Organizers for outdoor music and cultural events similar to Norfolk's Bayou Boogaloo & Cajun Festival said last week it is common practice for contracts to bar performers from using profanity.
Festevents officials, who put on the Bayou Boogaloo at Town Point Park last weekend, said all future contracts will include an anti-profanity clause, after rapper Raymond "Boots" Riley was removed from the stage and cited for use of obscenities in public June 21.
"We do stress in all our materials, as well as in contracts, that this is a family concert," said Jeanette Walker, who is vice president of Johnson Inc., a Richmond-based company that owns a 12-year-old concert series called Fridays at Sunset. The yearly summer series is held at Kanawha
Plaza, a city-owned park.
Originally a jazz festival, Fridays at Sunset has morphed into a showcase of jazz, R&B, soul, reggae and hip-hop. Walker, who's been with the festival for seven years, said that even with a number of hip-hop acts, profanity has never been an issue because rules forbidding it have been in writing and discussed at length with the artists' handlers since the series began.
"Everyone we have booked has been very respectful, which I think speaks very highly of them and our event," she said. "They understand that we take this very seriously and we want our community to enjoy these performances."
Artists including The Roots and Mos Def - neither of which shy away from harsh language - have performed at the concerts without incident, and the series even welcomed rapper Nas on Friday.
As a precaution, organizers added a disclaimer to promotional materials for Nas' show that it was for adults, Walker said. But that did not give the performer permission to use profanity at the event.
"We have had many conversations," she said. "You do this long enough that you put things in writing to avoid those situations. You have to be on your toes."
Karen Scherberger, executive director of Festevents, said that until now, the need for a special contract clause hadn't been considered, because artists heeded oral warnings not to swear onstage.
Some downtown residents complained that they heard performers use profanity at Town Point Park during Afr'Am Fest over the Memorial Day weekend. Afr'Am Fest officials denied that obscene language was used.
Scherberger said the new contracts do not spell out a list of words that are prohibited, but "it is a situation of what is considered offensive language by city code," she said. Violators will forfeit their performance fee.
Mike Hilton, director of marketing for Beachevents, which puts on the American Music Festival on Labor Day weekend, said the group's contracts have long forbidden bad language. They talk with groups beforehand, but in light of Festevent's headaches, Hilton and his staff are having meetings to try to figure out what they'd do if an act violated the policy.
Walker, from Richmond, said an artist would have to say something "awfully drastic" for her to involve police.
In Oakland, Calif., where Riley lives, organizers for outdoor family events take precautions against obscenity.
Jim MacIlvaine, special events coordinator in Oakland's cultural arts and marketing department, said groups are warned in advance of the Oakland Art & Soul Festival, an outdoor event nearing its eighth year.
Oakland researches groups extensively, MacIlvaine said, and would likely sanction an offending act by consulting lawyers and possibly withholding payment. He could not think of a circumstance in which a performer would be criminally charged with using profanity.
"Someone would have to go off the deep end," he said.
Riley is the lead singer for the rap group The Coup. At the June 21 evening concert, he was introducing a band called Galactic when he used a variation of the F-word.
Scherberger, the city's vice mayor and other witnesses said Riley's expletive-ridden words were offensive, considering the family atmosphere of the Cajun festival. Scherberger said she does not regret getting the police involved to charge Riley with a misdemeanor.
"There have been those that have questioned the action I took, but I can honestly tell you the vast majority of calls and e-mails from individuals black and white appreciate the stance we've taken, and it's been very satisfying," she said.
Riley is to appear in Norfolk General District Court on July 23 and could face a fine of as much as $250.
Some Hampton Roads artists said they police themselves. Soprano, a local rapper who performed at this year's Afr'Am Festival, said he was warned at least three times to keep it clean - from his audition to the time he handed over his CD to go on stage - but warnings were unnecessary.
"Truthfully, whenever you see children around, you should keep it professional and not curse," said the rapper, who is from the Park Place section of Norfolk. He said he would not have needed a contract stipulating that he avoid R-rated material; faces in the crowd were enough.
Likewise, local rap artist Derek32zero said he was cautioned before his Afr'Am performance years ago. Most rap artists just know better, he said.
"Hip-hop artists already know the climate," he said. He has opened for groups including The Roots and Common. "You know the stigma attached, whether you are a socially conscious act or a gangster rapper. But you have people that are just going to try and challenge that, and an outdoor festival is just not the right place."
Derek32zero said Riley's excuse that he wasn't contractually warned beforehand "seems like he was just trying to justify what he did. You have to know your audience."
Malcolm Venable, (757) 446-2662, malcolm.venable@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Newspeak
Charlesr85353, you got it right regarding the pick-and-choose "constructionists". The feeble-minded will remain hysterical until their right to protest is conviently abridged for Newspeak.
The only offensive speech is the rhetoric you refuse to hear. Censoring someone's voice is a vulgar measure, indeed. The irony of this story in the wake of George Carlin's death cannot be missed.
Get a life people
North America is on the verge if not into a recession. Your mortgage finances are in a shambles. You are paying through the nose for fuel. You shoot each other with legal and illegal firearms at an astonishingly breath taking rate. Now you are worried about a few words that George Carlon as already provide are only obscene in the mind of those who hear them, if they so wish.
"The insertion of a four
"The insertion of a four letter word for “emphasis” usually only points out the speaker lacks command of his or her vocabulary."
The typical misunderstanding of the use of language. Just because he chooses to use words you wouldn't doesn't make him ignorant of vocabulary. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, in the Constitution delineating what vocabulary should be used to express one's ideas. Sheesh, for a bunch of people who profess to be "strict constructionists" of the Constitution you sure don't understand it.
Research before you speak..
D-Kent. You're making a vague generalization based on something that "people hear in the media". Boots Riley and The Coup don't "demean women" in the way that you're assuming they do because they rap. Just because Don Imus said that all rappers routinely demean women more than he did, doesn't mean it's true. Granted, yes. As far as the social determination of "profanity" goes, Boots Riley does blow it out of the park on The Coup's albums. However, as far as actual content, you'd find more "demeaning women" in a country song.
Hip-hop that has lyrics which give a radical message or speak directly to the situations and living conditions of their audience have always been tossed aside as "no talent trash". Much the same way that early 50's rock and roll was called trash and noise.
And C Hart, you're completely right. It'll probably end up being the best spent 800 bucks for some free publicity. Migh
I agree, can we move on to more topical points of interest?
For instance, Did anyone happen to notice that the Crany Island funding from the federal government has been put on hold by congress? I found it interesting that in was in the paper but intentionally omitted on line. Seems to be something very wrong or that the pilot is hiding this news from potential investors on other developments that Norfolk and Portsmouth would use the hopeful advent of this major shipping deal to cultivate interest in the area. It seems as though the pilot has a bias that is a bit fraudulent by not releasing it on line. Where is the journalistic responsibility? I'm more concerned by that and not to mention as I have on previous stories in regards to the fault of fest-events with this story, I thank Boots for his defiance of our repressive hypocritical city and hope that a change comes with it.
We don't need Boots Riley and his filth
Enough of this already! He is a rapper, not a talented performer. He makes money demeaning women and engaging in public vulgarities. Please bar him from future events. Way to go Karen, you got guts girl! Finally someone is standing up to all this disgraceful behavior.
Mike, you're full of crap!
Did you not see last year's concert? The lead singer didn't drop it once or twice. It was several times. And I don't recall anyone going up there to stop him or have him arrested. You are full of crap with your "long standing" rules.
Rosemary -
Yeah, appparently they don't have a contract because that idiot was performing at a "family" event and all he could do was f-this, f-that in his drunk voice. He clearly wasn't sober either. I guess living up to Michael Hutchence is a little overwhelming for the guy. But a lot of us stood by and were appalled. Not that the f-word was coming out - but there's no need to hear it over and over and over with our children nearby. We aren't out there watching a porno being filmed. We are trying to relax after running 13.1 miles and hearing some idiot being foul mouthed for an hour or longer wasn't fun or family friendly in lovely VB. Hopefully the concerts this year are better!
6 days now
6 days of this as a lead story now. Apparently it's the most important news item this year. How about everyone post what he said in the comments section and see what the pilot thinks about the issue by allowing or deleting the posts.
Lack of
The insertion of a four letter word for “emphasis” usually only points out the speaker lacks command of his or her vocabulary.
Prurient feelings . . .
People are scared of their inner selves, their inner selves that thrive on prurient feelings. Let it out folks; words are not going to hurt you, or your babies. Neither is seeing nudity going to hurt you, nor are desirous thoughts of lustful activities.
It is those who bottle up their prurience who end up with numerous types of psychoses.
Hmm
I checked out Boots Riley as an artist and his stuff isn't bad! There are videos of Galactic w/ Boots on youtube live. Also, I found an interview with him praising internet downloading of music, so that's what I did! Another young person was commenting to me about how funny the whole episode is, given that it was 9:30pm at night, and it's a block from a strip of bars. I think some are seeing the whole episode as Norfolk being incompatible with young people, or hip people.
Scherberger
It's not her fault. She's only the Executive Director of the event and it's not her fault when things go wrong at these events. In case you've missed it, the one thing she has made very clear from the beginning is that it's not her fault and she shouldn't take responsibility.
$250
He'll only make more on his next gig.
He's just "pushing the envelope."
Yeah, Right and Lenny Bruce was a genius.
thats funny...
i attended the INXS concert a couple of years ago on the oceanfront and the "new" lead singer couldn't say the "f" word enough. I had seen the real INXS many years ago and they didn't cuss as much as this new guy. So Va. beach...you lie.
Profanity From Rappers
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....it's a duck. What do these people expect from the filthy rappers? Bible quotes?
What happened to freedom of speech?
When the government takes legal action against someone exercising their 1st amendment rights, that's appalling. Profanity is protected speech! Now, if you want to sue this guy in a civil case for breech of contract, then that's another thing. People need to wake up and realise the difference.
Ah yes, I spelled "realize" wrong. My bad. It's a typo. But, more to the point: those of you who think their ears were damaged from this guy using a varient of the F-word need to consider what rights you lose when you applaud the government for doing what they did. You set precedent for ANY word that some joe blow finds "hurts his feelings" to be on this "blue list." Heck, one day I just might feel the word "tuna" is offensive for whatever my reason and the next person who says it around me, I'll report to the cops and they had better take action under my rights for equal protection under the law and arrest this gu.
250 bucks for all this publicity
I'd sure fly out here and pay 250 bucks so long as the Pilot can put my name in the paper every other day.
I'm sure this 'Boots' guy, who I never heard of before, has gotta be getting a lot of royalties from this region on downloading sites. Hey there may even be reciprocity. Perhaps 'Boots' can curse about Norfolk and the city can get a little publicity as well.
what?
Grow up
So what he used some words?
Whats next book bruning?
why not fine movies, tv shows ?
He what i would love to do
Have a concert and have the poeple use the words instand of i
what are the to do fine everyone?
just let you al the only reason i am not usinf such words here is that i dont know whom is reading this , if this was a concert poeple are paying for a show to be shock and enterteined , all most like going to a kiddie rollercoaster enought to give a trill but not to fast
And yet..
After we see and hear from other event organizers in different cities, that calling the cops and having the artist ticketed should only be done in drastic measures, Norfolk's so hard up for money (to pay the electric bill hike no doubt)that they refuse to drop the charges and force Boots to fly all the way back here for a nuisance fine.
Why are we apologizing?
Why do decent people need to apologize for being decent?