I was in New York City, Times Square this past weekend for a Broadway show. Times Square is an entertainment mecca, drawing in millions of visitors every year. Many of those people are visiting the city for the very first time. There is something I’ve seen enough times that I think it’s worth calling it out.
Costumed Characters
In Times Square, there are these costumed characters that would beckon you to take photos with them. This weekend, I’ve seen Disney’s Olaf from Frozen, Lady Liberty, and a slew of Marvel superheroes.
I am no stranger to paying for photos taken at attractions. The issue here is expectation. The problem with these costumed characters in Times Square is that they would beckon unsuspecting visitors to take pictures, and then get quite aggressive when a tourist doesn’t tip them (or don’t know they needed to).
New York City was aware of the problem and had taken some steps.
New York City’s Response
NYC had received complaints of bad behaviors in the last couple of years and they have since provided additional guidance. According to the Times Square visitor’s website:
This doesn’t stop visitors from being ripped off.
This weekend, while trying to navigate through the crowds, an unsuspecting family took a picture with a costumed character. When they turned to leave, the costumed character pulled on them (effectively preventing them from leaving) and pressured them for a tip by pointing them to the tip bag.
As with most people, they awkwardly dug through their pockets for some loose change to hand over.
Is it a scam? Absolutely not, if the expectations are clear. The costumed characters folks are trying to making a living too, and I am sure some of them are wonderful in their roles.
Still, some of these aggressive moves from the few bad apples really turned me off to most of the costumed characters in NYC.
So, travelers beware.
Have you encounter any aggressive costumed characters in NYC? Sound off below.
My teenage sons visited times square yesterday and took a picture with one character and was not aware they had to pay and when they tried to walk off the characters aggressively pulled his arm back and forced him to pay. And the other characters also made them pay.
Thanks for sharing. I’m sorry he had to experience it. They really shouldn’t be doing that, and I’m sure that soured his experience. They are not supposed to be “aggressive” with getting tips, but they are (and they’re probably getting away with it too).
The first time this happened was with my Mom. She had no idea. She was caught off guard. And it really soured the experience. There should be clear signs that it’s a “Pay for picture” service. It’s very deceiving to unsuspecting people, otherwise.
I’m so sorry this happened to your sons. My mom and I were there yesterday with others to celebrate a birthday. We got separated from the group when the Elmo and Cookie Monster characters came up to us for photos. We didn’t think anything of it and agreed. Afterward they surrounded us along with a Mario and a second Elmo character who snuck into the photo unbeknownst to us demanding a tip of $20 each. Naively, my mom gave 3 of them the money, as that’s all she had and they still wouldn’t let up. I tried to get us out of there and yelled at them for harassing us saying we never asked for the picture in the first place. We told our party and we went to the police station that’s right there, but they told us they couldn’t do anything since we willingly took the picture, and they didn’t snatch the phone out of my hand. Which was also stupid of me, I admit. Although that obviously wasn’t the issue. Reading your and others stories about this same situation, and still feeling angered, as I want justice, I now realize how it could have gone much worse if she didn’t comply. I would probably have gone to jail also. Just saying.
Each of them make at least $30k a year if not more (i have a feeling this is untaxed money too).
I was there in June, and saw a fully naked woman painted green like the statue of liberty. The paint was not very opaque, however.