now it may or may not be common knowledge, but you need a lisence to busk in most u.k cities. but i'm planning on busking around europe to try and fund my little walking adventure.. does any1 know if you need lisences to busk in other european countries. cheers smartie
The rules vary from city to city and, in London, section to section. The only place I know for certain is York, unless the rules have changed in the past year or so. In York, you don't need a licence to busk unless you're busking as a group of over two people. However, you cannot sell merchendise such as CDs without a licence either. Good luck
While you technically need a license to busk in a lot of cities in the uk, there are one or two such as York, Cambridge and Guildford where you don't and I don't think I have EVER seen any busker asked to show his license. I believe the ran a system on the london underground of making prospective buskers audition for their license as a way of filtering out anyone who was a bit scheidt. And to be fair it's a while since i've seen a really crap busker on the tube.
If that is true, then it isn't enforced. I've busked myself and while my dad's a Kingsman I have no connection with the university whatsoever. I think in most cases in most cities they won't turn anyone away unless their upsetting the public by making a lot of horrible noises. I've also seen a fair few street entertainers in Cambridge. no idea if there are separate laws for non-musical street performers or whether or not they have applied for permission, but then I've also seen school boys busking and also local professionals in the area.
theres a really good book by susan griffins (or grifith - cant remember) and its called "work your way around the world" theres a whole section on busking and free enterprise etc. it tells you all the regulations for the different countries in europe. where you will be tolerated and wheres good to make lots of money. it also gives loads of other tips for work if the money runs out and busking isnt good. its the best tenner i spent in ages, but if you dont want to buy it the local library should have one. hope that helps good luck on your travels peace and love stardust xxx
I'll look out for that. If that book's the best tenner you've ever spent, busking's got to be the best £50per hour I've ever earnt.
Busking: playing in public with an instrument case open in case any passers by accidently drop their loose change whilst walking past you. If you play loudly and obnoxiously enough you can make them tremble right in front of you and drop all sorts of things. Can be a very good way of making money especially around busy shopping periods.
Dress in a jester's outfit while playing a guitar. Some people will think it's so funny the money just flys out of their hands.
And where would I plug it in? Would be a bit of a con really though - to use pre-recorded samples for busking. Anyway if you hear me play my sax you might actually like it - beats Renaissance folk song anyway!
Boomboxes have batteries too. Are you as good as that Kenny G guy? He's the only famous sax player I know. In America, we call them street preformers.
street performers, street entertainers, what's the difference? That "Kenny G guy" urgh! Makes me want to throw up. PLEASE TELL ME YOU'VE HEARD OF CHARLIE PARKER! Actually, he died decades ago, that's prehistoric by your standards, isn't it.
That'd be Miles Davis. Well if you want to hear how unlike Kenny G I sound I could always send you some mp3s over the messaging client of your choice.
