melcolmlee wrote:Hi Gary , just curious , did you asked for permission or inform the vivo's management before doing a side walk there ?
Hi Melcolm. We did not. Just like all my sidewalks at Toa Payoh Central.
This is my take and rationale (which may be flawed):
- The following scenario is not illegal --> Going to a *public* place to do stargazing alone with my telescope or with a few friends who may bring theirs. If we always need to ask permission to do that, it is as absurd as needing permission every time someone who is into photography, deploys a camera on a tripod and taking nice photos in a public space. Or is having a photography session with a small group of friends who brought their camera and tripods.
- Although Vivocity's Sky Park is meant for the public, it is technically still in a private commercial property. So the above-mentioned point may not completely apply. In short, this is still a grey area. Thus, as sidewalk astronomers, it is very important for us to set the right precedence and image and give it a good name so that it will be generally accepted as a positive active-citizenry activity and thus be implicitly allowed, accepted or welcomed in such locations.
This right precedence can be set by observing the following:
- Absolutely no commercial activity of any kind
- Absolutely no propaganda of any politics and religion
- Do not deploy in areas that will obstruct human traffic and create "choking" points. E.g. near entrance and exit points.
- Do not aggressively grab "customers" and thus become a nuisance. If people are curious and would like to take a look, let them approach you.
- No masssive or loud setups - large tentage, banners, loud speakers, ...etc.
- If there are hustlers and irrational people trying to create scene, just pack up and walk away.
- If approached by security officers or police -explain and show them what you are doing, i.e. let them look through the scope! If you are asked to leave, DO NOT argue or create a scene even if you think you are 110% right because this will set a VERY BAD precedence and image for sidewalk astronomy. Just thank the officer, pack up and leave.
Regarding this last point, if you think about it, it is actually their lost, not yours. You are participating in an activity that draw more crowd and potential customers for them free of charge.
Case in point is McDonald's at Bishan Park. We have established a very cordial relationship with them with our sidewalks over the past year - inviting their crew to take a look through our telescopes. Their manager has even thank us for attracting more customers to them. Very rare to find such smart and forward-thinking managers. Most brainless ones will just think your activity is just "obstructing" their business (Thus, the point about not deploying at locations that will create choke points in human traffic). Even if no sidewalk "customers" turn up, we ourselves are also the customers. I think I spent more money at Bishan Park McDonald's than at Toa Payoh's!
I guess if you intend to do large-scale sidewalk activity at Vivocity as an organised official GCC event backed by sponsors, then, in such clear context and circumstances, I would suggest you contact the Vivocity management for permission.
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