Adios, YouTube!

Apparently, YouTube is set to begin testing a new ad format on Wednesday where ads will be superimposed on user submitted videos.

Now when I signed up for YouTube, I never agreed to letting them alter my content. Based on an example ad, their ad would obscure my subtitles on Snowstorm in Myrtle Beach. I don't mind banner ads and text ads above, below, and to the sides ... but not something that will alter my content and even obscure parts of it.

I am really hoping Google realizes this is a huge mistake and does not go through with this. If they do go through with it, well ... I will begin shopping for a new video host. Looks like a lot of other folks will also, the results of the news.com poll currently show 51% of the voters saying Adios YouTube, with only 10% not noticing the ads.

-JoeJoe

More parking probs...

The repair job on the cart wheel weakened it substantially and last night as I was going up the wheelchair ramp the wheel broke off again. The other front wheel couldn't handle the weight, thus it broke off also. All because some lady parked in front of a wheel chair ramp. Good thing I'm not handicapped huh? Today I fixed them both again, but the cart is still in a weakened state. I am really hoping I can finish the summer with it, at which point I imagine it will just be retired as I seek a new rig.

We have begun filming a YouTube rant video on the City's effort to illegally license street performers. The video will cover the entire long running feud with the Grand Strand going back 15 years; we shot footage in downtown Myrtle Beach where I initially wanted to street perform but was told I wasn't allowed. There will not be a lot of magic on this video, but will feature some bits and pieces and comedy with live audiences at Barefoot Landing including a rip-n-restored business license.

And I have not forgotten the Floating Street Lamp video - we have most of the footage shot for that, but we are lacking some studio scenes. And unfortunately, the studio is unavailable at the moment ... which means we need to figure out an alternative shooting location. Hmmm....

... too much to think about right now, gotta hit the pitch - see ya there!

-JoeJoe

Hey kid, wanna see a magic trick?

Hey kid, wanna see a magic trick?
He says "No, I want a balloon".

"But I do really kewl magic tricks, you want to see one right?".
"No, I just want a balloon".

"Look kid, there is a sword sticking out my chest ... don't you want to know why I'm not dead?"
"Ummm ... no ... I really just want a balloon".

So what could I do? I gave him a balloon.


-JoeJoe

Smiling Faces ... Beautiful Places

We managed to fix the broken wheel on the cart, and the new 'Magic Shows' sign is really attracting the attention. We're doing some of my best work ever out there! But hanging from my hat like a dark cloud is this whole business license crap.

We received a call from Bruce Young, the supervisor for the City's Department of Revenue. It appears that my efforts are now attracting the top brass, so I must be getting something accomplished. Mr. Young called to convince my that I need a business license. That of course is like trying to convince me I need a hole in my head, and really shows that he has missed the point entirely. He seems more focused on the legality of his actions than with the acceptability of the policy - which I take as a good sign as he should be concerned as to weather his actions are legal or not.

But the City Council is not a court room and the legality of his actions are irrelevant within this forum, and I stand by my appeal as a business license is unnecessary, unwarranted, a barrier of entry to future street performers, and yes ... even illegal. I am not doing business and should not be required to have a business license, as per the Supreme Court.

See ... the Grand Strand is a corporate stage, where art is sacrificed for profit on a nightly basis, where local talent gets to wait on tables and wash dishes while the stages are filled with people bussed in from Vegas and Branson. I have had to carve my own path and I have no intention of letting the City dump on me. I want to live in a City that fosters art and culture and entertainment, and if my City Council cannot understand this then I will work to elect a new Council that will!

When it became apparent that he was not actually listening to me, I politely informed him that I am not going to argue with him and hung up. He is not an elected official and it is not his job to dictate public policy. And while I would love to rant and rave more about my conversation with Mr. Young, I really want to flush my ears with some loud obnoxious music so that I can (hopefully) remove his condescending tone from my ears - I don't like the way he talked to me one little bit. This is South Carolina and when I talk to my government officials I expect to hear "smiling faces". Perhaps I will find time to bring this issue up with the Council also. Until then....

-JoeJoe

Magic Shows

I have recently completed construction on a new table for pitching Svengali decks at the flea market:



I used Don Driver's pin-joint from his Svengali Pitch DVD as my basic blue print. The biggest modification I made was using a very lightweight luan board instead of plywood ... thus, there was no need to knock out the hinges as it is light enough to be carried while folded. In fact, the entire stand can be carried in just one trip to the truck!

Because luan board is very flimsy, I had to put a frame under the top board. With the shelf in place, the entire assembly is 'locked' in place making it quite sturdy. It can easily support the amount of weight I will be placing on it.



Initially, it was only to be used at the flea market ... but once I finished it, I got to thinking there is no reason I can't take it to Barefoot Landing. So tonight, I took it to Barefoot Landing. I used it as a backdrop and performed in front of it. The 'MAGIC SHOWS' continued to pull people in even after it got dark! I really like the new pitch stand. : )

Here it is in all it's glory at Barefoot Landing complete with close-up pad.



-JoeJoe

Parking Nightmares ...

The parking lot situation at Barefoot Landing has always been a total mess. I have no idea why people fight so hard to park in the front lot, they nearly hit someone trying to get a spot and then come up and ask where Greg Norman's is ... only to be told it is on the other side - they go off walking not even realizing if they had just went to the back parking lot they wouldn't have to fight for parking and they would even be right outside the door - duh.

So there she was ... illegally parked in front of the wheelchair ramp. I normally roll my cart full of magic up that wheelchair ramp so naturally I was slightly peeved. I thought I could cut the corner and get past her car, only when I tried I smack daddy'd the front wheel of my cart on the curb - yeup, it's broke. Plan to look at it today, see if I can't fix it but since the entire thing is plastic I don't have much hope. This means I will need to make several trips to the truck to unload everything everyday. All because she was illegally parked in front of a wheelchair ramp.

The heat has been extreme ... already in a bad mood, I decide not to wear the top hat and tails. I'm tired of killing myself for the sake of entertainment - I worked for years without a top hat and tails so there is no reason I can't do the same tonight ... overall, it was a good night. Harder to stop people with a heat index of 110, but I've discovered the Dancing Cane makes for a great tip builder!









-JoeJoe