Sharon Mahoney admits that convincing some of the worldB次元官网网址檚 top buskers to hit Victoria last year was a big risk, professionally and personally.
Victoria, a known tourist town, wasnB次元官网网址檛 a significant draw for the international street performer circuit. But local artist John Vickers was aiming to re-energize the downtown with a high-calibre busker festival, and Mahoney was key.
The Victoria-based performer has toured the world in her quirky red tracksuit as the passive-aggressive B次元官网网址淪haron from CanadaB次元官网网址� and her alter ego, the outright aggressive Miss Tallulah. Mahoney had the connections, but convincing performers to attend an untested festival required a leap of faith.
B次元官网网址淪ome top street performers really took a risk; I begged friends of mine to take a risk,B次元官网网址� said Mahoney, the artistic director for the Victoria International Buskers Festival, now approaching its second year. B次元官网网址淭he pressure was there. You donB次元官网网址檛 want it to be a catastrophe, and summer is such a big time (for performers).B次元官网网址�
Even with days of lousy weather B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淛uly-uary,B次元官网网址� Vickers quipped B次元官网网址� the festival drew tens of thousands of people to outdoor downtown venues, and was considered wildly successful, especially for a first run. The festival estimates some 75,000 people crowded the venues over 10 days.
B次元官网网址淓veryone was so impressed, it was so successful. The weather wasnB次元官网网址檛 perfect but we still had a great crowd,B次元官网网址� Mahoney said. B次元官网网址淪o many performers commented on the cool vibe of the event.B次元官网网址�
This year Vickers, executive director of Busker Fest, hopes to double the crowds. Tourism Victoria is marketing the festival beyond the Island and in Washington State B次元官网网址� the event even had airtime on King 5 TV. Victoria hotels have stepped up and have donated 240 hotel room nights for performers.
B次元官网网址淭en days of shows is a long footprint. Noon to 10 (p.m.) everyday, 600-plus shows every hour on the hour with new performers,B次元官网网址� Vickers said. B次元官网网址淚t will be non-stop.B次元官网网址�
Three street acts are back by popular demand B次元官网网址� Guinness World Record juggler Victor Rubilar from Argentina, U.K. clown Fraser Hooper, and Mahoney, a.k.a Sharon the Canadian. More than a dozen other stage acts were culled from 600 submissions, selected for their humour, creativity and family-friendliness.
B次元官网网址淭he first thing I look for is family B次元官网网址� from three years old to 93, this should be for everybody,B次元官网网址� Vickers said. B次元官网网址淲e want those who bring an edge, a touch of excitement to wow the crowd.B次元官网网址�
Marking the Victoria francophone communityB次元官网网址檚 150th anniversary, two Quebec groups will perform B次元官网网址� acrobat comics Les Vitamines and a three-woman fire act, Les Walkyries. Both groups are veterans of Cirque du Soleil. Added this year is an adults-only evening comedy cabaret, and music acts in Bastion Square during the day.
Mahoney calls street theatre a tough but exciting job where you are your own boss, and a perfectly egalitarian way to spread live performance art.
B次元官网网址淲ith street theatre, you can be performing in front of a homeless guy and a millionaire. They both experience the same thing and pay what they think is appropriate,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淎 family that is low income can come down, give what they can afford and have an awesome day of theatre. The idea is to have theatre for all walks of life.B次元官网网址�
Main busker venues are in front of the Fairmont Empress Hotel, on the Inner Harbour causeway, and right in the middle of Government Street between Yates and View streets.
Vickers said he hopes shutting down Government Street in the evening will demonstrate to residents and merchants its popularity as a pedestrian area.
B次元官网网址淎fter nine nights weB次元官网网址檒l get the sense of a pedestrian mentality,B次元官网网址� Vickers said B次元官网网址淚 hope to concentrate 30,000 or 40,000 people in that block of Government (Street).B次元官网网址�
The Victoria International Buskers Festival runs July 20 to 29 in eight downtown venues. See victoriabuskers.com for performance locations and times.
