Interesting article. One of the members of the Sunset Celebration board members told me that the reason they are in financially trouble is defending many lawsuits filed against Sunset by a handful of disgruntled members, who also have opposed performing artists having to pay to perform at Sunset Celebration. This board member told me, for some time they have tried to get the city to agree that all Sunset members have to pay, including performers. This board member is a performer, and is in favor of performers having to pay each night they perform. His name is Mark Riggs. He is a world class street performer. He told me, everywhere else he performs, cities pay him a substantial fee, plus he gets to keep his tips. He said he makes lots more more money in other places, than in Key West, but he loves performing here: he tries to help the people who depend on Sunset Celebration be able to make a living, and he tries to keep a few people, who want to be in charge and get special treatment, from not being in charge. I told the City Commission during closing citizen comments maybe two months ago, that I have known Mark Rigss since early 2001, and if he comes before them and tells them something about Sunset Celebration, they can take it to the bank. The centerpiece of Mark’s act is he is up on a 10-foot unicycle, cutting jokes, jugging daggers and fire batons, then he tips off his hat and catches it with his foot, then he kicks his hat back up onto his head. From my observation over 14 years, he is the biggest crowd drawer at Sunset Celebration, he gives his audiences a terrific show, at no small physical risk to himself, and his audiences leave feeling appreciated and well-entertained. Other performers have the same effect on Sunset Celebration audiences, but I don’t think they draw as big of crowds as Mark. I told him, he might ought to consider just paying the $25 nightly fee and get out of the politics; he might be a lot happier, and $25 a night would mean nothing to him. He said probably so, but he feels obligated to do what he can to try to help everyone at Sunset, who is trying to make a living there. For some vendors and performers, he said, it is all they have, and some nights they make very little, or nothing. But for what they make at Sunset Celebration, some of them might, or will, be homeless.
P.S. Mark told me, and I have heard him tell the City Commission, that next to the ocean, Sunset Celebration is the biggest crowd draw in the city; it is known around the world, people come to Key West to see it. I agree, based on my observations since I arrived in Key West in late 2000. I told Mark, if the city takes over the operation of Sunset Celebration, it might turn out like what happened when the city opened KOTS, the city’s overnight homeless shelter. It was a disaster, and the city had to beg Father Stephen Braddock of Florida Keys Outreach Coalition to take over KOTS and straighten it out, which FKOC did. I told Mark, I became familiar with Sunset Celebration politics in 2001, and I learned then that a few people were causing most of the trouble for many people, and I figured those few people were still at it, and were hoping to end up in charge of Sunset Celebration, either directly, or behind the scenes, if the city ends taking it over.
P.P.S. Mark also told me that Sunset Celebration raises a good bit of money for worthy causes in Key West, which might (or will) be jeopardized, if the city takes over Sunset Celebration.
Interesting article. One of the members of the Sunset Celebration board members told me that the reason they are in financially trouble is defending many lawsuits filed against Sunset by a handful of disgruntled members, who also have opposed performing artists having to pay to perform at Sunset Celebration. This board member told me, for some time they have tried to get the city to agree that all Sunset members have to pay, including performers. This board member is a performer, and is in favor of performers having to pay each night they perform. His name is Mark Riggs. He is a world class street performer. He told me, everywhere else he performs, cities pay him a substantial fee, plus he gets to keep his tips. He said he makes lots more more money in other places, than in Key West, but he loves performing here: he tries to help the people who depend on Sunset Celebration be able to make a living, and he tries to keep a few people, who want to be in charge and get special treatment, from not being in charge. I told the City Commission during closing citizen comments maybe two months ago, that I have known Mark Rigss since early 2001, and if he comes before them and tells them something about Sunset Celebration, they can take it to the bank. The centerpiece of Mark’s act is he is up on a 10-foot unicycle, cutting jokes, jugging daggers and fire batons, then he tips off his hat and catches it with his foot, then he kicks his hat back up onto his head. From my observation over 14 years, he is the biggest crowd drawer at Sunset Celebration, he gives his audiences a terrific show, at no small physical risk to himself, and his audiences leave feeling appreciated and well-entertained. Other performers have the same effect on Sunset Celebration audiences, but I don’t think they draw as big of crowds as Mark. I told him, he might ought to consider just paying the $25 nightly fee and get out of the politics; he might be a lot happier, and $25 a night would mean nothing to him. He said probably so, but he feels obligated to do what he can to try to help everyone at Sunset, who is trying to make a living there. For some vendors and performers, he said, it is all they have, and some nights they make very little, or nothing. But for what they make at Sunset Celebration, some of them might, or will, be homeless.
P.S. Mark told me, and I have heard him tell the City Commission, that next to the ocean, Sunset Celebration is the biggest crowd draw in the city; it is known around the world, people come to Key West to see it. I agree, based on my observations since I arrived in Key West in late 2000. I told Mark, if the city takes over the operation of Sunset Celebration, it might turn out like what happened when the city opened KOTS, the city’s overnight homeless shelter. It was a disaster, and the city had to beg Father Stephen Braddock of Florida Keys Outreach Coalition to take over KOTS and straighten it out, which FKOC did. I told Mark, I became familiar with Sunset Celebration politics in 2001, and I learned then that a few people were causing most of the trouble for many people, and I figured those few people were still at it, and were hoping to end up in charge of Sunset Celebration, either directly, or behind the scenes, if the city ends taking it over.
P.P.S. Mark also told me that Sunset Celebration raises a good bit of money for worthy causes in Key West, which might (or will) be jeopardized, if the city takes over Sunset Celebration.