4U: Live Art piece 6th September 2008, Permanent Gallery Brighton
This was developed from observations of professional street charity collectors (derogatively referred to as 'chuggers') as well as others who collect or engage with people on the streets. Here a group entered the gallery during intervals between timetabled performances to give away or collect pound coins held in polystyrene cups. The performers obeyed the instructions/program below as closely as is possible. The work took place at Testing Grounds, a quarterly event curated by Nadege Derderian, at Permanent Gallery, Brighton, UK.
Review: http://lucidsawndream.blogspot.com/2008/09/testing-grounds-permanent-gallery.html
Protoplay:
http://protoplay.net
Permanent Gallery Link: http://www.permanentgallery.com
Nadege Derderian: http://www.newworknetwork.org.uk/userinfo.php?uid=2349
Some background: http://news.bbc.co.uk:80/1/hi/uk/2090680.stm
Thanks to:
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Mamen Rivera |
Direction |
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Teji Dahliwal |
Performer |
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Clara García |
Performer |
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Jonti Tiplady |
Performer |
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Lori O’Regan |
Performer |
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Instructions/program given to performers:
1) You will be called into the venue at intervals during the evening from a location nearby.
2) Outside the venue each player will be given a plastic cup containing coins by me. From then until 10 below do not interact with me.
3) Your task is to move from person to person in the venue presenting coins one at a time so that individuals have the option to accept your donation.
4) You should use the phrase "money for you" when presenting coins to people and no other words (except in case of 8 below)
5) The aim is to achieve maximum coverage so that as many individuals as possible receive a coin.
6) You should avoid, if possible, giving to those who have already received a donation from either you or another performer.
7) If people respond negatively, want to engage you in conversation etc. remember you can only use the phrase “money for you” except in situation described in 8 below.
8) You may run out of coins or be given a cup initially which contains none. If so switch to using the phrase “money for me” and go from person to person pointing into the cup encouraging them to donate to you. Then continue collecting until 9 below happens.
9) At a certain point you will be instructed to leave the space, through a tap on the shoulder or other agreed gesture from Mamen Rivera) and return to the waiting location for the next run through.
10) Outside the space return the plastic cups (whether containing coins or not)
Other points and recommendations:
1) Pace and rhythm are the important things. Aim to create a relaxed repetitive routine, moving gradually through the space, from person to person, repeating the mantra, like a catholic priest handing out holy communion if you happen to be familiar with that custom. Imagine that you are a child playing, lost in your own world or try to adopt the unconcerned, un-self-conscious persona of someone singing in the shower. Avoid over-acting or drama.
2) Try not to concern yourself too much with the response or with predicting it. People may accept the money easily and quickly, maybe the whole experience and process is not so dramatic at all. Alternatively other responses are possible.
3) The process of leaving the waiting location and spending time in the venue handing out coins might be repeated 3 or 4 times during the evening. Each time start fresh: treat the crowd present as if you have not met them before. You can hand coins to those you passed money to in a previous run for example.
4) Duration may vary. We cannot predict the outcome. That’s all fine.
Micheál O’Connell 6th September 2008