I got a quick question. Is it busking if you’re not playing for money? There’s a little area of grass with a park bench outside my apartment. I’m always a bit afraid to play there because there are tons of houses and duplexes within 20 yards of me. Then I figure screw it, there are always hordes of screaming kids from 2pm-5pm ou there anyways. But every so often I draw a crowd of kids who ask me what I’m “singing.” I tell them, and then toot a few familiar theme songs and nursery rhymes by ear just to see the looks of recognicion alight on their faces and we all have fun. But is it busking?
I’m a little hesitant to do money busking in town, because I live in a college town. At certain times of the day of the year, there are certainly crowds of people. Though I’m not quite sure what I’m afraid of. It isn’t the exhibitionism, nor the skill, what few tunes I know, I can usually piece through by memory. Hmm. How does one go about finding out local ordinance on busking? Play out by the police station and see if they arrest you? Later~!
I always think of busking specifically as performing for tips. I do a lot of playing in the park or in the school yard, and often manage to collect an audience, but I don’t think of that as “busking” so much as, perhaps, “practice for busking.”
I, too, think it’s only busking if you’re asking for money, or have some sort of container out that IMPLIES you’d like money.
I play my whistle all over and I often worry that I am annoying people. I think it’s because sometimes I get strange looks or stares–but mostly I think that’s because people EXPECT a hat out, and expect me to be busking, and when I’m not, they aren’t sure what to do or how to feel. Like, should they still enjoy it if it’s free? I know it sounds weird, but our society tends to value more things that cost, even if only a donation.
If someone is actually ever annoyed by your playing, they can request you stop. It’s that easy! So, I would say play–esp if the kids are digging it. Cities & towns have plenty of annoying sounds, from traffic to machinery to car alarms, so why not throw some music into the mix?
If there is no hat out for contributions, then it isn’t “busking”. If you aren’t disobeying any ordinance for noise,then you can play whatever you want before the evening noise curfew.
No one can tell you to “shut up” unless you are causing a disturbance in traffic or something. Public areas are “fair game” for playing music. If people feel self consious around you, make a little sign that says "Like my music? clap! Don’t like it? take a hike!
As far as local ordinances regarding busking goes, the easiest way to find out is to drop by the local police station and ask. The research librarian at your local library can probably help too…just tell him or her that you’re trying to find out about busking/street performing laws in your city. Some communities don’t regulate it, some regulate it to a fare-thee-well, some just flat don’t allow it. Whatever the laws are, they will almost certainly apply strictly to playing for money…most communities won’t bother about you if you’re just playing for pleasure, unless you’re violating some noise ordinance or obstructing traffic.
At certain times of the day of the year, there are certainly crowds of people. Though I’m not quite sure what I’m afraid of.
The Whistle being a relativly quiet instrument. I wouldnt worry too much about noise ordinances. (well actually I would… but you shouldnt)
Busking is a Positive street activity, as opposed to a negative street activity. The worst thing you can do, or should I say best thing.. is to ruin a perfectly negative environment for lowlife’ted individuals engaged in negative street activities. Some municipalities (or at least the powers that be) prefer to have negative street activities, and will take measures to insure that Drug Dealers etc have a conducive environment for their activites. ITs called coruption, its how the business works.
Of course, there are also business owners who do not want a crowd of people gathering in front of their shop FOR ANY REASON.
The other people who will whine like girls about Busking are PAnhandlers/work for food types. Usually these are the first ones to call in a complaint. We have had a problem with the work for food panhandlers lately in my town.. one of these times I am going to go and play my Pipes right next to one of their intersections with one sign that says “move along people there is nothing to see” and another that says “Will work for crank”
I played at a historic-type train station yesterday, though not busking. I did, however, end up on some lady’s vacation video. I think I messed up when I noticed her, but I can’t quite remember.
I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if police stopped
me for playing when I wasn’t busking.
In NY when I was a kid the police stopped
people from playing guitar in and around
the (empty) fountain in Washington Square
Park.
I personally wouldn’t ask the
local police such questions. Also the laws
they cite may not be enforced. So they
may tell you No when nobody actually
cares. In addition, the laws they ‘cite’
may not exist.
My buddy Charles and I were run out
of the vastly large entrance space of
the St. Louis Zoo a few weeks ago.
We were busking, certainly, but
the police explained that they would
have run us off anyway if we weren’t. Best
Later~!
I think I messed up when I noticed her, but I can’t quite remember.