Escape Adulthood with Kim & Jason » Today’s Entrepreneurs

«« I Forgot The Grappling Hooks • Home • Cartoonists Say The Darndest Things »»

January 11th, 2006 at 7:56 pm

by Kim | Delight in the Little Things, Kim's Random Musings

The other day we flew into San Francisco and made our way to the infamous “Fisherman’s Wharf.” It was there that I saw some very creative entrepreneurs. In most touristy areas you will surely find a handful of street entertainers. In Madison on State Street, along side the shops adoring cheese heads, you’ll be sure to also find guitarists and singers, spray paint artists, maybe a saxophone player, and even sometimes if you’re lucky a whole folk band. Well, on the Wharf I saw this taken to a whole new level. One man was dressed as a robot, from head to toe in silver. Every time someone would come up to him, usually children, he would move in his robot stiff-body movements, the little fans on his shoulders would rotate and would make a noise. He’d reach into his pocket and pull out a sucker for the child. He stood next to a large boom box that blared rap music. This was fascinating to me.

So, you’re looking to be a street entertainer- you can’t play an instrument, dance, or paint – why not put silver all over your face and body and stand still? I have a feeling this guy was making pretty good money. We could barely get close enough to see him, let alone take a picture.

The next entrepreneur is quite famous. I had heard about him. He sits behind some branches of a bush on the side of a busy sidewalk on the Wharf. When unsuspecting tourists walk by he spreads the branches and startles them. Of course, they laugh, them often give him money. There was a huge crowd assembled all around him watching and laughing with the passing of each unsuspecting person. It was quite funny, being the observer…not the unsuspecting person.

We saw a man performing magic, a dancer, a pan flute musician, and another silver man “statue.” All for the price of admission, free!

5 Comments on the Chalkboard »

261730

[...] Happily, we were able to steal a few chunks of time away to get a feel for the city; just enough to make us want to come back. We got a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge, and spent a morning touring Alcatraz. The touristy Fisherman’s Wharf offered up a dizzying array of childlike glee, especially from the creative panhandlers (see Kim’s blog). A highlight for me was riding a cable car through the city, which offered welcome relief from walking the hilly terrain. Seriously, Kim and I did more than our fair share of walking, and my shins and calf muscles are still upset. Some sidewalks seemed more like ladders they were so steep. I began to wonder if I should’ve packed my grappling hooks. [...]

Pingback by Escape Adulthood » I Forgot The Grappling Hooks on 1/11/2006 @ 8:37 pm

261731

Actually I saw this same phenomenon when I was there and thought they were probably out of work actors rather than musicians.

Comment by Tabor on 1/13/2006 @ 3:43 pm

261732

Hi Kim, Thanks for reminding me about the ‘branch’ guy!

Comment by Tami Vieth on 1/16/2006 @ 9:05 am

261733

[...] • Check out The Escape Plan…Start with Challenge #1 and turn your Adultitis-stricken life around!• The Perfect Match: buy any framed print at the Lemonade Stand and get a FREE copy of Escape Adulthood.• Read all about our recent trip to San Francisco (Kim’s take | Jason’s take) • Book Jason to speak at your organization. • Club K&J Subscribers have access to ALL of the bonus videos featured in The Escape Plan (not to mention a slew of other cool perks.) • Congrats to Ian Tyrrell, winner of last show’s promo and winner of a complimentary Kim & Jason Print. • Love Monkey. Check out this cool new show on CBS.• Remember: Anyone who starts The Escape Plan before our next show is automatically entered in a drawing to win a 2006 Kim & Jason Calendar. [...]

Pingback by Escape Adulthood » Escape Adulthood #6: How To Annihilate Adultitis on 1/24/2006 @ 11:15 pm

261734

[...] • Check out The Escape Plan…Start with Challenge #1 and turn your Adultitis-stricken life around! • The Perfect Match: buy any framed print at the Lemonade Stand and get a FREE copy of Escape Adulthood. • Read all about our recent trip to San Francisco (Kim’s take | Jason’s take) • Book Jason to speak at your organization. • Club K&J Subscribers have access to ALL of the bonus videos featured in The Escape Plan (not to mention a slew of other cool perks.) • Congrats to Ian Tyrrell, winner of last show’s promo and winner of a complimentary Kim & Jason Print. • Love Monkey. Check out this cool new show on CBS. • Remember: Anyone who starts The Escape Plan before our next show is automatically entered in a drawing to win a 2006 Kim & Jason Calendar. [...]

Pingback by Swingset Reflections » Escape Adulthood #6: How To Annihilate Adultitis on 1/24/2006 @ 11:34 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post. | TrackBack URI