PORT TOWNSEND – Celtic harpist David Michael is riding a wave of public support in his quest to perform once again on the MV Klickitat ferry, but he says his return would come at a price too high to pay.
Washington State Ferries officials notified Michael on Thursday that he could resume playing on the Klickitat‘s Port Townsend-Keystone ferry run if he abides by the ferry agency’s “promotional activities policy.”
By paying $200 a day in advance – plus the ferry fare when first boarding and showing proper identification – he can remain on board with his harp and other items during the ferry’s security sweep between runs, said Marta Coursey, Washington State Ferries communications director.
“Fundamentally, what he is doing is promoting his business on a public vessel,” she said.
Michael had no choice but to discontinue more than 17 years of Klickitat ferry performances Aug. 13 after passenger complaints led State Ferries officials to require that the Port Townsend musician be treated like any other passenger under tightened security requirements.
That meant Michael, 55, and suffering from back trouble, had to lug his 30-pound harp and pack CDs on and off each of eight departures and arrivals at the Port Townsend and Keystone terminals.
Coursey said Michael still would not be allowed to sell his CDs aboard the ferry because such sales are against Washington State Ferries policy without a proper permit.
“What we’re trying to do is work out something other than a contract,” said Coursey, adding that Michael would then be required to go through a “request for proposals” application process like any other ferry system vendor.
Michael would have to remain in the designated area and would not be permitted to walk around and solicit passengers, Coursey states in an Thursday e-mail to Michael.
“The vessel crew makes an announcement telling folks who they are and what they’re promoting so that passengers, if interested, come to them,” Coursey said.
Coursey told the Peninsula Daily News last week that passengers filed two complaints against Michael, citing that they had to take their items off while Michael did not.
Coursey on Thursday said additional record searches by state officials found a total of nine complaints filed by passengers who were concerned Michael was skirting the security policy and “approaching customers.”
That led ferries officials to clamp down on Michael, requiring him to abide by security and for-profit sales policies, she said.
Responding to Coursey, Michael said he could not afford the $200 fee.
“There are many days when I would not even receive donations totaling $200 if I was fully authorized to sell CDs,” he said.
Michael argues that the essence of what he does is not “self promotion” but supplying a service to Washington State Ferries.
“Personally, I view WSF’s position as extreme and lacking in creativity,” he said.
“Meanwhile, as a professional musician, I’m exploring new venues. I sincerely hope I can return to the boats again in the future as I miss seeing my friends and fans and vice versa.”
For Michael, an outpouring of public support has rolled in since his story broke last week.
The PDN‘s initial story, which appeared last Sunday, was distributed by The Associated Press and appeared in newspapers and on radio and TV stations throughout the state over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Michael said he has been interviewed live on several Seattle radio shows, received TV air time, and about 300 fan e-mail messages and phone calls from Port Townsend, California and as far away as Denmark.
“This has gotten a lot bigger than me right now,” he said.
“People are seeing this as the fear of the few trampling the love of the many,” said Michael, who estimates he performed for about 50,000 people in the past year – and perhaps 1 million in 17 years on the Klickitat.
His story has hit Web logs – blogs – and radio talk shows with both left and right-wing political bents.
His story made politically progressive buzzflash.com, and even provoked Seattle TV and radio commentator Ken Schramm to give State Ferries Executive Director Michael Anderson a “Schrammie” award – a Schramm bobblehead doll – for “good old unflinching, unyielding, inflexible government bureaucracy.”
Country radio station KMPS-FM invited Michael to perform as the opening act at 7 a.m. today on the KMPS stage at the Puyallup Fair – even paying for hotel accommodation for Michael and his wife, Dari.
“That station has taken it as a cause célèbre,” Michael said.
Coursey said she had communicated with several of Michael’s fans who sent letters of protest.
Roxana Lopez of Atascadero, Calif., wrote: “Public concerts, whether in a park or on a ferry, are an excellent way to foster harmony, good will, a sense of serenity (sometimes badly needed by those traveling on a ferry), and introduce many people to music.
“David’s unique harp concerts are captivating, his music original and inspiring, and the memories of those ferry concerts enduring.”
Michael said he has other options, including private gigs and a movie soundtrack, but still hopes he can return to perform on the Klickitat someday, should he work out an agreement with State Ferries officials.
“Ideally, I am hoping that I can return to doing what I’ve done before, but with some seal of approval, so I don’t have to worry about the humiliation of being shut down,” he said.
“I’m willing to subject myself to certain procedures – within reason.”
