Imagine a giant robot standing in the middle of the street speaking in a monotone robot voice. Hello! Welcome to Chicago! We accept contributions. (That last bit only works if you say it out loud, all robot-like. Try it. Really. And then keep on reading out loud...)
Chapter four dash two four four. Article three. The Municipal Code of Chicago says...
EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EX-TER-MIN-AAAAAAAAAAAATE!!!!
 |
| "Acc-ept-ance of con-tri-bu-tions" |
...No.
Right. Ok. Fine. You caught me in a lie.
It doesn't quite say that. It just says acceptance of contributions.
But honestly.
Money = money = money. Except when it doesn't - when money is a gift or charity or entitlement... when it's earned or stolen or borrowed.
Recognition that money has a social meaning is what motivates some street performers to label their money as "donations." Take, for example, the Tin Man's explanation for his choice of the word donations: "Nobody likes to feel like they're being sold on something. They wanna sell themselves on the idea first. 'Donation helps a cause'" which, he says, implies that a giver's "money means something. People like the power of giving. It's from the heart. All those other words ['tips' and payment'] mean 'You owe me.'"
A group of Chicago-based acrobats similarly tell their audiences,"Show your appreciation with a donation!" Their jokes, as well as the patter of other street performers, try to socially and emotionally involve audience members into their performances. Money is performed to turn mere bystanders into major players... to turn an observing spectator into a patron of the arts.
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| The Kings of Michigan Avenue (the KOMA Krew) hard at work |
Hm. I had fun. Here's some money for you!
to
My money actually helped create the fun I just had!
that we get the distinctive urban vibe of street theater.
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