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WHAT'S HAPPENING ON CITIFIED VICTORIA
It's mostly a matter of sound... beyond the standards set in Victoria's By-law.. and a bit of turf concerns... and a bit of....
Victoria tones down marimba ensembles
SHANNON MONEO
Special to The Globe and Mail
VICTORIA -- Mallet-wielding xylophone players have struck a discordant note in staid downtown Victoria.
Since Jan. 1, the city's revised entertainment licence has limited the size of ensembles that perform on the streets to five and prohibits performances by loud groups until 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Two, three or even four genteel violinists or placid guitarists will still be able to strum their stuff on any day from sunrise to sunset, but the marimba ensembles (the marimba is an African or Central/South American-style xylophone) will have to wait until the office workers have cleared out.
Time restrictions don't apply to weekends and holidays.
"It's almost like they're zeroing in on marimba bands," said Patricia Brown, a member of Chikoro Marimba, a 10-person band based in Metchosin, about 20 kilometres from downtown Victoria. "It's very disappointing."
This year, when Chikoro hits the streets of Victoria, it will be forced to play in two shifts of five people on weekends.
A second marimba band, Victoria-based six-person Jambanja Marimba, will limit itself to five musicians.
Last year, the city received a multitude of gripes, primarily from businesses and office workers, said City of Victoria bylaw inspector Earl Garner.
"It's hard to try to type a document and some bonging is going on," he said.
Business owners said the marimba bands and their appreciative audiences blocked access to their stores. Addled office workers had to endure pulsating melodies wafting off the sidewalk.
Solo guitarists or string duets sang the blues about being drowned out by the undeniably loud marimba bands, and some tourists didn't like having to detour around the bouncy xylophone players and their swaying fans.
Victoria's downtown co-ordinator, Mike Hill, said marimba bands are not being targeted, even though they are almost exclusively the only ensembles featuring more than five musicians.
What prompted revisions to the entertainment licence, which did not require council approval, was the desire to manage loud bands.
"It gives acoustic musicians who are quieter a chance," Mr. Hill said.
Words have been exchanged between Chikoro and solo musicians who complained about Chikoro's loud tunes, Ms. Brown said.
And last year, Chikoro was forced to move after a clothing retailer complained that the band was blocking access to the store.
But some businesses welcome Chikoro because of the potential customers the group attracts, Ms. Brown said.
She admits her band is loud, but on the flip side, it brings a vibrant ambience to the streetscape.
"We're a free party on the street," the former Montessori schoolteacher said.
When Mr. Garner received noise complaints last year, he went out and measured the decibels and found that groups with six or more people -- marimba bands -- exceeded the city's noise bylaw.
So, city staff sat down to amend the annual $10 entertainment licence that all street performers must have.
A maximum of five performers was established because "basic bands" often have five members, Mr. Garner said.
"To me, it's an easy fix," he said.
But a five-piece brass band can generate a lot of oomph. In that case, Mr. Garner would measure the sound and silence the tubas or issue a $100 ticket if the city's noise bylaw was broken.
A popular venue for the marimba bands is Government Street, a high-traffic, touristy section of downtown Victoria running six blocks from the popular Inner Harbour up to roughly Yates Street.
Chikoro, with members aged 15 to the mid-50s, has been setting up once a week on Government Street for the past two years, from May to September.
Depending on the traffic and weather, Chikoro's earnings could range from $90 to $400 for a two-hour performance, the maximum playing time allowed in one location.
The street's popularity caused a turf war last year when Chikoro and Jambanja both wanted the area in front of 910 Government, which has a wide sidewalk and stairway for audience seating.
Jambanja's leader, Melissa Chigamba, said her band needs an audience-friendly location.
"This is what we do for a living," the multi-instrumentalist said.
Last year, the six-person Jambanja played about eight times a week from April to October, collecting between $350 and $400, plus earning several hundred dollars more from CD sales.
What's affected Jambanja more than the five-person limit is the new rule outlawing performances during Monday-to-Friday office hours. The band collected most of its money from Thursday and Friday afternoon shows.
Ms. Chigamba has asked for permission to play during a weekday afternoon.
Mr. Garner, who was also asked by Chikoro to waive the five-person limit, said he can't bend the rules, but he did add that other possible venues outside of the "problem area" Government Street strip are being considered for large bands.
The City of Victoria issues about 220 entertainment licences each year.
So far, about 80 licences have been bought for 2007, said Mr. Garner, one of five City of Victoria bylaw and business-licence inspectors, and the only one responsible for street performers.
A big rush is expected in a few weeks once cruise ships start arriving and the weather gets warmer.
The effect of this year's changes will be evaluated and could be revised next year, Mr. Hill said.
