Area51FG

If you haven't seen them, you have to check out the people who dress up as crazy characters on Fremont Street and the Strip. And be sure to get a picture with them!

kettle1

Please do NOT tip these people! This is a major problem in Las Vegas and it is getting out of hand. The Las Vegas City Council, Las Vegas Metro Police and the Clark County Commission have been trying to find a way to get these (many homeless) people off the "Strip" and Downtown Fremont Street. Every time they come up with something - the ACLU steps in and they back down.

Some of the street performers are convicted sex offenders, pedophiles, etc. Some wear the bare minimum of clothing to not get locked up for indecent exposure. It is a complete joke and makes many tourists and locals very uncomfortable.

I know many people that refuse to visit The Fremont Street Experience because of it.

If people would stop tipping them, they would go away. The street performers and the handbill people on the "Strip" give my city a black eye. It is a shame. The handbill people give cards that say things like: Have a teen in your room in 30 mins - Guaranteed! $69 Special. Young, Hot, Barely Legal, etc. With very explicit photos. When people get the cards, they throw them on the street causing a litter problem.

I am not a prude or a religious person, but this needs to stop. It is not right that families need to be exposed to this crap.

Please DO NOT TIP these street performers or take the hooker cards from the scumbags handing them out and sticking them in your face when you are walking down the "Strip". Lets keep Las Vegas a First Class City!

Rant over.

ARTICLES ABOUT THE PROBLEM:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/mo...eet-performers

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2014/aug...ns-attention-/

http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/25531...nce-or-novelty

http://vegasexperience.com/times-cha...et-experience/

http://www.vegasphotographyblog.com/...-entertainers/

FFMilesJunkie

Just say "NOOOOO!". Totally agree with Kettle1 on this one. The strip is bad enough with the porn hawkers. These costume people are an aggressive, non welcome aspect of the strip and downtown. Not to mention the nastiness of the odors while walking by the characters on a hot summer day.

pseudoswede

During one trip to Vegas, I grabbed as many handbills as I could. When I returned home, I hid them all over a co-worker's cubicle. Two years later, I'd still get IMs from him saying, "I found another one you (bleep) (bleep) (bleep)!"

donnde

I just took my son and some of his college-age friends to Las Vegas. First-time trip for all of them. My first rule for them prior to leaving the airport was, even though you may think a Facebook post with a drunken Mickey Mouse or some showgirls is funny, you most likely will be harassed for money so stay away from them.

It's been a while since I've been there with 100+ degree heat, so had the pleasure of seeing many of these characters without their full costumes -- not friendly looking people.

Area51FG

I appreciate that many people are turned off by what these people do. We started this project by trying to answer the questions, "Who are these people and Why would they do this?"

If you actually watch the docu-series, you will find that there are all kinds of people there. Cupid is actually an auto mechanic who found he can make more money entertaining people. I can appreciate that there are some unsavory people out there, but to categorize them as pedophiles and sex offenders is grossly inaccurate.

I also personally feel that to lump them with the homeless or the hand bill people is not fair. After 2 years working on this project, I have yet to meet a character that is homeless. They are providing entertainment. You may not think it has much value, and that's fair. But the police have been cracking down on their aggressive behavior, and they are removed if found in violation.

Lastly regarding the ACLU, we actually interviewed them and have an entire episode on this very issue. It's much more complicated than one would think.

Thanks for checking it out and commenting!

ownahome

I'm not a Vegan (is that right? lol) Although I've been to Vegas a number of times I've never actually seen these people at work. But two things: The first post got my interest so I began watching it as a reality show. I have to say, it beats the hell out ofHoney Boo, Swamp people, and a ton of other so called reality shows which are edited to death to put whatever the producer think will titillate their audiences. This show is like the original reality TV show Cops. It simply shows a side of life we seldom see behind the scenes. And I've watched all the shows and it's well done. Second, you are allowed to avoid them if you don't want to engage. Someone coming up to my car at a stoplight, begging me for money doesn't anger me, I simply ignore them. I hope they're not ruining business on Fremont Street. I'm all in favor of business. But they do have the right to gather or perform on public property, IMHO.

kettle1

EDIT: Moderator's note -- since a number of these photos are potentially NSFW, I have changed them from inline images to links so that folks who may be on work computer systems that are very strict are forewarned. Thanks for your understanding. cblaisd - Moderator, Las Vegas forum]

Here are some photos taken on Sunday 6/7/2015 on Fremont Street. Photos were taken at a distance and no tips were given. Please Do Not tip.

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1433801776

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1433801891

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1433802895

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1433802004

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1433802149

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1433802315

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1433803073

lhgreengrd1

Don't you need to tip to get extras?

HawaiiTrvlr

Are the performers on Fremont St relatively new? I haven't been to Fremont St in 4 years but I don't recall anyone like the pics posted. Now, I have seen plenty of street performers on the Strip. I wholeheartedly agree the porn card hustlers are some of the biggest nuisances on the strip.

kettle1

It sure seems to be getting worse on Fremont Street and some of these "street performers" push it to the limit (as you can see with the photos I took). That was on a Sunday night. Friday and Saturday it is worse.

I wonder if these people report this income to the IRS or pay the City of Las Vegas for a business License? I would guess not.

Some of the "street performers" do get aggressive. I have seen it with both the tourists and between each other. It is not getting any better.

The last picture I posted with the guy with the fan that says "TIPS" I saw on another visit about a year ago almost get into a fight. He was getting yelled out by a tourist that was screaming every cuss word ever created for apparently groping the tourists minor child (teenage). I did not see the groping and do not know if it actually took place. I did see a fight almost break out.

Here is a fight on "The Strip":
Bottom line. Please do not tip these people.

Area51FG

@ownahome - Thanks for the kind words! Keep watching - good stuff is coming!

@lhgreengrd1 - Not sure of the question?

@HawaiiTrvlr - Cupid has been there 5 years. But it has expanded a lot recently.

and @kettle1 - Got it...you don't like the subject. Regarding their tax reporting, they are not yet made to report cash tips, but until recently neither were wait staff or bartenders; and, I'm pretty sure valet drivers (amongst many other professions) are not reporting all tips.
I have seen first hand that the police are cracking down on anyone there who hassles or otherwise interferes with tourists. Over the last 6 months they have been pretty chill on Fremont.
You mention an incident that transpired that you seem to have half witnessed, but don't have all the facts. That's not really very fair to the discussion to imply underage sexual assault without any real facts to back it up.
RE the Batman video, that incident is from at least 2011 (from a YouTube search). IMHO the tourist was drunk and actually provoked, and should have been arrested on assault charges. The Batman guy was also an idiot for engaging the way he did. Cupid never does that.
Lastly, for someone who professes to hate the under-clothed crowd of characters, you certainly have a lot of photos of them to post...just sayin'

kettle1

Area51FG - You are correct, I do not like the "street performers" and I think it makes Las Vegas look like a joke. If the tourists would stop tipping these people, they would go away. As I stated in post #2:

As far as reporting the tips to the IRS. I pay taxes and these people should do the same.

I have seen the police arrest a few of them in the past. They should bust them for loitering and indecent exposure. Many of the casinos will not allow them inside to use the restrooms. I also believe The Fremont Street Experience is now private property, so why can't these people be removed for trespassing?

I can only say what I saw. The tourist shouting and cussing at that guy with the fan had a teenage daughter with him and he stated that the Gladiator was groping the teenager. Did he grope her? I do not know, but the dad sure thought so and was ready to fight about it. He was really pissed off.

You are correct - that YouTube video was from 2011. I am sure Cupid is a nice guy. I find it hard to believe a Certified Mechanic in Las Vegas could not make more money (and pay taxes) than a "street performer". The old guy wearing almost nothing was counting his tips when I shot that photo. He was making bank - why? It is a freak show!

I posted the photos to prove a point. It is out of hand and a disgrace to the fine City of Las Vegas - that I call home. I will be Downtown again this week. I know many people that refuse to visit Fremont Street because of the "street performers". It is out of control.

Area51FG let me say those videos you shot were very well produced and you have a true talent. ^

LilAbner

kettle1 is correct - "Downtown" is a sewer and very few residents go down there, let alone allow their teen aged daughter's to visit. Fondling and groping is rampant and the only thing that has been cleaned up are some sidewalk kiosk bars and enforcement of carrying certain dangerous open containers. Otherwise, it's watch where you walk for all of the puke, especially later on in the evening.

I've lived in Vegas for 15 years and been there once or twice too often.

Lost

One of the two people that shot the two police officers a year ago was a Fremont Street performer.

http://reviewjournal.com/news/las-ve...re-kill-police