Comment by John Ayers on September 29, 2009 at 11:05am

Santa Monica Street Performers
2009-9-28 2:4
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Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California, is a street performer’s paradise. The pedestrian-only three-block strip of high-end shops and restaurants is just a short walk from the beach. It welcomes an estimated 10 million visitors each year.

[Chrissy DePauw, Street Performer]:
“Santa Monica is a place where people from all over the world come, and so I’m getting my music all over the world by staying in one place.”

The variety is huge. The talent is impressive.

[Josh Vietti, Street Performer]:
“My name is Josh Vietti, and I’m a pop violinist.”

Street musicians and other performers pay a yearly fee of thirty-seven dollars to the city for a permit to claim a spot on the promenade. Local ordinance also regulates the noise level of a performance and makes sure performers move to a different spot every two hours. It’s a small price many talented performers are willing to pay for what some consider to be the world’s best street performance venue.

[Chrissy DePauw, Street Performer]:
“Being out here and selling CDs, I would probably sell more than I would if they were sitting in a record store, because there aren’t very many record stores anymore.”

Many artists consider street performing to be a way to maintain control over their own careers.

[Dave Smith, Street Performer]:
“Now that I don’t have to get up and give my time to anyone else, time is my riches. I’m rich with time. I get to do what I want, as I like it, what I think is valuable.”

Sarah Lee, NTD News, Los Angeles

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