PORT ANGELES — Street performers, known as buskers, will be more commonplace in downtown Port Angeles this summer than in years past — at least that is the hope of Port Angeles Busker Project organizers.
The project is the brainchild of Donna Schoolfield, founder of www.Go2OpenLive.com, and Diane Urbani de la Paz, a journalist and former Peninsula Daily News features editor.
The two said their goal is to enliven downtown with more music throughout the summer.
“We have been talking about it for a while,” Schoolfield said.
“We were just discussing about how it would be great if there were more buskers downtown [because] it would really liven up the area.”
Along with Revitalize Port Angeles founder Leslie Robertson, Schoolfield and Urbani de la Paz said they envision buskers performing a couple of days per week at various locations such as City Pier, the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at First and Laurel streets, and the esplanade near Barhop Brewing, 124 W. Railroad Ave.
Performances
Beginning Saturday, several busker groups are expected throughout the day at various locations downtown, Schoolfield said.
Musical groups include Bread and Gravy, Ches Ferguson & Zubrie Kamau, John Kingsley and the Dead Peasant Society.
Buskers tend to come and go at nonscheduled times, but the public can get an idea of when and where they might be performing downtown by visiting www.facebook.com/pabuskers.
The buskers will perform in front of businesses that have given their blessing to such performances, Schoolfield said.
Schoolfield said she is in the process of distributing large green letter “B” signs to business owners that can be placed in their windows to let the performers know they are welcome.
“Right now, I have paper ones,” Schoolfield said.
“I am going to get stickers eventually — over the summer — so all the businesses that say they are busker-friendly can just stick it on their window. The goal is to make it fun for everybody.”
Enlisting businesses
Schoolfield said she spent time downtown talking with businesspeople about whether and when they would like musicians playing near their storefronts.
She compiled a list of ideal spots on and around First and Front streets along with various businesses in the area where buskers are welcome.
“I haven’t visited all the businesses,” Schoolfield said.
“The ones I have, I have been kind of particular about.”
Schoolfield said she is trying to space them out “so the buskers aren’t too close together in case they decide to get out there at once.”
Schoolfield has “not met any negative responses so far,” she said, adding that she has “got several businesses that are on board and committed.”
Schoolfield has been in contact with the Port Angeles Downtown Association to promote the project and also with city officials, who are currently cracking down on panhandling.
Panhandling
Port Angeles police currently are stepping up their patrols downtown, specifically targeting beggars and loitering individuals on public sidewalks — something Schoolfield said could affect the busker project.
Schoolfield is working to navigate this issue, she said.
“It is kind of tricky,” she said.
And while Schoolfield said city officials have been amenable to the presence of buskers, “there are some rules and regulations that are a little tough on the musicians right now.”
At issue is Chapter 9.26 of the city of Port Angeles Municipal Code, which prohibits the use of portable amplifiers in public spaces at levels that can be heard more than 75 feet from the source.
“If we put [musicians] somewhere like the fountain where there is a lot of traffic, it is kind of hard to be heard,” Schoolfield said.
“I am trying to negotiate or see if we can get a few concessions on that, but so far,” the buskers will need to perform acoustically without electronic amplification, she said.
Also at issue is Chapter 11.18 of the Municipal Code, which prohibits interference with pedestrians on public sidewalks.
Buskers “can’t block traffic,” Schoolfield said.
Free promotion
Performers interested in performing downtown can get free publicity online at www.Go2OpenLive.com by contacting Schoolfield a few days in advance of their performances, she said.
For more information, email donna@go2openlive.com.
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Features Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.