(KEY WEST) It's been brewing since last year when regulations for street-performing were brought up in City Hall.
Now, a tourist was recently bitten on the face by a performer's lemur which has triggered a new law requiring entertainers to have a minimum of $300,000 of liability insurance.
The law was designed to bring street entertainers in line with other groups, such as taxis, pedicabs and street food vendors, all of whom are required to have similar liability policies.
Restrictions where you can perform were placed on Duval Street but not past Petronia. The first two blocks of Whitehead and other "pitch" restrictions also go into effect. The yearly permit was raised from $100 to $150 and if there's is a festival going on, no performing is allowed. Performer's insurance is available on the island at around $320+ annually depending on the act which can bring the total approaching $500.
Key West is known for its street performers. Each night at the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square Dock, musicians, jugglers, magicians and tightrope walkers entertain tourists. Those performers are vetted by an arts association called the Key West Cultural Preservation Society and are not affected by the new law.
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