get good 'luck' from rubbing these statues? There should be one in Bronze lederhosen with a conspicuous rubbed off spot that the passerbys will rub for luck.

This is not a yank bash, but the most people I see standing there looking "amazed" by someone standing still are americans.
Crys of "Oh my gawd! That is, like, sooo totally awesome Betty! Get some of those funny euros from your fanny pack for this outstanding example of european culture."

Although maybe they are the only ones shouting about it.

I've seen them in the US in tons of places. NY, New Orleans, Chicago. However, in New Olreans there has been a law passed forbidding all street solicitors. I think it is a bunch of bollocks because it is actually very cool. Some of the street performers in New Orleans are actually very talented.

But these people are talentless

I agree with Ketchup on this...'why do people give them money?'

I suggest we stand in front of them one day and prevent anyone giving them money, and explain to people that it's because we 'want to see how long they can stand still for' and they'll move if they get money

I have noticed a ton of 'street performers' in New Orleans that amount to a drunk guy wearing a silly hat and some beads standing on a chair. I can't believe that people give to that.
@mommyinde, are you sure it is not just illigitimate street performers that are blocked and the real musicians can still do it if they have a permit? That would be a crime indeed. Do you have a link?

Probably Canadians


Most of those New Orleans musicians are incredible. I think they're actually trying to stop the solicitors and the guys who say, "for 5 dollars I'll tell you where you got those shoes... you got them on the corner of Bourbon and Glen! Now gimme $5!"

These statues seem to break the busker to punter contract.

I always thought that buskers performed and we gave them money if they were any good.
These people dont perform untill they have some money.

Cant stand em.

Absolutely TheLoneGunman! They should shove off and earn some real money another way.

...any good ideas how?

sorry - couldnt resist

aww i actually like those things..atleast the lady with the silver. ok now i just tend to blow by them but the first time i saw her i was like WOW NEAT! We don't have those where I come from. Anyway.. if thats how ppl get their kicks then who cares if they decide to cover themselves in some sorta paint and stand in the center of town while tourists watch in awe?

[img]http://www.keydeck.com/galleries/vienna_180502/180502_vienna_21_t.jpg[/img]

To quote myself from a visit to Vienna...

This was one of the people you see pretending to be a statue. When some Muppet tourist gives them some money they move a little bit. Shake hands or change position, something like that. As I was taking the photo I heard a female American accent beside me saying "Gee, she's soooo talented to be able to stand there like that." That gave me a chuckle. I bet Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman & co were shitting themselves at the Oscars in case of a late nomination for the woman in silver paint who can stand really still. All the same, if people are dumb enough to give these guys money, then they may as well keep at it.

yea i wouldn't give them money... i have better things to do with my 20 cents

Hmm, people that take money for a little action?
Sounds like a prostitute to me.

And, in most parts of the world, prostitution is illegal. So, vicariously, street performing is illegal.

If looking at someone standing still whilst covered in paint is a sexual thing for you then perhaps it is.

I like to to cover my slice in gold paint! Your welcome to put money in my slot!

Do you take Vietnamese Dongs?

sadly the silver dude at marienplatz has become quite popular as of late. I was watching some terrible german TV a couple of weeks ago. Must have been either an insurance commercial or a telekom commercial ... two guys running aound marienplatz .. the director of the ad seemed to ask silverman to pose because he's in the commercial background, motionless. To be more specific. The final shot is in front of the Rathaus maingate, and silverdude is perched on his pedestal, motionless. I wonder how many 20cent coins he received for the gig.

Coming from SF, I say they were worse in Union Square, but the Wharf was pretty nasty too. there was one homeless guy who hid behind a 'bush' (a branch that never seemed to die. I guess he stole a new one every day.)

anyway, he hides there, watching people walk up on him. They see him and whisper 'what's that guy doing?' Just when you thik he's a wierdo hiding behind a branch

"MUAHHAHAhAAHAHHAHAA!!!" He screams right as you pass by. I loved that guy. Scared the piss out of the midwesterners.

As for the silver people, they pick the WORST place to stand, since no-one can get aound the gawking idjits piled uop there waiting for the Glock to go off.

I did like the use of the one in Amilie. that was OK.

That's actually the BEST place for them, so the gawking idjits can flip 'em some coins.

The most useful street performer I have ever seen is in NYC. He hold up a sign that says

TELL ME OFF
1$

I have never witnessed anyone actually yelling at him though but he must make a living at it because he has been there for years.

(had to look up what a 'busker' and a 'punter' was. I swear, the English come up with some pretty funny terms sometimes.)

I don't know about 'punter', but 'busker' is definitely used in the States.

err, yeah..they have those in LA, saw a couple in budapest/prague, and there are also a few regular fixtures in my home(school)town of portland at the sat. market..but they are damn annoying

WTF is a busker?

I´m going to be in New Orleans this upcoming Halloween. Those guys performing around Kaufhof, what´s so bad about them? Bet you, I´d rather watch them than a talk-show on Sat-1 or RTL-2.

@DW

A busker is someone who plays an instrument on the street for money.