PORT TOWNSEND — Harpist David Michael wants to see buskers back on the boats.
“If you allow and encourage the music to resume and flourish here . . .. this will go a long way towards establishing good feelings towards WSF — not to mention bringing you extra revenue,” harpist David Michael wrote in a letter to Assistant Transportation Secretary David Moseley dated last Saturday.
Michael performed during the summer months aboard the ferry MV Klickitat as it traveled between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island until Aug. 13, 2007.
That’s when passenger complaints led state ferries officials to require that the Port Townsend musician be treated like any other passenger under tightened federal Homeland Security requirements.
Michael was then required to pay for each ride separately, haul his harp and CDs on and off the boat for each departure, and was told he would have to buy a permit to sell CDs of his music.
He decided to stop his traveling show.
He did not busk on the Steilacoom II when it was the only boat on the route and would like to perform on the MV Chetzemoka, which took over the Port Townsend-Coupeville route in November.
In his letter to Moseley, Michael suggested that buskers be allowed to purchase monthly passes that would charge one fee for several trips per day.
Michael said the available passes, which allow 62 trips a month, are ideal for commuters because they allow two trips a day.
Buskers, on the other hand, travel back and forth several times a day.
Michael’s second request is to allow buskers to purchase a license that allows them to sell items such as CDs.
Michael said the price of both the permit and the passes could be established at a later time but that both would generate revenue for the ferry system.
Through a spokesperson, Moseley said he intends to address the concerns raised in the letter after the holidays.
Michael said that any musician can bring an instrument on board the ferry and perform with an open case, “passively” soliciting contributions without actually selling anything.
Michael said that CD sales make performing on ferries worthwhile.
“While I was busking on the ferries, I earned enough to pay the bills,” Michael said.
“There is no way that I could have done this if I couldn’t sell CDs and had to rely solely on tips.”
Michael said he will continue to argue for a new busker policy until Moseley answers directly.
State ferries system personnel and state legislators have often described the state ferries as part of the highway system.
Referring to that, Michael pointed out that permits are not required to play guitar at the side of a road.
“There is the argument that there should be no fee at all, considering that the ferry routes are actually part of our highway system,” Michael said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
