New Series - Surviving Vegas, A Buck At A Time

Here's a FREE attraction next time you're down at Fremont Street or on the Strip!

Greetings all! I am the producer of a new reality series called "Surviving Vegas, A Buck At A Time."
In it we follow an eclectic group of people who dress up as bizarre characters; and, solicit tourists for tips to take photos of them on the Las Vegas strip and downtown Fremont Street.

Please check out this link to the show's You Tube Channel.
Surviving Vegas, A Buck At A Time

If it looks interesting please subscribe! It's absolutely FREE! And please share it with your friends!

I am also asking for your feedback and input to help make the show better!

Enjoy! And I look forward to chatting with all of you!

Quote: Area51

Here's a FREE attraction next time you're down at Fremont Street or on the Strip!

Greetings all! I am the producer of a new reality series called "Surviving Vegas, A Buck At A Time."
In it we follow an eclectic group of people who dress up as bizarre characters; and, solicit tourists for tips to take photos of them on the Las Vegas strip and downtown Fremont Street.

Please check out this link to the show's You Tube Channel.
Surviving Vegas, A Buck At A Time

If it looks interesting please subscribe! It's absolutely FREE! And please share it with your friends!

I am also asking for your feedback and input to help make the show better!

Enjoy! And I look forward to chatting with all of you!

ahh.. surprised it took this long for a documentary on those statue characters

I liked the episode about Strawberry Shortcake. It is sad how little money they make.

If you could do a piece on this gal I wouldn't be surprised if it got a millions view.

Interesting stuff, it was as well done as much of the stuff you see on TV. I also assumed they took in more money per day, BUT there are Sooooooo many of them along the Strip now.

I thought they made more than that as well. I too was impressed with the production values.

Very Interesting. My first couple of years in Vegas, before I bought a car, and rode public transportation frequently, I used to encounter the Gene Simmons guy (in the scooter) regularly. He resides out near Sam's Town and rode the 202 bus (to the strip) or the boulder highway bus (downtown) regularly. But this was a different side of him. On the bus, he is not a very friendly person, as a matter of fact, comes across as sort of nasty and unfriendly. Granted, the people on the bus that want to talk to him and joke around with him aren't going to give him any money, so I guess he has no incentive to be friendly, but it was just interesting to see this 'other' side of him.

He obviously puts a lot effort into his costume. Makes you have a little more appreciation for these folks who while sometimes are annoying to those of us that encounter them regularly, are just trying to scrape together the rent money.

Last time I was in Vegas I saw the nuns
with the fake tits. I went up to two of
them and said, 'your parents must be
very proud'. It was worth it to see a
momentary crestfallen reaction, from
which they quickly recovered with a
smartassed remark. Morons..

@100xOdds - I know! While we were filming this we were so worried someone else was doing this very project! Thanks for watching. We appreciate the support as we try to build an audience to get this picked up as a Reality show. We think they're interesting subjects!

@Wizard - For sure! We want to expand the show into a Season 2 - and we would love to include her! We have found every person out there has a story. And regarding the earnings, a number of them seem to keep their "overhead" low to live off of their income. Thank you so much for watching!

@JohnnyQ - Thank you so much! We are striving to put out a quality that can get picked up by a network. Chuck / Cupid won't say what he makes exactly...but he owns a home, a nice truck and has no money issues. He also works it like a job, hustling for 6-8 hours 4 days a week. We saw that lots of the characters try it for awhile and give up. Very interesting world! Thanks for watching!

@beachbumbabs - Thank you so much for watching! Stay tuned, we have an entire video where they talk about their earnings. Sometimes they actually make some decent cash!

@kewlj - That is such a cool story! I will share it with Gary. I'm sure he will be blown away! He had a really rough time after the accident. The person who hit him had no insurance and it took him many years to get a settlement from his insurance company and the state to afford him some kind of disability. I have seen him without costume and one leg is shorter than the other by several inches, and his collarbone is dislocated. We first encountered him during this stressful time and he definitely had a much shorter fuse. Now that he has some resolution in his life he is much calmer and actually said to me he enjoys entertaining people more. BTW, He is an uber KISS fan, ad has seen them 23 times! Thanks for watching!

@EvenBob - We actually wanted to cover the nuns in Season 2, if it comes to fruition. I, for one, would be interested to know if any of them are actually Catholic! Thanks for watching!

I think the Gene Simmons costume is pretty cool, but I admit I don't "get" the cupid thing at all. But, whatever, It's Vegas !

My favorite (and best imho) character I have seen on the Strip is the Captain Jack of Pirates of the Caribbean. Great outfit, looks and sounds just like Johnny Depp. I have to think he is doing pretty well, but it would be really interesting to know what his story is. Maybe he wouldn't want to be profiled, is there any issue with copyrights, etc, or concern that the Movie Studio would send out a Cease and Desist letter ?

Quote: Area51

@EvenBob - We actually wanted to cover the nuns in Season 2, if it comes to fruition. I, for one, would be interested to know if any of them are actually Catholic! Thanks for watching!

FYI, I think what these clowns in the costumes
have done to DT is atrocious. It's a fricking
circus now, there is not the least bit of class in
any of it. I told the guy in the diapers and
hearts to 'grow up' and he told me to mind
my own business. I said him getting in my
face with his disgusting act pretty much was
my business.

Quote: Area51

Here's a FREE attraction next time you're down at Fremont Street or on the Strip!

Greetings all! I am the producer of a new reality series called "Surviving Vegas, A Buck At A Time."
In it we follow an eclectic group of people who dress up as bizarre characters; and, solicit tourists for tips to take photos of them on the Las Vegas strip and downtown Fremont Street.

Please check out this link to the show's You Tube Channel.
Surviving Vegas, A Buck At A Time

If it looks interesting please subscribe! It's absolutely FREE! And please share it with your friends!

I am also asking for your feedback and input to help make the show better!

Enjoy! And I look forward to chatting with all of you!

I'm not sure if I should feel happy or sad for them. NVM, this is just sad to me. It seems to me 3 of them have emotional issues. They were probably showing their best in the interviews.

I don't think the people you interviewed rent their costumes, however the couple (kids) that the Wizard interviewed did. It seems as if they were being taken advantage of. It sounded as if there's some street performers mafia.

Quote: EvenBob

FYI, I think what these clowns in the costumes
have done to DT is atrocious.

I think what these idiots with the porn slapping have done to Las Vegas and especially the STRIP is atrocious.

I think that this show appears to be exploiting people that had and have current problems in life and how they are attempting to get through each day. Would this make for a great show to be watched every week? I guess if you want to compare how you are doing in your daily life to those that have a lifetime of problems, this would be just what you are looking for. Are they trying to make an honest buck in their costumes, possibly. Are they receiving government assistance? We don't know. Are they harassing tourists thinking they are owed money for standing around for pictures? Yes. It kind of reminds me of the "Street Bum Fight" videos without the violence. I feel it is exploitation for profit.

I like the lady cop with the silver sunglasses. Shes usually hanging out with micheal jackson who has the distorted nose.

Safe sax has got to go. I dont need to be listening to a kenny g wannabe when im downtown.

These folks generally don't bother me. EB says "downtown is a circus" and that's true. That is what it has become....a carnival atmosphere, fueled by booze and drinking on the street. It is what it is.

As I said, earlier I have a little bit of appreciation for the ones that take it seriously and really put some time and effort into there costume and even performance. The gene simmons guy qualifies, I think. The guy impersonating stevie wonder (whom I haven't seem my last couple visits) also qualifies.

The ones that are just using a rented or paid for costume, usually worn and dirty, like the two kids that Wiz interviewed are just basically panhandling. I see little difference.

The ones that I just don't get and the ones that are just nearly naked with a G-string and that's their costume. There are several males downtown that do this and the one that really bothers me, is the older, white, heavyset female, wearing nothing but a G-string and something like band-aids on her nipples, with flab hanging, really hanging out all over. She is probably late 60's or 70....someone's grandmother or great-grand mother. I don't think that is funny at all. It's just gross. If I have recently eaten when I see her, I come damn close to losing that meal. :(

I really like downtown and my wife does as well. My wife talked me into moving there and renting one of those lofts in a high rise. Will see how it goes for a year and then if we like it, I guess we'll buy one. Upcoming move in a couple weeks.
Maybe I'll make a costume and give a first hand report.

Quote: MaxPen

I really like downtown and my wife does as well. My wife talked me into moving there and renting one of those lofts in a high rise. Will see how it goes for a year and then if we like it, I guess we'll buy one. Upcoming move in a couple weeks.
Maybe I'll make a costume and give a first hand report.

I'm Thinking ERIC http://www.officialvillagepeople.com/

Actually The Village people might be a good draw.I Imagine it's hard for a bunch of people to split $1.

The next bet made and lost among some of our betting members. The loser(s) must spend 2 hrs in costume doing this downtown.

What costume does everyone think would be the best money maker?

At one of the WoV Chicken McNugget challenges there were a couple street performers watching. They were early for their shift and were just killing time. Here is an interview I did of one of them. Sorry the audio quality is so bad.

@ JohnnyQ - Cupid was one of, if not the first, to do the "diaper" thing. And yes, you have to admit, Gary goes to the nth degree to get his Gene Simmons just right. I have talked briefly with Captain Jack, and I think he would love to be part of a season 2. As long as we keep it in context of the work they are doing almost anything is allowed as "public domain". So as long as we don't claim an affiliation with, say, Disney, they can't really do anything...but I hope we get noticed enough to have the issue! Thanks for watching and commenting. This helps a lot! Oh, and totally agree with you on the porn slappers!

@ EvenBob - Sorry you're not finding it appealing. I kind of like the circus atmosphere...We, and even some of the characters, would be in support of limiting, and/or somehow policing themselves to get rid of some of the worst characters down there. They've run into 1st amendment issues, though since it's a public thoroughfare...

@AxelWolf - I too have mixed feelings. We tried to let them tell their own story. And, none of the four feel sorry for themselves and seem to have pretty decent self-esteem given their situations. RE - the Costume Mafia, we were told that in a back alleyway there is a van were you can rent a crappy costume, and a number of people do this. We tried to locate them, and had a lead, but could never find them. I'm guessing they don't want to be shown, but if we get to do a 2nd season we are going to pursue this. I think it's an interesting scam. Funny re: the Village People! Great idea!

@ mason2386 - We absolutely tried to not be exploitative. We tried to let the people tell their story the way they wanted. They were all excited to try and get their stories out there. As you watch more episodes, I think you will see that we cover many aspects of their lives and try to capture their humanity. That's always been important in our documentary work. And I have to say shows like Intervention and Hoarders may be voyeuristic...but they also expose a world in a way that is enlightening and beneficial for all involved. That's what we're trying to do here. I really thank you for the input, because it reminds us to always keep this focus in the work. We definitely are not trying to be Bum Fights!

@djatc - Haven't seen the lady cop...but know the MJ. He does work around town as an MJ impersonator as well. RE - Kenny G guy...OMG editing this was so time consuming because of that guy and his stupid Soprano Sax! I never want to hear it again!

@kewlj - Agree with you on the crappy "store bought" vs original or home made costumes by people who are trying hard. And yes...the G-Strings are WAY out of control! Thanks for watching and commenting!

@MaxPen - Welcome to Vegas! We love downtown. East Fremont and 3rd street has some great bars and restaurants, and Container Park is a pretty cool idea. Check it out!

@Wizard - Watched some of your videos on YouTube. You are a very interesting person! We cover the topic of how much they make in some depth in the upcoming videos. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!

Quote: Area51

If by chance there this does somehow get picked up as a reality show I hope theses people get proper representation and compensation. I see a situation where they get exploited due to desperation.

Quote: Area51

I have talked briefly with Captain Jack, and I think he would love to be part of a season 2. As long as we keep it in context of the work they are doing almost anything is allowed as "public domain". So as long as we don't claim an affiliation with, say, Disney, they can't really do anything...

I think that would be a big addition to your show to have Captain Jack. It is not just his costume, which is very very good, it is also his speech and mannerisms that really make it !

Now without trying to be mean, my super superficial impression is also that Capt Jack would be more "likeable" out in Youtube or Cable TV World than the other characters (sorry "Gene" and "Big Boob girl" "Strawberry Shortcake"), AND I think having a personality like that, and hopefully he is someone who is not just scraping by in life, would be a really nice addition to the show. And maybe even the feature that gets the show to the next level.

Quote: MaxPen

I really like downtown and my wife does as well. My wife talked me into moving there and renting one of those lofts in a high rise. Will see how it goes for a year and then if we like it, I guess we'll buy one. Upcoming move in a couple weeks.
Maybe I'll make a costume and give a first hand report.

Very cool, sounds like an excellent adventure ! And a great topic for a separate thread / blog. I would like to try that a few years down the road for 6 months or a year.

Quote: Wizard

I liked the episode about Strawberry Shortcake. It is sad how little money they make.

$50/day x 365 = $18/yr if she worked everyday
that's $9/hr

she'd make more + benefits at Starbucks.

heck, b4 she did this she said she was a med/surgical tech.
cant believe that position paid less than what she is doing now?

@ AxelWolf - We did pay them to participate in the project. Plus we have an agreement with them for profit sharing should this actually do something. We'll do everything we can from our side to help them out!

@Johnny Q - We're going to work on adding more variety of characters, like Cap'n Jack, for the future. Thanks for the feedback. It's really helpful!

@100xOdds - True, but consider they are all cash...I'm not going to say if they report the income - but you can guess :). That's more like $24k gross. I know some of them are doing better based on additional conversations. Plus for these guys, they don't want to be tied to a job. They work when they want. As a clock puncher myself, I can kind of get that...

I've always viewed these people as pathetic,
starting years ago with the Elvis impersonators.
They are almost always the dregs of society
who are strung out on an addiction, or mentally
ill. They will do anything for a buck, including
humiliating themselves in public. Some of
their costumes are so filthy it looks like they
live in them. They aren't street performers.
Actual street performers have actual talent,
like Carl Ferris, a real artist.

The whole thing is just pathetic, very sad and exceptionally seedy, hey hey.

I don't live in Vegas so I can't comment as a citizen but I've visited enough to know the city lives on entertainment of every bent. I, for one, would rather spend two hours watching these characters than sitting in a Celine concert for two hours at a hundred bucks. But hey, that's just me. The point is, I don't think people who first call these folks names then go on to admit they're probably drug addicts or mentally ill have much of a life themselves. You know, even if you live there, you don't have to participate. I personally find there stories endearing. The Strawberry girl turned tricks for crying out loud. i would say performing on the streets is a step up. Of course, the next step could be to find a different, less revealing costume LOL.

I like the Peruvian Flute Guy.

I think the characters are somewhat annoying, but I am finding the series fascinating. And it gives me a new, um, respect (?), for those people.

I agree that the production quality is great. The only problem I noticed, and maybe you corrected this in following episodes, there was a point where Strawberry Shortcake was talking to the camera, and Cupid was behind her talking to a passerby. You need separate audio tracks so you can edit it to eliminate, or at least reduce, Cupid's voice on situations like that.

While I think all the characters have a story, I'd also be interested in hearing from some of the other people. Both their story, and what they think of the costumed characters and other pan-handlers.

For example, Carl "Safe Sax" Ferris. I know he gets paid by FSE, but he also sells CDs and accepts tips, but I still want to hear his story.What's the deal with his clothing? Each night his shirt, pants and shoes are the same pastel color, but different from night to night.

Spray Paint Artists. They're very talented. Do they have daytime art jobs? Also I've never noticed what Fremont looks like during the day. Do they merely close up their booth, or pack it up and take it away? Do they pay rent?

The plastic bucket drummer has a story. Even the guy with the shitty cardboard sign saying "Need money for crack" has to have a story.

And don't forget the candidate for the best stories: Casino hookers!


Regarding the comment that Hollywood should have their lawyers send Cease & Desist orders to those people using trademarked characters: There's no incentive. I mean, if the people ignore the C&D, what's the company gonna do? Sue they? Good luck collecting. The most it will accomplish is the person will change the character: "I'm not Mickey Mouse, I'm just a big mouse with red pants..."


This thread, and the series, have made me think about the old thread where the Wiz proposed getting a green striped shirt and a stuffed blue dog, and going out as Steve from Blue's Clues...

Ya know who I haven't seen for a couple months that was a staple on Fremont Street is the black ventriloquist guy, with an English or Australian accent. Well at least the 'dummy' had an accent. lol.

IMO if you want a dollar from me as a panhandler or "street performer" at least showcase some talent. I will give a tip to the bucket boys in Chicago, or famously, Bernie Mac as a kid would do standup at the red line Washington stop for tips before becoming famous. A man standing around in a diaper with an arrow calling himself Cupid does not impress me.

I was just downtown and forgot about the red devil lady. We need more like her and less of diaper man and banana hammack man

An article says he's been DT a 'long time'. No
he hasn't, I don't remember seeing him even
5 years ago. He has to be 60, isn't he an
embarrassment to his family?

Quote: EvenBob

An article says he's been DT a 'long time'. No
he hasn't, I don't remember seeing him even
5 years ago. He has to be 60, isn't he an
embarrassment to his family?

Bob don't be so hard on him. He probably doesn't have a conventional family. Can't you see that this guy has or had some issues in his life? Either mental or drug related, perhaps he's just off? Most of the hard core low paid untalented "street performers" probably do.

This guy probably found some self worth and confidence doing this. He probably feels like a celebrity. At this point,even if he came into a large sum of money, I bet he would do this as a hobby.

The real question is, is he happy an proud of himself.

Quote: AxelWolf

Can't you see that this guy has or had some issues in his life?

Ya think?!?

Quote: AxelWolf

This guy probably found some self worth and confidence doing this. He probably feels like a celebrity..

And your point is what. I should lower
my pants and wave my ass in his face
because it makes me feel like I have
some self worth? Really?

That's the problem with living in a place
like liberal Vegas, or SoCal. You eventually
start to sympathize with all the weirdo's
and you become their enablers. No
adult men wandering around my area
in diapers with hearts on his nips. He'd
be locked up where he belongs.

Quote: EvenBob

No adult men wandering around my area
in diapers

Oh, I'll bet there are EB. The adult diaper industry is more significant than people realize with the aging population. (yes I know that's not what you meant...lol).

I do wonder about your statement where you proclaim Las Vegas as liberal. Las Vegas is a major city and major cities tend to be more liberal minded than rural areas, for sure, but Vegas is not know as a particularly liberal place. Not like So cal that you linked it to.

As far as locking up diaper man "where he belongs". For what do you want to lock him up? What crime has he committed? I mean if you are suggesting he be locked away for mental issues, remember it was Mr Reagan, the favorite president of conservatives that emptied and closed all the mental institutions, putting the mentally ill people back into the communities and ultimately back on the street, that created the homeless and mentally ill homeless epidemic that many cities face today.

If you watch the series you will see that Cupid does have a fairly conventional family life. He has a daughter that sometimes works with him, he has a house, a car and enjoys his time performing on the street.

Quote: kewlj

and closed all the mental institutions, putting the mentally ill people back into the communities and ultimately back on the street.

Regan never closed a single mental institution.
There was a big recession in 1981 when he
took office and he signed a bill that stopped
funding state institutions. The states still
ran and funded them.

But more than that, and why you see what
you see today, is a bill was passed that made
involuntary commitment illegal in every state.
This robbed state hospitals of half their clients
when they had to release patients that didn't
want to be there. If Reagan hadn't done it,
another president would have. Locking people
up against their will is barbaric.

Quote: EvenBob

Regan never closed a single mental institution.
There was a big recession in 1981 when he
took office and he signed a bill that stopped
funding state institutions. The states still
ran and funded them.

But more than that, and why you see what
you see today, is a bill was passed that made
involuntary commitment illegal in every state.
This robbed state hospitals of half their clients
when they had to release patients that didn't
want to be there. If Reagan hadn't done it,
another president would have. Locking people
up against their will is barbaric.

I think you're splitting hairs, EB. He (his administration) lobbied for both bills and de-funded virtually all mental health institutions that had federal government support. He didn't go around literally chaining the doors, but it had the same intent and effect. The states didn't have the money to fund them, and couldn't react quickly enough when the feds dumped the budget item on them with little warning. It was a major (regressive) policy shift in mental health treatment, increased the homeless population dramatically, and still affects both to this day.

Quote: beachbumbabs

increased the homeless population dramatically, and still affects both to this day.

Of course. When you take away the barbaric
practice of non voluntary commitment, your
patient base dries up. Families and the courts
could no longer commit you without your
consent. States had to open the doors and
let these people go. I'm not sure what
you're advocating here, should Reagan not
have signed the bill, should we still be able to
lock away aunt Shirley just because we can?

And the House was controlled by Dems when
Reagan signed the funding bill, it was a bi-partisan
effort. Everybody wanted the 800 million going
to state institutions to go elsewhere in the
recession. To blame Reagan for it is ridiculous.

Well, for those who will never be open to looking at these characters...EvenBob, what can I say? :) We tried to find their humanity, and tried to show them for who they are. As documentarians we try to be objective and not judge. For sure, some are much more difficult to "like" than others. But hey, I respect your viewpoint.

For those who are enjoying the episodes, that is so awesome! It's really cool to make something that people respond to. We do have an episode coming up that features a number of different characters, as well as "Man-on-the-street" interviews with the public. And if we do get this picked up by a network for a 2nd season we will definitely expand the roster to include street musicians, the bucket drummers, the ventriloquist, the Indian marionette and even Carl the sax guy...even though a soprano sax is so annoying :)

Today's episode actually shows Chuck/Cupid with his family...and he is the most normal of all of them! Thank you guys for the feedback. It really helps!