Caps in hand, the LOL Brothers, Mat Velvet and the Kif-Kif sisters stepped forward at the end of their show on the front lawn of the Fairmont Empress hotel, as spectators rushed to deposit loonies, toonies and even $5 bills.
“They really get into the show and have fun with us,” said Locoma, one half of the LOL Brothers, one of the acts at this year’s Victoria International Buskers Festival, which ends today.
The 10-day festival ends with a closing finale at 5 p.m. on the lawn of the Empress, with performers saying farewell to the city.
Locoma, who only goes by one name, and the LOL Brothers were part of the Francophone Show on the front lawn of the Empress on Saturday afternoon, along with fellow Quebec acts the Kif-Kif Sisters, and the Mat Velvet and Charlie Show.
On Saturday, buskers were performing at seven stages around the Inner Harbour, as well as on Government Street. And after every show, the audience that gathered to watch was expected to reward the performers for their efforts.
“They give really good donations but not everyone pays. It’s still not a 100 per cent festival crowd so not everyone pays but those who do are generous,” said Mat Velvet — real name Martin Varallo — who performs in the Mat Velvet and Charlie show, which combines comedy with Cirque du Soleil inspired acts.
For some tourists, the festival offered another new experience to go along with visiting Victoria.
This was the first time Judy Rogers, from Laurel, Delaware, had been anywhere in Canada.
“I’ve never seen a street performer before,” she said, while taking a seat on the Causeway. “I would absolutely pay admission to watch this.”
An estimated 200,000 spectators have taken in this year’s 10-day event, the most ever in the festival’s three years.
Victoria hotels are also reaping awards from a busy summer season.
“[Tourism] is really very strong, better than it’s been for the last four to five years,” said Earl Wilde, general manager of the Victoria Regent Waterfront hotel and a member of the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria — one of the main supporters of the festival.
Wilde said he hopes the festival can become like the Nova Scotia busker festival which brings in about 250,000 people every year.
But with a $165,000 cost to put on the festival, the busker festival society is hoping for an influx of cash next year from all levels of government to continue the event.
They received grants from the federal and municipal governments but not the province.
“We want recognition that it’s an economic driver in the community,” said John Vickers, the executive director of the Victoria Busker Festival Society.
However, the immediate focus for the society is surviving through the fall and winter before they begin planning for next year’s event.
Where to catch the shows
The Victoria International Buskers Festival winds up today after 10 days. Shows start at noon, with the finale running at 5 p.m. on the lawn of the Fairmont Empress hotel. Performances take place at seven locations:
• ReMax stage and festival headquarters — Inner Harbour, near Tourism Victoria Visitor Centre
• The Pepsi stage — Inner Harbour area
• The Volkswagen Victoria stage — Fairmont Empress hotel lawn
• The Zone stage — Government Street, between Yates and View streets
• The Victoria Youth Clinic stage — Langley Street, near Bastion Square
• The Bastion Square Music stage — Wharf Street at Bastion Square
• The Bay Centre stage — Centre court, lower level
For more information, go to victoriabuskers.com.
