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SUMMER in the CITY : the Revenge of the Mimes Like most Metropolitan Zones, Chicago’s shopping districts are enhanced during the summer months by Colorful and sometimes Talented Street Performers. None turn the head, or empty the wallet faster than, |
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If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile you’ve heard me speak of this species with WONDER and Warm Regard over the seasons I’ve been writing. Mimes hold a Special Place in my Heart reserved for none other. I regard them so highly that for the most part, I NEVER photograph them. Even though I always have my camera with me, even though I long with the deepest part of my soul to capture their enterprising spirit forever on film, I’ve resisted my primal urges, gawked and gathered their ministrations, then moved along… Everything changed last Friday… |
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I Took A Picture… I took several Pictures… Then I did something else I’ve never done. I put money in the Mime Bucket. Then I took money out of the Mime’s Bucket. Why Oho Why? Because all I had was a fiver and I wanted CHANGE from my donation ($2). This caused a fellow Mime Lover beside me who was adding to the haul to exclaim loudly "THAT’s Just WRONG!" Of couse, she was referring to my change making and by her tone was implying I was doing some-other-slight-of-hand in the Bucket. (NAY! THAT would make me a Magician and for chrissakes, I am NOT going to become a Street Performer myself, even for the lovely Tourists…) As she joined her companions, I asked her where she was from and she muttered “Small Anywhere USA.” I replied, "AHA" (mentally scribing the fact she was Not From Here) – adding – “Well, what I did was fine. I asked the MIME!" She replied loudly and sarcastically, "You should’ve went somewhere and gotten change!" |
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Later… Yesterday morning I tried to upload my pictures. THEY WERE GONE! POOF! Files all scrambled like expresso eggs… My spirit almost flattened by this revenge, I was going to leave you with a psuedo-version of said Mime because really, it’s not all that much more than this:
but NO. |
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and here, My Friends, is what started it all… |
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Scary, isn’t she… |
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NEXT: Happy Fountains and MORE! |
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I really should have taken your advice and put down my drink… miss manners book of mimes! I have to wipe off my monitor, now.
Excellent bit of reading. I truly enjoyed this.
Thanks for a glimpse into the big city, a world as foreign to me as the deep sea.
enjoy your blog and enjoyed your story. i live in the suburbs and am in the city a lot. i NEVER put any $ in those buckets either. i am sometimes as interested by watching the tourists filling those buckets as i am watching the performers!!! you know what has shocked me in the last few years is that “tin man” who will no longer MOVE until someone puts something in his bucket. i can remember when he used to put on quite a good show. and now he seems to have all these new, little, young, tin, men working for him.
maybe some of my suburban knitters can meet up and knit with some of your city knitters sometime!! just cast on scoop… this week in peace fleece, love it. :)
I saw that mime last night!!
It’s odd – there’s a whole array of solid-colored mime-like people. I’m sure you’ve seen Blue Guy, Yellow Guy, and Silver Guy on your travels…I wonder if they’re affilliated – or maybe even the same person with lots of paint?
File it under: Mama said there’d be days like this.
Loved the story, I spluttered my coffee. Tourists!
Michelle – You saw this MIME! WOOT! Did you drop any dinero? And Laurie – I agree totally on the Tin Man. I would think he’d want to just keep on movin’ coinage or no… Can you imagine the joints after a day of standing almost STOCK STILL? My feet hurt just thinking about it.
I also saw another Golden Goddess Statuette outside of Tiffany’s. She was posturing right next to a depressed looking Ballon-Tying Guy. He was sitting by himself whilst GG was drawing quite a crowd.
The Ballon Guy creeps me out too – I guess his sign reading “Moms! Just say YES!” was too weird…
Don’t let Beulah Backwater ruin your support of the arts. Seriously–who the f#*@ is she to tell you what is and is not acceptable. Especially on your turf, baby.
Power to the Bonne!
I always think of the non-traditional mimes who stick to a pose as statue people. The title of Mime is forever reserved for the white-faced stereotype.
Miss Manners Book of Mimes indeed. I think statue people and mimes have a creedo, indeed, and there’s definitely a few unofficial rules (like don’t donate your litter). But not making change? In a big city? Hey, if it were me standing up there, I’d be okay with that, because getting $2 is better than nothing. And carrying a fat stack of dollar bills is annoying.
Miss Manners Book of Mimes!! I love it!! Although he’s a street performer, not a mime, I hope you track down The Naked Cowboy the next time you visit the Big Apple, he’s a Times Square regular…..and I doubt he’d mind if you made change!!
I lived in New Orleans for roughly six months, and it deepened my fear and loathing of clowns and mines. Ugh!