Boardwalk entertainer fee hike proposed
Rotating locations of performers every two hours under consideration
The City Council opened discussions last week to raise performer permit fees for the boardwalk from $20 to a $50 fee. The permits are given on an annual basis to musicians and other entertainers.
“The increase, in terms of fee, seems like a little bit of a no brainer,” said Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn, who researched similar permitting costs in area beach communities.
Quinn also recommended a location rotation. She said the rotation would prevent a musician from playing at one locale for a long period of time.
“Every two hours you move an avenue away so we don’t have the same exact [performer] at the same spot,” Quinn said.
She said the recommended changes are in answer to complaints from sunbathers and businesses who say they are subject to listen to the same performer all day long.
Quinn went on to clarify the changes in a Monday night Facebook post:
“Business owners on the boardwalk are one of the groups requesting [the increase,” Quinn wrote. “Their logic is that sometimes the performers go on for hours and hours and it becomes monotonous, driving patrons away. In addition, many businesses pay for music to be performed at their establishments and the boardwalk performers conflict with it. We are also only requesting that they move 100ft. I have no problem taking feedback, and I assure you that as the person who proposed this it isn’t a money grab. We’re trying to make reasonable accommodations for both the business and street performers.”
The fee hike would not apply to military veterans but would apply to performers across the board, whether or not they have equipment.
Artist Conrad Neblett of Sunset Avenue said he was opposed to a permit fee hike.
“I recommend leaving it at $25 because I think it’s a great gesture to support artists that are emerging,” Neblett said.
Neblett said the proposed 2-hour rotation would be difficult for musicians with equipment.
“It would be a logistical nightmare,” Neblett said.
Instead, Neblett suggested rotating performers with instruments [like drum sets] on a daily basis.
The council said they will discuss the matter further as well as how to enforce new guidelines before introducing any changes.
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