Do you believe in magic?

Do you believe in magic? One CJ reader hopes you do.

John Sturk, head of the Magicians Guild of Lansing, has been on a quest to change Lansing's street performance ordinance.

Currently, people have to go to city hall and get a $5 permit to perform in Lansing. Sturk is the only one to have done so. But if you want to perform in Lansing's Principal Shopping District (downtown), you need a second permit from the district.

This, said Sturk, has a chilling effect on street performers in Lansing. His vision is that people walking outside for lunch in downtown Lansing could encounter jugglers, magicians, saxophonists, guitar players and all other sorts of performers. This, he said, would help add to the atmosphere of downtown Lansing, something that would help encourage businesses to come in.

I asked Sturk about the potential to have a downtown crowded with people shilling for money, and whether that wouldn't be a turnoff. He responded that people can beg for money now, so he doesn't see an increase on the horizon.

Mayor Virg Bernero and Councilmember Tim Kaltenbach have signed on to the idea, and it is likely to get proposed before election day 2007.

So the question to you, CJ readers, is this: Would you like to see Sturk's proposed change go through? While this wouldn't solve Lansing's problems, do you think it would help the downtown atmosphere?

Comments

[NoMimes]

Just as long as we can limit mimes to ZERO. For the love of all things holy, please, NO MIMES!

[amac]

It would certainly add life to the downtown district; it's also one way downtown can compete with other shopping districts like malls. I'm all for it.

[John Sturk]

Thanks for the post on my quest, Derek. I really do think that having a vibrant street culture will help in revamping the atmosphere downtown.

And as far as the mimes go, I saw a mime performing while on vacation once. I went over and mimed putting money in his hat.

After all, what's he gonna say?

[Michael Motta]

LOL Sturk!

I think it's a fine idea to skip the silly fees. Street performers aren't usually the upper crust taking money from the lower classes.

I don't have a lot of urban experience, but it seems to me that the place where I saw the most street performers was London. I don't think London has suffered for tourism since tourism was invented.

By the way, are the vegan (or maybe it's PETA) gals who are topless but put signs in front of themselves considered street performers or merely political First Amendment exercisers?

[John Sturk]

Actually, Michael, that's a good point.

Some cities who have tried to outright ban street performers have had those bans struck down on First Amendment grounds. So actually, I consider myself as much a First Amendment exerciser as a performer.

Yes, London, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Chicago, and Key West are all street performer havens. I know performers who make their sole living based on it. While I doubt the Lansing market could support even a single person like that, it still makes sense to lift the ludicrous permit requirements.