
Celebrating
self-expression as a basic human right essential for the
healthy
growth of youth, individuals and communities
COMMUNITY
ARTS ADVOCATES, INC.
Stephen
H. Baird, Founder and Executive Director
PO
Box 300112, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-0030
Email:
info@buskersadvocates.org
www.BuskersAdvocates.org
|
(Detailed site index at bottom of
page)
|
The
History and Cultural Impact
of
Street Performing in
America
by Stephen Baird © Stephen Baird 2023
PERFORMANCE
LOCATIONS
Hello Folks! This newsletter is an update on
performing locations throughout the world. Pass this letter around and
share the information. Please forward comments, corrections, and ideas
back this way. The information is only as good as you share and provide
it. Suggested donation of $10 for use Make checks payable to Community Arts Advoocates and
send to the Street Arts Advocates, P.O. Box 300112, Jamaica Plain, MA
02130-0030. (Outside U.S. please send cash in dollars or postal money
order in US funds only, there is a $15.00 bank charge to cash foreign
checks). Donations can
also be made by credit card through Community Arts Advocates at the on line secure site of PayPal.
Legal Status: The most important court cases are Goldstein v. Town of
Nantucket, 477 F. Supp., 606, (1979); Davenport v Alexandria, VA
683 F2d 853 (1983), 710 F2d 148 (1983), 748 F2d 208 (1984); and Friedrich v. Chicago
619 F. Supp., 1129. (D.C. Ill 1985) (The last case concerning the
Chicago ordinance time and place restrictions were recently vacated).
Two new cases Turley vs NYC was favorably decided in May 1997,
including a substantial financial settlement 988 F.Supp, 667 &
675 (1997). See Turley
vs NYC, US 2nd Cir Appeal 98-7114 (1999) web site decision: http://www.tourolaw.edu/2ndCircuit/January99/98-71141.html.
Court case decided in December
2001 with ACLU support protects street performances on Kalakaua Ave. in
Waikiki, Hawaii (Decision still not published Williams,
and all vs City and County of Honolulu, First Cir. Ct. of the State of
Hawaii, civ No. 00-1-2039-06 VLC). I urge street artists to go to the
public library and obtain copies for themselves. All these cases give
First Amendment protection to street performances, including passing
the hat.
The Perry
v. LAPD, US 9th Cir Appeals 96-55545 (1997) gave First
Amendment protection for street artists, Harry Perry and Robert Newman
aka "Jingles," to sell cds, banners, t-shirts and pins on the Venice
Beach boardwalk. Read the decision at this web site: http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/04485f8dcbd4e1ea882569520074e698/371d371ea81d067e8825695800725c9d?OpenDocument&ExpandView
Hopefully, if a few more cases are won in other states the words "move
on" will not be heard as frequently.
New court case decisions about subway performances have been
mixed. Performances can happen, but severely restricted including total
bans on amplification.
Street performer festivals are popping up all over the world
from Europe to Canada to Australia. The level of production varies
significantly. Be sure to get commitments in writing. Also, do not
undersell you talents. If a street artists is being auditioned and
scheduled then appropriate fees should be charged. Additional festivals
are listed under locations. The best street performers festival in my
opinion is the Edmonton festival started by Dick Finkel.
South Seaport (New York City), Bayside Marketplace (Miami,
FL), Harbor Marketplace (Baltimore, MD) and Faneuil Hall Market Places
(Boston, MA), Rouse Company-owned malls schedule performances and
festivals (www.therousecompany.com). Addresses: Seaport Marketplace, 19
Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038, 212/732-7678 www.southseaport.com;
Harbor Marketplace, 200 East Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202
301/332-4191 www.harborpalce.com; and Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 South
Market, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, 617/523-1300
www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com; Bayside Marketplace Suite R106, 401
Biscayne Blvd, Miami, Florida 33132-1924 Phone: 305-577-3344
http://baysidemarketplace.com
In July, in Edmonton, Alberta, there is a week long Street
Performers Festival. Travel, living and performing fees are given.
Contact: Summer Fest, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq, Suite #650, Edmonton,
Alberta T5J 2V4, Canada, 403/425-5162 street@connect.ab.ca. Web site:
www.discoveredmonton.com/streetperformers This Festival receives the
best reviews from street artists.
First Night programs are held in many cities and are looking
for street artists. Contact: First Night Worcester, PO Box
351, Worcester, MA 01614 508/799-4909 www.firstnightworcester.org; are
just a two. First Night International, WEB: www.firstnite.org publishes
a list of all the First Night Festivals world-wide.
Northwest Folklife Festival on Memorial Day Weekend in
Seattle also welcomes street artists. See web site for guidelines. 305
Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109-4695, 206/684-7300 WEB:
http://www.nwfolklife.org/folklife/.
Halifax International Street Performers Festival, 5151
George St. Suite 803, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 1T1 902-429-3910 WEB:
buskers.ns.sympatico.ca/ It is a competition with prize money, artists
are not paid, good reports of crowds and hat money. Held in early
August.
Alternative Arts, Top
Studio, Bethnal Green Training Centre, Deal Street, London E1 5HZ; Tel:
020 7375 0441; WEB: http://www.alternativearts.co.uk/ Email:
info@alternativearts.co.uk for information and bookings at Soho,
Tragalgar Sq. by Saint Martins Church and The Annual International
Festival of Street Entertainers (usually held in July) Street
Performers Assoc., Unit F, Croftdown Road, London NW5 1HB Telephone:
020 7272 1176 fax 0208 681 0141 WEB site:
http://www.streetperformance.co.uk/; Email:
mail@streetperformance.co.uk for info on Covent Gardens, Street
Festivals and pitches. Covent Garden in London, England web site.
http://www.coventgardenlife.com/streetentertainers/default.htm
Celebration Barn Theater, 190 Stock Farm Rd., South Paris ME
04281 207-743-8452 WEB: www.celebrationbarn.com conducts a series of
workshops by Fred Garbo; Leland Faulkner; Benny Reehle and others for
the serious street and new vaudeville performers.
Other WEB sites to review. See links page for more extensive
list of artists, organizations and festivals here.
http://www.performers.net
Stories by Rex Boyd on
performing in Europe, plus David Cassel on performances in Australia
and tips on how to start out. Also has extensive performer and festival
directories.
http://www.openair.org/opair/strprfrm.html
Street Festivals, Street
Vendors, Street Performers, Maxwell Street in Chicago, etc.
http://www.westland.net/venice/performers.htm
Venice Beach, California
performers site includes Tony Vera, Robert Gruenberg and others.
http://www.dom.zip.com.au/sb/index.html
Australia info site. Includes
performer directory
http://www.montefeltro.net/artistiinpiazza/index.html
Pennabilli, Italy
This newsletters has been published for over three decade
now. Many copies are sent to national news organizations, libraries,
arts councils and legal clinics free of charge as part of the advocacy
to expand the public support of the street arts. Donations are always welcome. Many thanks.
Stephen
Baird, Street
Arts Advocates

Babes Stovall in New Orleans 1972
NORTH
AMERICA STREET PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS
Locations: Here is a
breakdown of North
America. The information is hard to keep up-to-date and I've had many
conflicting reports. Please send back corrections and any new
information that is available. Updated laws and permit
requirements can be obtained by visiting or accessing the web sites of
City and Town Clerk offices. Clerk offices are the information
centers for laws and permits and should be able to inform you of
current requirements. I also visit local music shops, galleries
and ask area artists to find out about best locations and busker
traditions on performance rotation and time sharing.
Key: L=license; M=mall,
auditioned and
scheduled, at least one month wait; SP=generally open on streets and
parks; SUB=subways, F= festival.
IMPORTANT: Please consider
sendng in a $10
donation for this information. It takes time and money ($500 year) to
keeep it posted and updated.
Make checks
payable to COMMUNITY
ARTS
ADVOCATES in US Dollars
International
Postal Money Orders and send to:Street Arts Advocates,
P.O. Box 300112, Jamaica Plain, MA
02130-0030
USA. Donations can also be made by credit card through PayPal at
Community
Arts Advocates
WEST COAST U.S.A.
- Seattle, WA: M, SP.
Pikes Place Market best area; need permit. A street artist guild
produced a festival in 2002. Folks also perform around the university. Northwest
Folklife Festival on Memorial Day Weekend in Seattle welcomes street
artists. See web site for guidelines. 305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA
98109-4695, 206/684-7300 WEB: http://www.nwfolklife.org/folklife/.
See Artis the Spoonman web site for West Coast, Canadian and European
Festival contacts at: http://www.artisthespoonman.net See Jim Page's web site for his story of
singing at the Seattle City Council to open the city for performances. http://www.jimpage.net/streetsinging.htm
The Pike Marker Performers' Guild iproduces annual Pike Market Buskers'
Festival, in September: http://www.pikemarketbuskers.org
NOTE: New Federal Court Case No.
CV 03-3238Z - Western Washington District Court Judge James Robart --
with legal judgement in April 22, 2005 of $20,000 for Magic Mike
Berger. Details at his web site: http://funandmagic.com/performersrights.html Additional
details and list of individual artists on this web site: http://www.BuskersAdvocates.org/saaseattle.html Kirsten Anderberg
kirstena@resist.ca NO BUSKER LEFT BEHIND Seattle Street Performer
Sponsorship Fund details here: http://users.resist.ca/~kirstena/pagenobuskerleftbehind.html
Also has many fun articles to explore.
- Spokane, WA Legal battle for street performances
won in November 2008. Details HERE
- Portland, OR: SP. No permit required for
street. One hour limit per location. Can not be heard 100 feet
away. Waterfront park and other parks require permit. Saturday
market; need to be scheduled, sign up at 9 am (arrive earlier for
better spots). Web site for Portland Buskers at http://pdxbusk.wordpress.com/ June 30, 2011: Portland Tribune article - Rhythm of the streets by
Peter Korn - review of Portland Oregon street music laws and scnene http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=130938353776153700 Reprinted here with additional info: http://pdxbusk.wordpress.com/tag/street-musician-partnership-for-portland/
- Eugene, OR: Only at
Saturday market and university. City is closed. Downtown Mall
http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/cityreco/CITYCODE/Chapter4/c4.830-874.htm#4.870:
Street entertainer. Three or fewer persons conducting, presenting,
participating in musical, theatrical, cinematic, choreographic or
athletic performances to an audience of not more than twenty-four
persons.
- San Francisco, CA: SP,
L, M, F. Many area's to play. Tourist spots and malls are scheduled The
Cannery, Pier 89, etc. Also in Chinatown and Union Square. Subway
system limited access. WEB: http://www.pier39.com/pier39/english/index.html RECENT NOTE 3/08 from: San Francisco Street Musician's
Guild
http://www.sfstreetmusic.com -- On Tuesday March 9, 2008 the SF
Port authority made the new street performers program permanent. See
the plan at http://www.sfport.com/site/port_page.asp?id=73156
San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Regulations with both
scheduled spots and First Amendment areas.... After San Francisco four years
police crackdown on Street
Musicians trying to earn a living by selling their own music on
sidewalks of the Fisherman's Wharf area. Contact : Stephen Dreyfuss
Scdreyfuss@aol.com http://streetnote.org/
Sound clips and photographs of
street performers in NYC, Chicago, Madison, Los Angles, Santa Cruz,
Berkeley, San Francisco by STREETNOTE, 3288 21st street #185, San
Francisco, CA, 94110 email: nutt@streetnote.org Contact: Tim Nutt
- Santa Cruz, CA: SP.
Great town, but recently passed new restrictive language in 2002. Look
for the statue that tributes street performer and musical saw player
Tom Scribner. See: http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/people/scribner.shtml Tom Noddy, one of the
pioneers for street performances, was arrested for juggling on June 26,
2003. See the Santa Cruz page for details by clicking here Sound
clips and photographs of street performers in NYC, Chicago, Madison,
Los Angles, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, San Francisco by STREETNOTE, 3288
21st street #185, San Francisco, CA, 94110 email: nutt@streetnote.org
Contact: Tim Nutt http://streetnote.org/
- Santa Monica, CA: SP.
Pedestrian mall area has performances, still some problems with police.
City web site: http://www.smgov.net/Departments/Finance/content.aspx?id=25952
Ordinance:
http://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/Finance/Fees_and_Payments/INFO-StreetPerformanceOrdinance-2014.pdf
Flathead (Ned Landin), a fine street musician worked very hard to make
this happen, 310-455-4332 Web
site: http://www.flatworld.net See this link for regulations Santa Monica, CA
- Los Angeles, CA: SP.
Mostly on Venice Beach. Lottery started in 2005 for monthly permits for
40 spots for performers and 60 spots for vendors. City Park Department: http://www.laparks.org/venice/pdf/ProgramRules4_02_08.pdf Attorney Sue Basko overview: http://suebasko.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-be-street-performer-in-los.html Also by the Fine Arts
Museum. WEB: http://www.westland.net/venice/performers.htm
Venice Beach, California
performers site includes Tony Vera, Harry Perry, Robert Gruenberg and
others. http://streetnote.org/
Sound clips and photographs of
street performers in NYC, Chicago, Madison, Los Angles, Santa Cruz,
Berkeley, San Francisco by STREETNOTE, 3288 21st street #185, San
Francisco, CA, 94110 email: nutt@streetnote.org Contact: Tim Nutt
Tony Vera on Venice Beach
Photo by Jeffery
Stanton
- San Diego Buskers and Artists - Balboa Park lottery system
(1st Saturday of every month), seapot village is a good spot, some
places in the habor are ok, gaslamp is good and ocean beach is a good
spot, that usually doesnt get police harrasment. everywhere else is
busk at your own risk https://www.facebook.com/groups/sdbuskers/ A 2016 tv news story on Buskers legal issues http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Explained-What-the-Law-Says-About-Street-Performers-375872211.html
- Anchorage, Juneau,
Alaska: L.
SP.
- Hawaii: SP, F. Court
case decided in December 2001 with ACLU support protects street
performances on Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki. See web site page: Waikiki
Street Performers Win Lawsuit Some street work mostly around Hawaiian
Vaudeville Festival in February see http://www.hawaiianjugglingfestival.com.
- Reno,
Nevada:
http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2003/11/21/57307.php?sp1=rgj&sp2=News&sp3=Local+News&sp5=RGJ.com&sp6=news&sp7=local_news&jsmultitag=news.rgj.com/news/local
Steven C. White and Ben Klinefelter sued the city of Reno in Federal
Court (June 2003) over their First Amendment right to sell their work
in parks and on streets downtown will receive $47,500 in a settlement,
officials said Thursday.
- Las Vegas, Nevada:
Similar court case along the Freemont Street pedestrian mall See:
American Civil Liberties Union, NV v. City of Las Vegas 333 F3d 1092
(9th Cir. 2003) Central deciding factors in the two cases were the
"retained public easement rights," plus both were historical public
spaces and former public streets. Courts ruled artists and groups could
display information and make sales.
- Salt Lake City: Activity
increased during recent Olympic Games. Library Block area 200 East
Street, 400 South Street, 300 East Street, and 500 South Street used by
street vendors and performers.
WESTERN U.S.
Reports are improving from
the west-central
area of the US in 2003-2005, low level of acceptance and activity in
towns like Phoenix and Dallas. Johnny Hahn, a traveling street piano
player tried a few college towns, street fairs and festivals with
some success.
- Austin, TX: SP. college
town, 6th Street area is closed off on most weekends and becomes a
pedestrain mall where folks perform. Also vaudeville stage hosted at
Esther's Follies, 525 East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701 Contact:
Shannon Sedwick Telephone; 512-320-0553 Web http://www.esthersfollies.com. Recent arrest March 2003 reported at http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2003-03-07/cols_postmarks.html
Austin
does not have as good a scene for busking as Boston does, even though
it calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World. The deal is you
need a permit, but you cannot be amplified. Most folks play on 6th
street, which is the street downtown where Antone's is. Jenny Reynolds,
www.jennyreynolds.com December 2004.
- San Antonio, TX Voluntary permit system: 11 AM -11 PM, No amplification, no vending. City regulations: https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/CCDO/Vending/Policy-StreetPerformers.pdf
- BuskerFest returns to the intersection of Wayne &
Calhoun Street in beautiful Downtown Fort Wayne on Saturday June
24th! A celebration of the street performer, BuskerFest offers
great entertainment for the whole family and FREE admission! Come
Downtown from 4-10pm to see musicians, fire dancers, acrobats, living
statues and so much more. http://downtownfortwayne.com/buskerfest/
- Denver, CO: SP. varied
reports, 16th St. Mall offers a small subsidy (no permit, no
amplification, vendors permit needed for tape sales), Lehrame Square
area best. Downtown Denver Interantional Busker Festival, 3309 Blake
St. #102, Denver, CO 80205 303-295-1195 http://www.buskerfest.com/ or http://performanceintl.org Denver, Colorado -- Performance
International, PO Box 6304, Denver, CO 80206 E-mail:
piman@performanceintl.org
- Boulder, CO: SP.
Downtown Pearl St. pedestrian mall http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/cao/brc/4-11.html, active scene, summer
eves. Yearly festival.
- Aspen, CO: SP. Heard a
few good reports for short stays.
- Santa Fe, New Mexico:
Permit $35 year, $10 month; Santa Fe Buskers
Alliance was formed in 2006 and sucessfully resolve issue with city. See this page for details
Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Albuquerque, New Mexico: J. Michaels Combs reports town now
open. Albuquerque had a NM Buskers Fair in April 2012, University of
New Mexico a good performance area.
- "City ponders rules to encourage street, sidewalk performers"
by Megan Kamerick, Albuquerque Business First, June 3, 2007 About new
busking permit with $10 yearly permit HERE
- Busker Audition Days, April 6th - 7th, 2012, Old Town,
Albuquerque As a celebration of the Busking tradition Old Town invites
Albuquerque’s street musicians to come and perform on the best stage in
town, Old Town’s Plaza Vieja Gazebo. Please include photo, bio and a
recording of your music or video of performance. Links will be fine.
Mancle Anderson, Old Town Technical Operations 505-228-3314
mancle@cabq.gov
- Taos, New Mexico: J. Michaels Combs reports town now open. Bent Street Pedestrain Mall has scheduled spots.
- Phoenix, AZ: Downtown Phoenix Partnership with help from
Stephen Strange, a Phoenix vaudeville/circus performer scheduled spots
during lunch times on Adams Street. See: http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2005/12/33396_comment.php
- Bisbee, AZ article on arrest and then charges dropped of
Greg Pike http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/136878.php
- Kansas City, KN:
Sometimes but many reported police problems in the Westport area at
night.
- Lawrence Busker Festival - Lawrence Kansas - Late August since 2008
- Saint Louis, MO: Many
reported problems in dock Landing and Arch areas by the river downtown,
best spot is the University City Loop. Passed new ordinance in 1997 http://www.slpl.lib.mo.us/cco/code/data/t2055.htm (Official printed copies of St. Louis City
Revised Code may be obtained from the Register's Office at the St.
Louis City Hall., 1200 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Telephone
314-622-4000 General Info)
MIDWESTERN U.S.
Jerry Rau in Dinky Town
www.folkrocks.com/JerryRau.html
- Madison, WI: M, SP.
Great town! Long 6 block pedestrian mall from capitol to university and
great farmers market, Saturdays, on the capitol grounds (market is
scheduled, but unscheduled performaces happen accross the street). http://streetnote.org/
Sound clips and photographs of
street performers in NYC, Chicago, Madison, Los Angles, Santa Cruz,
Berkeley, San Francisco by STREETNOTE, 3288 21st street #185, San
Francisco, CA, 94110 email: nutt@streetnote.org Contact: Tim Nutt
- Milwaukee, WI: A new
scene. See September 19, 2002:
http://www.onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/juggler.html
- Chicago, IL: SP., L,
SUB. See this web page on this site for more information HERE. Best areas are Michigan Ave. days, Rush
St. evenings and entrance of Lincoln Park Zoo on weekends. If there is
a problem contact: ACLU of Illinois, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2300,
Chicago, IL 60601-1287. Tel: 312-201-9740. http://www.aclu-il.org Chicago,
Illinois, USA permit Street
Performer Required to perform in a public area. No amplified music is
allowed. Fee: $75 (Saw it listed on city web site as $100 8/09). Optain
permit at City Hall. Municipal Code Reference: 4-268 Visit the historic Maxwell Street where the
electric blues were invented at http://www.openair.org/maxwell/blnewmax.html
Chicago Street Musicians (Started in 2009) celebrate and recognize
Chicago-area street musicians by educating the public at large and by
providing additional performance opportunities for street musicians.
Videos, concerts, iterviews, etc. http://www.chicagostreetmusicians.org http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-Street-Musicians/109659439436?ref=search Festival: First Annual Busker Festival held
in August 2002. Contact: Chicago's New East Side Association at http://www.chicagoneweastside.com Sound clips and photographs of street
performers in NYC, Chicago, Madison, Los Angles, Santa Cruz, Berkeley,
San Francisco by STREETNOTE, 3288 21st street #185, San Francisco, CA,
94110 email: nutt@streetnote.org Contact: Tim Nutt http://streetnote.org/ NOTE: Alderman Burton Natarus
(Ward 42) has continued to
unconstitutinally restrict Chicago street artists. (Details on Chicago
legal page HERE ). New ordinance passed in February 2006
- Detroit, MI: SP.
Sometimes by train station and Greek section of town. Folks are trying
to improve the "street life" around the Eastern Market: http://www.freep.com/voices/columnists/emacel26_20040126.htm
- Ann Arbor, MI: Recent
problems playing on campus and art fairs. Contact Paul Kyprie, 650
Hidden Valley, #315, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. He is trying to change laws.
- Lansing, MI: SP, L. Near
Capitol.
- East Lansing, MI: SP.
MSU campus near River or college town area.
- Cincinati, OH: Mixed
reports, Vine Street is best location.
- Columbus, OH: SP, M:
High Street area at night is active.
- Toledo, OH: SP, L.
Passed license regulation to allow performances.
- Huntington, WV: New
area. First Night festival in December.
Stephen Baird on State Street Mall in Madison, Wisconsin 1986.
Video clips of PBS documentary on Stephen Baird's performances
in Madison
are HERE
SOUTHERN U.S.
- Atlanta, GA: F.
Generally a tough town. State University and Little Five Points area
are the best places. Performances in the underground
subway mall: Underground Atlanta, 50 Upper Alabama Street, Suite 007,
Atlanta, GA
30303. Mandy Manlove, Assistant Director of Marketing at
404.523.2311 ext 7018 or mmanlove@underatl.com for more information. http://www.underground-atlanta.com There are area festivals including Atlanta
Dogwood Festival www.dogwood.org and Inman Park Festival
www.inmanpark.org/fest2003.php which are held in April. http://www.centennialpark.com/
Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave West
N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30313-1591 presents lots of events. New Festival
2007 and events StreetStage Atlanta, Inc..P.O. Box 14434, Atlanta, GA
30324-1434 Telephone: 404 261 8375 http://streetstageatlanta.com
--Atlanta Jugglers Association, 1083 Austin Ave., Atlanta, GA 30907
(770)
427-3903 http://www.AtlantaJugglers.org
- Savannah, GA: Update july 30, 2021 - have performed on the street
there in the past and had also suffered a little from the admin, but
the situation has improved and here is the latest info on their
website: https://savannahga.gov/2890/Street-Performers
The performer must complete an application and audition in person on
Wednesdays 9am to noon. The permit costs $10 per year. A badge on a
lanyard will be issued and it must be visible on the performer at all
times. There are also restrictions on location, amplification, and
duration of time. The contact is Ms. Jonika Rountree
jrountree@savannahga.gov . She is very pleasant to work with.
Thank you for your passion for supporting the (uncommercialized) arts. Sincerely, Charles Van Deursen
- Myrtle Beach, SC: License cost $50.
Performances may take place at the following times: Monday
through Thursday, between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.; Friday and
Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m.; and Sunday, between 12 noon
and 11:00 p.m. Public ocean side park at the intersection of
Mr.
Joe White and Ocean Boulevard, performances may take place at the
following times: Monday through Thursday, between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00
p.m. midnight; Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m.; Saturday,
between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. and Sunday, between 12:00 noon and
10:00 p.m. Details at Public Performance section Division 4.
Link: http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/eventfinal.html#DIVISION_4
- Ashville, NC Performances since mid 70s... Some issues with volume
levels and distances between performers. Do not allow to sell CDs
- May 2015 article in NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/us/with-this-many-buskers-in-asheville-a-discordant-note-was-inevitable.html
- Crackdown on Asheville street musicians continues, busker claims
Jason Sandford | April 14, 2015 | http://ashvegas.com/crackdown-on-asheville-street-musicians-continues-busker-claims
- A few things to know about Asheville, NC busking:
--> Asheville loves it's buskers!
--> we take two hour turns at spots... two hours from when you first
set up, not from when someone's waiting on you. This gives everyone a
chance to share.
--> watch your crowd size! make sure folks can get by and that they aren't walking in the street.
--> keep your amps turned down, and drum kits baffled. you're
working with other performers around you, so please play only to "your
area". Just keep it "reasonable".
--> Getting to know your busking neighbors creates a great musical community! introduce yourself!
ANY QUESTIONS/CONCERNS? CONTACT: AshevilleBuskersCollective@gmail.com
- Raleigh, NC: Some performances on downtown pedestrian mall.
Expect changes in 2006 when it is opened to two lanes of traffic. Info:
Dan Nelson, 4508 Pike Road, Raleigh, NC 27613, Telephone: 919 -623-5262
Fax: (919)781-9026 DanGo4th@aol.com I am in the process of starting an
associaion of street performers in Raleigh and vicinity, and would love
to be in communication with you; I have no doubt your expertise could
be of great service to us as we get going. Nov 16, 2006 update: We have
name ("Streelight") and a 501c-3! We will be having an
organziational meeting in January. We are still trying to
hammer out regulations with City officials.
- Wilmington, NC: Law restricting donations to
street performers ruled unconstitutional on November, 3, 2008.
Details HERE
- Nashville, TN: See Facebook page for information at https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleStreetPerformers/
- Memphis, TN: Beal street
the historic blues center. The old laws ban street performing, but the
Main Street Mall allows performances with no amplification. See: www.downtownmemphis.com
- Key West:, Florida SP,
F. Mostly on Mallory Dock at sunset, crowded (lottery for positions),
other areas available. See the web site for details and application at http://www.sunsetcelebration.org or write to Cultural Preservation Society,
P.O. Box 4837, Key West, FL 33041 Email: sunmail@sunsetcelebration.org
Telephone: 305-292-7700 (Note: Will Soto has semi retired in 2006 email:
willsoto@mac.com )
- Recent issue in 2014 over daily permit fees of $100 to $20 to perform on Mallory Dock at sunset. Petition and details HERE
Will Soto on the tight rope
"Sunset in Key
West"
- St. Augustine, Florida:
See the web site http://www.saintgeorgestreet.com/ St. Augustine's street
performes and the on-going legal battle since 2000 ban by city council
see details on Saint Augustine, Florida Legal
Battle
web page.
- St. Petersburg http://artfromzen.com Site by visual artist and poet, David A.
Scotkin on St. Petersburg on-going legal battle.
- Miami, Florida:
Peformances occur at Rouse mall in Miami http://baysidemarketplace.com. Bayside Marketplace Suite R106, 401 Biscayne
Blvd, Miami, Florida 33132-1924 Phone: 305-577-3344 Lincoln Road Mall
(Between Collins Avenue & Alton and between 16th &
17th) Recent court case in favor of street perfomers 12/2003 Read: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7545723.htm
- Tampa Bay: Sunset at Pier 60 Busker Program http://www.sunsetsatpier60.com/buskers.html
- Jacksonville, Florida: http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/090900/LOCfirstamendment.shtml for overview of battle in Jacksonville,
Savannah and St. Augustine
- Orlando Florida - strict enforcement of unconstitutional solicitation laws and limited designated space locations.
- Winter Park: limited designated space locations
- New
Orleans: No license required. Need to be under 80db at 50 feet. Bourban
Street closed 8 PM- 6 AM. CD sales for donations only. Additional
details on the New Orleans Legal Battle web page
http://www.nocitycouncil.com/content/CandCLaw.htm Like many towns,
pressures and hassles fluctuate. Good winter retreat, 20 minute limit
in Jackson Sq. Contact: Street Artists Group, Jose Torres
Tama • 2322 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 70117 Tel: (504)
948-4607 • Email: jose@torrestama.com Web: http://torrestama.com/ David
& Roselyn, longtime street performers in New Orleans, with
articles, video and sound clips including PBS River of Song clips http://www.davidandroselyn.net
Mary Howell, Esq., Howell & Snead,
316 S. Dorgenois, New Orleans, 70119 504-822-4455, Attorney who has represented street artists
for decades and a good musician too.

David & Roslyn in New Orleans
EASTERN U.S.
- Hartford, CT: SP, L
Passed new regulation opening streets up for performances. Contact
First Night Hartford, 250 Constitution Plaza, Hartford CT 06103
860-728-3089 for additional info.
- Washington, DC: SP, M,
L. Georgetown area best bet (especially evenings). Need vendors permit
until it is challenged in court. New reports of arrests. Subway system
closed to performances.
- Alexandria, VA: City
lost a big court case trying to restrict street performing, but not a
very active scene. Best spots in old town on King St.
- Philadelphia, PA: SP, M,
SUB, F. Still hassles; Chestnut Street area best. Attorney
Paul Messing won law suits for saxaphone artist Byrad Lanacaster
against the Philadelphia transit system (SEPTA) in 2002 and 2003 with
$15,000 and $18,000 damages. Attorney
Paul Messing won law $27,500 settlement for flutist Felix
Wilkins
against the Philadelphia in 2007 for arrest on corner of 18th and
Chestnut Streets (U.S. District Judge Juan R. Sanchez approved the
settlement).
Transit system and city agreed performances are legal. Court
cases also over performances in Rittenhouse Square. Details: http://www.goodiegoodie.com/Gg/The_Spread/Arrested-Street-Fluitist-Gets-27k.gg
- Pittsburgh, PA: SP, L.
Market Square at lunch and South side at night best areas. Subway is
illegal so far. Pittsburgh Buskers web site: http://www.busk-pittsburgh.com sean@busk-pittsburgh.com Contact: Sean
Miller. Documenary film on Pittsburgh buskers: http://www.oneverycorner.com
or http://www.tonerwoods.com. Three River Arts Festival in June: http://www.artsfestival.net/
- Baltimore, MD M. New
permit in 2006 with unconstitutional audition. Schedule spots at
Harborplace, 200 East Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202 301-332-4191 See: Baltimore,
Maryland Legal Battle 2002 on Overview
with articles and photographs MiniFest is November 7-10, 2006 (Formally
Motion Fest); Laughter Arts Foundation, c/o Michael Rosman, 12621 Mt.
Laurel Ct., Reisterstown, MD 21136 T: 410-627-0669 E:
michael@minifest.org W:
http://www.minifest.net/index.html
- Ocean City, MD: Mayland ACLU sued city in 1995 -- Markowitz
v. Mayor and City Council of Ocean City. U.S. District Court Judge
Marvin Garbis called the ordinance "vastly overbroad" and said courts
have allowed government to restrict free speech only when necessary to
protect the public safety of health. Second case involved caricature
artist Adam Pate in 2005. Ocean City officals under pressure of ACLU
law suit were forced to allow him to do his art work on the boardwalk.
See: ACLU helps artist earn right to paint on the Boardwalk by
Stephanie Mojica http://www.oceancity.md/readstory.cfm?PubID=2911
ACLU Maryland press release http://www.aclu-md.org/aPress/Press%202005/070205_Pate.pdf
- Boston: SP, M, L,
SUB.
- Boston streets,
plazas and parks -- New court decision issued on December 23, 2004
where old law was repealed. No license is required. Other
laws can be used to stop performances. Suggest to perform
between 7 AM and 11 PM, stay below 80 db at 25 feet with sound levels,
do not block door entrances or sidewalks. Performances happen
on a first come-first serve basis in front of Faneuil Hall in Sam Adams
Park, Downtown Crossing, Boston Common, Boston Public Gardens, Newbury
Street, Copley Square and in Kenmore Square area around Red Sox game
times. If you are stopped send incident reports to us here with details
of when, where, who, and why. See Boston Legal Battle
1972-2006 Overview with articles and
photographs
for
additional details and copies of documents.
- Subways are open on
a first come-first serve basis and lottery at 7 am for busy MBTA
stations suh as Harvard Square Red Line Station. New license required
$25 see subway page here for details: https://mbtarealty.com/subway/
- Schedule spots and
festival at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 South Market, Boston, MA 02109
617-523-1300 http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com (Send promo and schedule an audition).
- Cambridge: Harvard
Square is best area in the evenings and weekends. Cambridge permit is
Free. Online or in person application process. Cammbridge Arts
Council, 344 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139
617-349-4380. http://www.cambridgeartscouncil.org
or http://www.ci.cambridge.ma.us/~CAC/ Cambridge,
Massachusetts, USA permit and regulations. This permit is good for one year beginning
January 1st. You can sell your own cds and use amplification at 80db in
a 25 feet distance. Download copies of Cambridge Ordinance from this
site or the arts council site (Laws
are periodically updated so always check the City Clerk office for
latest version). Look
for the statue that tributes street performer and Russian puppeteer
Igor Fokin in Harvard Square http://www.igorfokin.com.
Mary Lou Lord in Harvard
Square Cambridge
(Photo Stephen Baird)
- Somerville, MA No permit required. 7 AM - 10 PM time limit Somerville Street Performance Ordinance Noise Ordinance Sound levels: db 70 limit and 75 db for less then 10 minutes
- Lowell, MA SP 12 noon-10 PM, No fire, No amplification,
Designated areas, No performances during Lowell Folk Festival or other
permitted events without permission of sponsors.
- New York City: SP, M,
SUB. Central Park, Washington Square, Greenwich Village and Broadway
show lines. Still many police hassles, city has lost recent court cases
and may be friendlier. See Turley vs NYC, May 1997,
included a substantial financial settlement 988 F.Supp, 667 &
675 (1997). Subways are both
scheduled and open. Court case for visual artists United States Court
of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Bery V City of NY Decided: October
10, 1996. Technically people are allowed to perform
with out a license anywhere in the city if no amplification is being
used. However, without a license to perform, many street entertainers
are asked to "move on." Susie Tanebaum who wrote Underground
Harmonies - Music & Politics in the Subways of New York
(Cornell University Press 1995) also published a 40 page phamplet Know
Your Rights in 1996 through City Lore, 56 East 1st Street,
New York, NY 10003 Telephone: 212-529-1955 Email: steve@citylore.org It
has pages in both Spanish and Russian. Updated web site version of Know
Your Rights published in 2012 at: http://citylore.org/urban-culture/resources/street-performers/
- Great survey of buskers and busker locations in NYC 2015 http://blog.virgin-atlantic.com/t5/Our-Places/New-York-s-best-busking-spots/ba-p/47933#.VkO7vHuCmHn
- Theo Eastwind's tips about perforing in NYC at http://citylore.org/about-city-lore/resources/theo-eastwinds-guide-for-street-performers/
- BuskNY is a New York City-based subway arts advocacy group http://buskny.com/ info@buskny.com or buskny@gmail.com
- New
York ACLU http://www.nyclu.org/ New York Civil Liberties Union, 125
Broad Street, New York, NY 10004 Phone 212-607-3300 is a good
resource for current law.
- The
court case below highlight the ongoing issues.
- NYC pays $100,000 to Buskers for
wrongful arrests April 2016:
http://m.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-pays-settlements-wrongful-arrests-musicians-article-1.2603932
- Josh
Weiner "Juggler Josh" jugglrjosh@aol.com
was
arrested in Times Square in May 2005. He won a court case settlement from city
for the
false arrest in January 2007 with the support of Attorney Robert Perry.
- New rule limits NYC's street musicians. Originally published: April 22, 2013 By MARIA ALVAREZ. Special to Newsday http://newyork.newsday.com/news/new-york/new-rule-limits-nyc-s-street-musicians-1.5122138
Mandating that musicians perform on 100 spots in which a medallion is
embedded in concrete, will be enforced by Park Enforcement Patrol and
NYPD officers. Violators could receive a summons and a $250 fine;
Perform at least 5 feet away from a park bench, and 50 feet from a
statue at Central Park, Battery Park, the High Line and Union Square
Park.
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYCStreetArtists/
or http://www.openair.org/alerts/artist/nyc.html Robert Lederman, President of A.R.T.I.S.T.
(Artists' Response To Illegal State Tactics), Ph: 201 896-1686 Email:
robert.lederman@worldnet.att.net Site on visual and vendors artists
fight in New York City
- Some farmers markets
allow unamplified performances see: http://webtunes.com/streetfair.cfm.
- Schedule spots and
festival at South Street Seaport Marketplace, 19 Fulton St., New York,
NY 10038-2196 212/SEA-PORT There was an attempt to impose a $500
license fee in the spring of 2004 at South Street Seaport. See this
page HERE for details of the petition drive and work
which repealed this fee by Josh Weiner.
- Washington Square: http://www.preservewashingtonsquarepark.com
Preserving Washington Square
Park site in New York City by Ray Brizzi. Be sure to read study by
Project for Pubic Spaces on the uses of the park. Also link to
photogapher H. J. Steed web site http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/washington_square
is wonderful gallery of
street musicians and other artists http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/wsp_musicians
- Subway: http://newmedia.jrn.columbia.edu/2003/issue2/story2/index.html
Site on New York City subway
perfomances done as Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
project http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/aft/muny.htm Site on New York City MTA Music Under New
York (MUNY) program which is auditioned and scheduled. http://a.parsons.edu/~sis/stephanie/final/intro.html Stephanie Ormston school multi-media web
site project on Street Performers in Washington Square Park.
- New web site 2010 called Under Cover New York with blogs, photos
and clips of New York City street musicians, street performers and
street artists http://undercoverny.com/
- New York
City Street Entertainers 1700 to 2006 web page on this site with more
details on New York City click HERE
-
- Buffalo, NY: SP, L.
License allowing performances was passed.
- Burlington, VT: SP, L.
Nice town! Downtown Church Street Mall four blocks long. Also along
boardwalk near ferry on Lake Champlain at sunset and during weekend
festivals. See Church Street Marketplace, 2 Church Street, Burlington,
Vermont 05401 Tele: 802.863.1648 Email: info@churchstmarketplace.com http://www.churchstmarketplace.com/. Visit street performer and pan flute
player Douglas Bishop's web site at http://panflutejedi.com to see the short internet video documentary
of his street performance work titled, "Douglas's Interview on the
Church Street Marketplace."

One man band on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont
- Portland, Maine: Mostly
in the Old Port area. Busy in the summer and around the Old Port
Festival in June.
- There are a number of
university and small towns like Allentown, PA; Ithaca and Saratoga
Springs, NY; Amherst, Worcester, Newburyport, and Nantucket, MA which
are open, Provincetown on Cape Cod has permit system, but space is
severly restricted. Provincetown Street Performers By
Laws (Adopted in 1995, revised in 1998): http://www.provincetowngov.org/bl_regs/general_bylaw/2004GeneralBylaw%20FINAL.htm#_Toc76449203 http://www.newburyportchamber.org/ Buskers Festival, Labor Day Weekend,
Downtown Newburyport, Held on the Sunday and Monday of Labor Day
Weekend, this festival features outdoor street theater. Performers of
all kinds fill Market Square and Inn Street. There are also Food Booths
from Newburyport Restaurants. Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce
& Industry, 38R Merrimac Street, Newburyport MA 01950 Phone:
978-462-6680, Fax: 978-465-4145 info@newburyportchamber.org
CANADA
Scene just starting to open
up more. Street
performers festival scheduled in Edmonton and Halifax. Best contact
is Edmonton Festival: Edmonton
International Street Performers Festival, Suite #650, 7 Sir Winston
Churchill Square, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2V5 Phone: (780) 425-5162
Email: streetfest@telusplanet.net Web site: http://www.edmontonstreetfest.com or FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/EdmontonStreetFest StreetFest 2015 date: July 3 to 12, 2015
Overview of Toronto and
Canadian street
performance history:
Traditions,
Stereotypes, and Tactics: A History of Musical Buskers in Toronto
(Canada), Canadian Journal for Traditional Music (1996) by Murray Smith Scholarly article on history of buskers,
street entertainers and subway performers in Toronto. Traces
performance history from 1830s to 1996. Includes documentation of the
Northern Italian immigration of violin and barrel organ players, both
families and children, to Toronto in the 1860s plus the revival of
street performances in the 1960s. http://cjtm.icaap.org/content/24/v24art3.html
- Edmonton, Alberta: SP.
Park Department is just opening city up. Festival: http://www.edmontonstreetfest.com
or http://www.discoveredmonton.com/streetperformers/
Edmonton International Street
Performers Festival, Suite #650, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square,
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2V5 Phone: (780) 425-5162 Email:
streetfest@telusplanet.net Held in mid July The best festival I've experienced. Treats
artists with dignity and respect and excellent festival production.
- Calgary, Alberta:
Stevens Ave. Mall permit needed.
- Vancouver, BC: SP.
Grandville Island permit needed, plus sunset at English Bay, Stanley
Park areas. WEB: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/streets/admin/busking.htm
- Victoria, BC: SP. Good
reports!
- Nelson, BC: Festival:
International Street Performers & Arts Festival, PO Box 389,
Nelson, BC V1L 5R2 250-352-7188 www.streetfest.bc.ca
- Toronto, ON: SP, SUB.
Some hassles. http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/ttc/subway_musicians.htm Site on Toronto subway music program which
is auditioned.
- Kingston, ON: SP,
Festival: Kingston Buskers Rendevous, 177 Wellington St., #202,
Kinston, ON K7L-3E3 613-452-8677
- London, ON: Mall --
Covent Garden Market, 130 King St., London, ON N6A 1C5 519-439-3921
info@coventmarket.com http://www.coventmarket.com
- Ottawa, ON: SP.
Pedestrian Mall. Sparks Street Mall Buskers Festival, 151 Sparks St.,
Ottawa, ON K1P 5E3 613-230-0984
- Windsor, ON: SP Windsor
International Buskers Festival in August: http://www.passthehat.com/main.shtml
- Montreal, Quebec: SP,
SUB.
- Halifax, NS: Festival:
International Street Performers Festival, 5151 George St.
Suite 803, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada B3J 1T1 902-429-3910 buskers@ns.sympotico.ca Competition with
prize money, artists are not paid, some travel money available, good
reports of crowds and hats. Held in early August.
Glenn Singer "Elderado" www.horseguy.com at
Edmonton International Street Performers Festival
MEXICO and CENTRAL AMERICA
- Mexico City: Mariachi
bands perform in big city plazas otherwise street performances rarely
happen. Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City is the mecca of
Mariachis. The statues in the plaza tell the history of Mariachis --
Cirilo Marmolejo Cedillo, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Pedro Infante,. In the
surrounding cafes and in the plaza Mariachis musicians play.
- Cancun: Schedule mall
program: Flamingo Boardwalk, in the heart of the dynamic Hotel Zone of
Isla Cancun, currently features 26 Artists' display locations and more
than 12 Performance positions in a festive Art and Performance show
format. The Boardwalk is home to a daily Sunset Festival, scheduled to
set up approximately two hours before the sunset. Regional and
International Artisans of all styles practice their art here 365 days a
year. Performers are invited to entertain the crowds in the protected
& air-conditioned comfort of the Plaza Flamingo, Cancun's
original enclosed shopping mall. Performers contact
streetperformers@flamingoboardwalk.com.mx Artists contact
artisan@flamingoboardwalk.com.mx More info contact
sunsetfestival@flamingoboardwalk.com.mx Web site in English, Spanish
and French: http://sunsetfestival@flamingoboardwalk.com.mx/APprov.htm
SOUTH
AMERICA STREET PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS
ARGENTINA
http://www.onemanband.net
Pete and Andrea, Anderson Briefcase performing in
Argentina
BRAZIL
- http://www.festivalderua.com/ Aeroclube
Festival de Rua, Bahia, Brazil, held in March, features artists and
musicians from Bahia, from other parts of Brazil, Latin America, the
USA, Europe, Asia and Australia. The performers will present themselves
on the streets and squares of the Aeroclube Plaza Show, and in other
parts of Salvador: Praça da Sé, Ponto da
Humaitá, and Parque da Cidade.
EUROPE
STREET PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS
Here is a breakdown of
Europe. The
information comes from many different sources including travelers,
writers, artists and residents, so reports vary accordingly. People
who want to remain in one area are more likely to be confronted by
various authorities and competition from other artists. The street
community can be supportive, depending on each individual's
approach.
http://eurobuskers.free.fr/whatsa.html
Visit this
web site for on-going
reviews of street pitches in Europe. Great page on impact of euro on
donations in various countries.
http://www.vocalist.org.uk/busking.html
Article for
street performers with
information and links to licensing, festivals and other
resources.
http://www.circostrada.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Langue&langue=ENG
HorsLesMurs, 68, rue de la Folie-Méricourt 75011 Paris,
FRANCE, Tél. : (33) 01 55 28 10 10, fax : (33) 01 55 28 10
11
French circus and sreet performers site with links to over 500
festivals and organiztions.
We, as Federazione Nazionale
Arte di Strada of Italy (National Federation for Street Arts), being
the sole offcial federation for Italy, associating artists,
companies
and art operators, will now try to give our contribution in this
matter, thanks to the project "OPEN Street", funded by Culture
Commission of European Community (http://www.open.street.eu)
and where we act as Italia Co-organizer. For us here in Italy, some
positive USA Courts decisions in favour of artists (we read something
from your site) are simply amazing...and this demonstrates us how much
we still have to work in Europe to obtain such results..... One
thing more, we want to ask you if it is possible to insert a link of
Italian Federation. in your Links, Festivals and References webpage.
The website http://www.fnas.org
is in Italian.
http://www.fnas.org/protectweb/rass_fest.asp
- through this search engine you can find abt 200 Italian street show
festivals and events, including all contacts of festival organizers and
art directors http://www.fnas.org/registrazione/ordini_en.asp
- instruction (in English) to order and receive the yearbook "Kermesse"
the only complete guide on street performing art, printed every
(in Italian) by the F.N.A.S. Also, keep in mind that the Federation can
be contacted, in English, for any info you may need regarding
street performing/hat passing laws, rules and procedures in Italy:
staff@fnas.org
Patty Campbell, author of
Passing the Hat,
wanted me to pass this note along: "Please limit each show to one
hour in any one location. It is an unwritten courtesy. It is the way
Europeans share the space and opportunities.
Many towns and cities have
farmers markets,
street festivals, historic festivals, theater festivals and fringe
festivals. A web serach of country, regional and city tourist bureaus
will lead you to many places.
Key: SP = generally
open on streets and
parks; SUB = subways open; M = malls open; L = license
required.
IMPORTANT: Please consider
sendng in a $10
donation for this information. It takes time and money ($500 year) to
keeep it posted and updated.
Make checks
payable to COMMUNITY
ARTS
ADVOCATES in US Dollars
International
Postal Money Orders and send to:Street Arts Advocates,
P.O. Box 300112, Jamaica Plain, MA
02130-0030
USA. Donations can also be made by credit card through
Community
Arts Advocates
at the on line
secure site of PayPal.
ENGLAND
Site on United Kingdom
busking
http://www.vocalist.org.uk/busking_licensing.html
- London: SP, M, SUB.
Covent Garden (front of St. Paul's Church), South Bank walk way,
bridges over Themes, Portobello Road Market - Saturdays; Camden Lock
Market - Sundays; Subways and tube stations- Green Park, Totenham Court
Road, Charing Cross, Baker Street underpass; informally scheduled by a
street "mafia" - one hour limit in subways. Covent Garden is booked on
a first come first serve basis. Sign-up sheet at the Garden. The
Diamond Drive in Totton Court Station is a street performers' hangout.
Contact: Maggie Pinhorn, Alternative Arts, Top Studio, Bethnal Green
Training Centre, Deal Street, London E1 5HZ; Tel: 020 7375 0441; WEB: http://www.alternativearts.co.uk/ Email: info@alternativearts.co.uk for
information and bookings at Soho, Tragalgar Sq. by Saint Martins Church
and The Annual International Festival of Street Entertainers (usually
held in July) Street Performers Assoc., Unit F, Croftdown Road, London
NW5 1HB Telephone: 020 7272 1176 fax 0208 681 0141 WEB site: http://www.streetperformance.co.uk/; Email: mail@streetperformance.co.uk
- Gloucester, SP, L see http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/libraries/templates/page.asp?URN=1124
- Jersey: SP, L http://www.cab.org.je/010306.htm#PARA1
- Richmond: SP.
- Oxford: 2015 - New law passed that has heavy fines for busking. See http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/13873097.New_begging_and_busking_curbs_will_go_ahead__councillors_decide/
- Stratford: SP.
Covent Gardens, London
England
IRELAND
Report by Larry Meyeshoff,
a traditional
music hammered ducimer player, that tourist seasons are good in
smaller towns and Dublin was a tough town (Oct 2002) Dublin Street Performers are fighting new restrictions in 2015 see Dublin Street Performers web site: http://www.dublinstreetperformers.com/.
- Dublin: SP. Reports said
that it was a bit competitive, there are legal problems, and donations
slow.
- Cork: SP.
- Gallway: SP.
SCOTLAND
WEB Site:
http://www.biginfalkirk.com/bif_general_info.html This is a week long
street festival and competiton in Falkirk, Scotland
- Glasgow: SP. Note sent
Oct 2002 by GMAN: just to let you know that Glasgow is a very workable
pitch(been playing it,with a circle show, on & off for 5yrs)
only a problem with police if you block off the street (so pull your
back row in) & they are funny about fire, best street Buchanan
st outside borders books . Down points hats can be small & lots
of junkies/arseholes who will heckel you i.e you are shit , I could do
that , hurry up (didn't say they are good at it ) oh yea forgot south
americans with BIG amps playing panpipe music they get there at 8.30am
so early bird gets the worm
- Edinburgh: SP. Same as
above; best during festival times in August. http://www.edfringe.com/ or www.edfringegroups.com
Edinburgh, Scotland
Fringe Festival info
NORWAY
- Oslo: Good reports, only
a few problems.
SWEDEN
- Stockholm: Varied
reports.
- Helsingborg: Varied
reports.
DENMARK
- Copenhagen: Three
reports of arrests and confiscation of instruments for nonpayment of
tax on cassette tape sales and amplification. Children performances are
reportably allowed. Recent reports are more favorable.
- GEVLEUGELDE STAD IEPER,
also known as CITY OF WINGS Dutch Street theatre- profession grant and
&endash; promotion festival. Marc 31-April 1 and April 2, 2006
http://www.gevleugeldestad.net
GERMANY:
- Berlin: One of
the first
new laws passed after the wall came down was a law permitting street
performances. Details: See web site page HERE.
Series of street festivals June-August: Berlin Lacht! The
International Street Theatre Festival http://www.berlin-lacht.de
- Cologne: SP. Dom Platz
during shopping times. Dusseldorf Friday and Saturday evenings.
1/30/2003 You can add no amplification, and mediocore hats.--Stickman
http://www.weeble.org
- Munich: SP. Best are the
Marienplatz. Closes 2:00 PM Saturday and all day Sunday. Recent reports
of problems and periodic crackdowns (excessive amplification was given
as reason). Another good area is the Englesihor Garden near Chinese
Beer Garden.
- Hamburg: SP, in front of
the train station and by the city hall market place are the best spots.
- Heidelberg: Limited to
one block in old city.
City Square, Hamburg,
Germany
NETHERLANDS
- Amsterdam: SP.
Leidseplein evenings and Damrak days. Enforced and prohibited:
amplification, wind and percussion instruments, and groups of 6 plus.
FRANCE
http://www.circostrada.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Langue&langue=ENG HorsLesMurs, 68, rue de la
Folie-Méricourt 75011 Paris, FRANCE, Tél. : (33)
01 55 28 10 10, fax : (33) 01 55 28 10 11 French circus and sreet
performers site with links to over 500 festivals and organiztions.
- Paris: Pompidou Center -
Place Beauborg, crowded and competitive. 10 AM-8 PM. Subways and trains
- Police hassals. Cafe Mazet - street performers' hangout. Latin
Quarter at times.
- AIX-en Provence: Cafe
scene along the Cours is good, also, the parks. Try on market days
(Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday)
- Nice: Varied reports.
AUSTRIA
- Vienna: especially
during the Salzburg Festival, many classical street performers on
downtown pedestrian mall.
- Linz: Pflasterspektakel,
Linz, Street Performers and Street Theater Festival, Third Thursday to
Sunday of July, started in 1986. Contact: Cultural Office, 1-5
Hauptstraße, Linz, A-4041, Austria Email:
pflasterspektakel@kua.mag.linz.at Tel: +43 (0) 732 7070 2946
CEZCH REPUBLIC
- Prague: many street
performers on downtown pedestrian mall.
http://www.onemanband.net
Pete and Andrea, Anderson Briefcase performing in
Prague
SPAIN
- Madrid: SUB, Just
opening up. Retiro Park only on weekends- hours 10:30-2pm. Plaza
d'Espana, Plaza Isabel II (by the Opera house) are worth trying. Do not
try Plaza Major because police will stop you! http://www.cluas.com/music/features/metro-music2.htm
Story on subway
music in Madrid
- Barcelona: Mixed reports
so far. http://www.firatarrega.com/
La Fira
de Teatre, second week of September, Tàrrega, set in the
heart of Catalonia, some 100 kilometres from Barcelona, the whole range
of theatrical specialities: visual, text, street, and youth's theatre,
puppets, comtemporary dance. http://www.facebook.com/buskersfestivalbarcelona?ref=search Busker's Festival Barcelona del 5 al 8 de Agosto de 2010 Bernard M. Snyder http://www.onemanband.org/
- Seville: Best areas
reported: Allameida della Herailes on Sundays 10:30-2pm (after church,
before lunch & siesta). Plaza Duque de la
- Victoria (right by the
Corte Ingle's dept. store) small park, lots of pedestrian traffic. On
weekdays 12-2pm. Parks yes, but no fires; police will stop you!
SWITZERLAND
- Zurich: SP. Reported as
one of the best areas, but becoming increasingly crowded.
- Bern: No playing after
10:00 PM weekdays, 9:00 PM Sundays. Aarn River bank area is a favorite
spot.
- http://www.buskersbern.ch/ Buskers Bern - 1st international Festival
of Street Performance, Wednesday to Saturday, 4 th to 7 th of August
2004. Buskers Bern, Christine und Lisette Wyss, Daxelhoferstr. 5,
CH-3012 Bern, Schweiz, Tel/Fax: +41 31 301 80 67, e-mail:
info@buskersbern.ch
ITALY
Italian Federazione Nazionale Arte di Strada (National Street Art Federation) http://www.fnas.org
In Italy an amazing, innovative, and revolutionary web service is now
ready to start (from April 2013) in the ambit of the free street show:
a brand new web system will consent street artist to visit,select and
book show venues in Milan and, in next future, also in other Italian
cities, thus avoiding local presentation of documents, requests, fee
payments etc.. The system, created and implemented by the Italian
Federazione Nazionale Arte di Strada (National Street Art Federation
http://www.fnas.org), in cooperation with the City Administration of
Milano, will manage more than 200 venues in city center. The system
will create a network of Italian cities (after the testing phase in
Milan the FNAS will extend the system also in other big Italian cities
such as Venezia, Roma, Napoli, Genova, Trieste, Bologna...). The final
aim will be to join biggest cities in a single network. In this way,
after one single subscription, the artist will be able to have access
to all cities just booking venues online. The system is completely free
for artists: they can insert brief descriptions of their shows, photos,
contacts, and meantime the city administrations will be able to manage
spaces and artists distribution in quick and simple way. Also, the city
administration will have the advantage to use a simple and efficient
way to distribute pitches, to coordinate timetables and calendars, to
verify immediately the presence of artists on site, to close
temporarily the sites involved in street works, other activities,
events etc., and to inform citizens about where and when the shows,
shared by typology, are going to be performed. The long term goal of
this system will be to involve as many European cities as possible, but
needless to say that the system can be used also by USA artists will to
hat perform in EU and adopted with no problem by USA city
administrations as well.
In this way an artist willing to tour in Europe or Italy for whole
summer will simply join online, and through one single web platform
will be able to select cities, visit and choose the show venues
available, to program dates and timetables and to start touring
avoiding presentation of documents city by city, paper requests,
payments, queues and waste of time.
For the moment you can visit the beta version of web site
http://www.stradaperta.it. The subscription of artists will be allowed
once whole system will be fully tested and verified (mid April 2013)
USA Artists and city administrations interested can request more info
at staff@fnas.org
We, as Federazione Nazionale
Arte di Strada of Italy (National Federation for Street Arts), being
the sole offcial federation for Italy, associating artists,
companies
and art operators, will now try to give our contribution in this
matter, thanks to the project "OPEN Street", funded by Culture
Commission of European Community (http://www.open.street.eu)
and where we act as Italia Co-organizer. For us here in Italy, some
positive USA Courts decisions in favour of artists (we read something
from your site) are simply amazing...and this demonstrates us how much
we still have to work in Europe to obtain such results..... One
thing more, we want to ask you if it is possible to insert a link of
Italian Federation. in your Links, Festivals and References webpage.
The website http://www.fnas.org
is in Italian. http://www.fnas.org/protectweb/rass_fest.asp
- through this search engine you can find abt 200 Italian street show
festivals and events, including all contacts of festival organizers and
art directors http://www.fnas.org/registrazione/ordini_en.asp
- instruction (in English) to order and receive the yearbook "Kermesse"
the only complete guide on street performing art, printed every (in
Italian) by the F.N.A.S. Also, keep in mind that the Federation can be
contacted, in English, for any info you may need regarding street
performing/hat passing laws, rules and procedures in Italy:
staff@fnas.org
See WEB sites:
- Florence: SP.
- Rome: SP, SUB, train
stations. Piazza Navona is one good area.
- Naples: Varied reports
including some performances at train station.
GREECE
- Athens: SP. Varied
reports...best around the Acropolis.
PORTUGAL
- Lisbon: very difficult
mainly because performers are looked on as beggars. However, try resort
towns outside of Lisbon - good tourist areas.
AUSTRALIA,
ASIA & AFRICA STREET PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS
IMPORTANT: Please consider
sendng in a $10
donation for this information. It takes time and money ($500 year) to
keeep it posted and updated.
Make checks
payable to COMMUNITY
ARTS
ADVOCATES in US Dollars
International
Postal Money Orders and send to:Street Arts Advocates,
P.O. Box 300112, Jamaica Plain, MA
02130-0030
USA. Donations can also be made by credit card through PayPal at
Community
Arts Advocates
AUSTRALIA
Lee Ross passed along some
great information
on Australia. See WEB: http://www.dom.zip.com.au/sb/index.html
Australia info site. Includes
performer
directory
- Brisbane: you need a
permit from the city council for the city mall. It has good spots the
best times being Friday & Saturday nights as well as the lunch
hours.
- Perth and Fremantle:
Frequent good reports.
- Sydney: perhaps the best
street town. Circular Key rear the Opera house is a very solid place
& a permit is easily obtained. China town has many great lunch
hour spots. Another good place is Darling Harbor which is a seaport
style area. King's Cross is a great night spot. WEB sites: http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/building_stronger/vibrant/busk.html http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/cs_busking.asp Sidney Australia
- Melboune: has a city
mall which is best during lunch time, can be too loud. New laws and
festival being developed. Contact: Ken Trotter or Peter Voice with
FEIPP (Free Entertainment in Public Places), 23 Flessernan Ln.,
Melbourne, 3000,or GPO Box 739F, Melbourne, 3001 (03) 663-8307 WEB: http://www.malvern-central.vic.edu.au/2000/streetact.html
or http://www.malvern-central.vic.edu.au/2000/code.htm
Melbourne, Australia regulations
- Noosa Shire: http://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/events/buskers/default.htm regulations and permits
- Adelaide: has a great
mall, its crowds are warm & the money is good. Permit is
needed. http://www.adelaidefestival.net.au Adelaide Festival of the Arts (also Fringe
Festival), Adelaide, Ausralia, 27 Feb 2004 - 14 Mar 2004 (Every 2
years), started in 1964, 105 Hindley St, Adelaide, South Australia,
5000 Tel: +61 (0) 8 8216 4444 afa@adelaidefestival.net.au
- Queensland Golden Coast:
love all street performers.
- Chalk Art Festival - http://www.chalkurbanart.com
- South Terrace and Market Streets, Fremantle, Western Australia, Early April https://www.facebook.com/fremantlestreetartsfestival
NEW ZEALAND
Check out these web sites
for festivals and
information: http://www.waimate.org.nz/busking/
Seddon Square, Queen Street, Waimate, South Canterbury, New Zealand
held in February http://www.worldbuskersfestival.com/World
Busker Festival, PO Box 845, Christchurch, New Zealand. Tel:
011-64-3-377-2365 Email: festpro@clear.net.nz
ASIA
JAPAN
- Tokyo: Yoyogi Park,
Shinjuku, and Ginza business areas have been tried. http://www.jinjapan.org/trends/article/021025fas_index.html New audition and license, musicians, mimes,
and other artists can now perform in specially designated public
locations without first receiving permission from the police and local
government. This new license system was put into effect in Tokyo in
September 2002 Bruce
Boyd street performing in Japan web site http://www.ifnet.or.jp/~jyoti/ Tokyo Buskers Festival http://www.jolf.co.jp/event/daidougei/
- Noge Street Performers
Festival, Sakuragityou, Yokaham City
KOREA
- http://www.ansanfest.com
Ansan
Street Arts Festival (ASAF), Korea. The city of Ansan is 30km
from
Seoul and place of the ASAF; which is one of the fastest growing
festivals in the Asia, held on the every May of the year. The festival
presented about 53 companies from 16 countries and about 900,000
audiences came last year. All the performances will be held in the
field of the outdoors. The festival aims at developing street arts in
the Asia, promoting cultural exchange between worldwide, and relating
to the audiences. This year our festival will be held from 2nd of May
until 5th of May 2009.
ASAFRINGE is a name of the international
competitive section of ANSAN STREET ARTS FESTIVAL. The prizes for the
1st and 2nd winners will get 10,000USD and 5,000USD. So artists must
cover their own travel cost as well as freight. The festival only can
provides hotel, meals (or per diem), technical rider, domestic
transportation and about 250USD financial support per each participant.
(This year winner was group from Spain and Korea)
안산국제거리극축제(2009.5.2~5)
Ansan Street Arts Festival (2nd~5th May 2009)
(425-020) 경기 안산 단원 고잔동 817 안산문화예술의전당
817 Gojandong Danwongu Ansan-city Gyeonggido
S.Korea p.c.425-906
Web-site: www.ansanfest.com
Tel: +82 31 481-4030~3
Fax:+82 31 481-4034
RUSSIA
- Moscow: Fluid situation
, but reports of performances in market square and night spots areas on
the Arbat pedestrian mall (rowdy crowds?) and subway stations.
INDIA
- Bombay: Entire cast and
family group does traditional magic and juggling on streets, few
foreign performances reported.
- Delhi: IN TRANSIT is 5
soundscapes of busking performances in and around train stations in
popular metros. India Buskers in the local suburban trains are arrested
under in India are the beggary, vagrancy and obstruction acts. I have
been documenting street music in Mumbai, India for the past six months,
through photographs and audio recordings and am also researching laws
working against street music in India. Navin Thomas
<kanabu@yahoo.com> See web page on this site here
INDONESIA
THAILAND
- Singapore: Received
recent newspaper article on street performances in city. Opened up
after three year ban in 1997. Only residents can perform in designated
area. November Buskers festival produced in '97. WEB:
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/7966/busking.html Singapore Busking regulations http://www.singapore-buskers.com Singapore Busker Festival, Gwyndara
International, 91 Bencoolen Street #01-09 Sunshine Plaza,, Singapore
189652 Phone: (65) 6250 7977 / 6238 2388 Email: gwyndara@pacific.net.sg
Marrakech Market
AFRICA
- Marrakech: Family groups
do traditional snake charming and musical performances.
- Cario: Performances at
market places.
- South Africa: Numerous
new reports about performances in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
http://www.onemanband.net
Pete and Andrea, Anderson Briefcase performing in Cape
Town
Street
Arts and Buskers Advocates
- Introduction,
Background and Services
- Street Arts
Advocates Email List
- Code of Ethics
- Legal
Issues
- Legal Court
Citations article by Stephen Baird
- Goldstein v. Town
of Nantucket, 477 F. Supp., 606, (1979)
- Davenport v
Alexandria, VA 683 F2d 853 (1983), 710 F2d 148 (1983), 748 F2d 208
(1984)
- Friedrich v
Chicago 619 F. Supp., 1129. (D.C. Ill 1985)
- Carew-Reid v.
Metropolitan Transportation Auth., 903 F2d 914 (2nd Cir. 1990) (Subway)
- Jews for Jesus v.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (1991) (Subway)
- Bery v. New York,
97 F. 3d 684 (2d Cir. 1996)
- Turley v. NYC 988
F.Supp, 667 & 675 (1997). See US 2nd Cir Appeal 98-7114 (1999)
- Perry v. LAPD, US
9th Cir Appeals 96-55545 (1997)
- Horton v. St.
Augustine, Florida US 11th Cir Appeal No. 00-16220 (2001)
- Christopher
Mastrovincinzo (a.k.a. "MASTRO"), and Kevin Santos (a.k.a. "NAC" OR
"NAK") v NEW YORK CITY 313 F SUPP 2D 280 (2004)
- Boston
Legal Battle 1972-2004
- Boston MBTA
Subway Legal Battle 1986-2007
- Cambridge
Legal Battle 1973-2003
- Alexandria,
Virginia Legal Battle 1982-1984
- Baltimore,
Maryland Legal Battle 2002 on
- Chicago
Legal Battle 1982-1986
- Kansas City Legal
Battle
- New Orleans Legal
Battle
- New York City
Street Entertainers 1700 - 2008
- Provincetown,
Massachusetts Street Performers
- Saint Augustine,
Florida Legal Battle
- Salt Lake City,
Utah Legal Battle
- Santa Cruz,
California Legal Battle 1978-2003
- Santa Fe, New
Mexico
- Seattle, WA 1974 on
- Spokane,
WA Legal Battle
- Waikiki Street
Performers Win Lawsuit 2002
- Wilmington,
North Carolina Legal Battle
- The Malling of
America: The Selling of America's Public Parks and Streets--The
Economic Censorship and Suppression of First Amendment Rights article by
Stephen Baird
- Amplification
Ethics article by Stephen Baird
- Model Regulations introduction and
three samples
- Performance
Locations
- History
and Cultural Impact of Street Performing in America
- History
and Cultural Impact of Street Performing International
- Links and
References
- Street and
Vaudeville Artists Directory Data Base
- Street
Artists Photo-Journalism Project
- Stephen
Baird -- Street Performer with Music, Puppets & Lore
For translations into
different languages --
Arabic, Chinese, Italian, French, German, Russian, Spanish or others
visit the web site: http://babel.altavista.com
Copyright
© 1999-2023 by Stephen Baird