Posted: 5/29/15 at 12:45am
I always stay away from the costumed characters. I mean, Elmo looks like he has fleas, and that baby new year character just scares the crap out of me.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 12:59am
I find the comedy ticket people to be the most annoying, especially because the majority of them aren't funny when they try to say clever things to people walking by.
The money for the homeless collectors were also a big scam for awhile.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 1:31am
It used to be a lot worse. There was the time of "Wilding" which terrified people who wanted to stroll in Central Park. The term officially made it into the Oxford Dictionary:
the activity by a gang of youths of going on a protracted and violent rampage in a public place, attacking people at random.
More bizarre was The Summer of Children Being Killed by Stray Bullets. Unreal. Gangs having shoot-outs in the street and like seven to ten children the victims of collateral damage.
Less drugs around today, so they say. New York ranks as one of the safer cities.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 1:37am
Today I heard one of those people trying to sell tickets to comedy shows and Saturday Night Live, which I thought was strange seeing as how the show went on summer hiatus a few weeks ago
Posted: 5/29/15 at 8:27am
"Do these costume characters need a licence/permit to be there--like buskers in a public place ?"
As of now, no, but there was debate about that not long ago, after repeated instances of the costume characters harassing people (particularly if they weren't paid for a photo). i personally think it needs to happen.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:09am
I like when they hawk "live comedy"
As opposed to dead comedy?
The characters ain't going anywhere nor will they be licensed. It is their civil rights you know. The only time something will happen is when someone sues and/or tourists stop going to the area they frequent.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:13am
"As opposed to dead comedy?"
It means as opposed to watching a tape. like on tv. oy
Posted: 5/29/15 at 10:21am
The Times Square characters are terrifying and I avoid them at all costs.
My aunt told me that Elmo threatened her when she did not offer him a tip for taking a photo with her son and daughter.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 10:22am
Which reminds me: Whatever happened to the Hare Krishna people?
Posted: 5/29/15 at 10:33am
Posted: 5/29/15 at 10:40am
In Times Square I walk fast and with a purpose ... but I'm also not a tourist. Considering that they expect and will hassle people for money, I think it's ridiculous that those creepy characters don't need licenses. That creepy baby and the bearded Tinkerbell dude are the worst.
It does crack me up how the licensed characters are just not quite accurate enough to be in violation of copyright - I loved when they did the bit about it on Kimmy Schmidt.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 10:44am
I LOVE THAT DANCING BABY AND WILL NOT HEAR A BAD WORD AGAINST HIM.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 10:58am
Having worked in Times Square for years, I am amazed at how many visitors, especially seemingly new visitors, walk around with open backpacks, small children out of eyesight, etc. I keep thinking "I wish I were a criminal! This is like fishing in a barrel!"
Posted: 5/29/15 at 2:21pm
Now with construction there are times you are like cattle with people bumping you, jostling up against you from all directions. My wallet is firmly in my front pocket. Times Square is a criminals haven.
Good rule of thumb is make no eye contact and take nothing. However, I will say I enjoy the Chicago girls in their red tights doing their low rent Fosse to hand you a card. I wish they'd ad some shirtless males in vests to the barking roster.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 2:34pm
I just walk by quickly, speaking the little bit of German I know. It usually works. "Es tut mir lied. Ich spreche nur Deutch."
Posted: 5/29/15 at 2:36pm
I once had three Cookie Monsters and possibly an Elmo try to converge on me to give me a hug/swipe my wallet. I just yelled, "NOOOOOOO" and pushed my way through them.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 2:40pm
I never have a problem in Times Square but in my own neighborhood, if I feel hassled by someone asking for money, I just walk by acting as crazy as I want, mumbling and stuff.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 2:47pm
Well, a lot of people lament the days of the seedier Times Square, so maybe the costume characters, monks and scam artists help make up for it? There have always been some sort of scam artists in Times Square in various shapes and forms. The Times Square experience is something that takes some getting used to for tourists, just like tuning people out on the subway (or knowing when to get off at the next stop and switch cars or wait for the next train when the situation seems bad enough). When you learn what to do, it doesn't seem so bad, but it is quite jarring, or even upsetting, the first time. Although it's everyday life for New Yorkers, it really is a skill that is learned in very few cities in the US and no amount of "What were you thinking? This is New York!" will help prepare anyone for their actual first-time experience. Some general rules and guidelines help, but there are subtle cues and warning signs that people simple won't recognize until they experience them in person and the distraction of the atmosphere that many find overwhelming and/or intimidating is the scam artist's best friend and tourist's worst enemy. For example, the time and effort it takes for you to fiddle with your stupid selfie stick to get that shot in Times Square with the TKTS risers behind you, your wallet as well as the wallet of your friend posing with you could easily be gone.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 2:50pm
I definitely think multiple trips to the Vegas strip before I moved to New York aided me in some way. (They have the creepy costumed characters, too.) But a lot of this is common sense, folks!
Posted: 5/29/15 at 2:59pm
I found the Vegas Strip far worse than Times Square since the folks seemed to all be completely smashed and didn't have to hide it.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 3:01pm
That's a good point. Probably made for better training!
Posted: 5/29/15 at 3:25pm
When I can manage it, I just walk around Times Square. It's a pretty ****ty place. The only reason I ever go there is for the restroom in McDonalds if I can't find any other place that allows the public to use their restroom or the TKTS booth.
When someone tries to give you something, just keep walking and say "No, thank you." They're likely to leave you alone if you don't engage at all, because they know they could find an easier target in the time it would take them to harass you. Once they think you're a potential mark, though, you'll have a hard time shaking them.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 3:41pm
Just keep your head down and walk fast, they usually don't come after you if you don't make eye contact.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 4:11pm
Posted: 5/29/15 at 4:28pm
But a lot of this is common sense, folks!
For many in the US, it really isn't "common sense" at all as to them, there's nothing really common about it and it's not anything they were truly expecting to experience. When it does become common sense to tourists, the scammers change their game and it's a new experience all over again. The scams you see now aren't necessarily the same scams of the 90s or the even the 80s.
I never saw the costume characters on the Strip in Vegas, but downtown does remind me of the seedier Times Square days. The drunks are very annoying, but as far as scam artists go, I don't recall running into any in Vegas. There were people handing out flyers advertising hookers, but I've never seen them try anything on anyone.
