To think that buskers should need a license?

[DogCalledRudis]

... To prove they are not tone deaf before allowed on the streets?
Some of them need to be paid to shut up!

[RyvitaDolce]

ach, that's part of the flavour i think. You're walking past, not paying €90 for a ticket!

[MiniTheMinx]

The more the merrier.

[beershuffle]

They do, in a lot of places.

[OverAndAbove]

There's a woman who plays a guitar and wails sings at Oxford Circus tube station. Oh sweet lord, it hurts to hear her. Surely some kind of BGT audition is in order?!

[PiratePanda]

They do require a license.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

I love hearing them. Adds to the character of a place, and they cheer me up too (as Usual said). Some of them are absolutely brilliant, and I waste a lot of time standing and listening to some - it's like a cheap concert, sometimes.

Some of the Big Issue sellers are good too, I know they're not popular with everyone. I have my favourites and buy the rag from them. There was one chap in Guildford years ago - Irish and had a dog - he was so funny and friendly, worked hard at selling the mag without being insistent, cheeky chappy, always made me laugh. Pleasant to everyone, whether they bought it or not. Really had the gift of the gab and I bought it from him every week.

[squoosh]

The next busker I hear singing Wonderwall will be thrown in a rat infested dungeon and never released.

Why do they ALL sing sing that crappy, crappy song?

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

Some are bad - just walk on by . . .

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

Oooh - I love that song

[theresnowheretohidewithachip]

I think where I am they do need licenses and they do have to be not hideously bad. The ones we have in our city centre are pretty decent on the whole (if a little boring) but some are really good/fun to listen to. Although we can walk on by someone who is making a dreadful noise, I really feel for people working in shops/offices within close earshot, who can't escape someone making a terrible racket.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

Although we can walk on by someone who is making a dreadful noise, I really feel for people working in shops/offices within close earshot, who can't escape someone making a terrible racket

True (there are generally more good than bad, though, IME)

[MiniTheMinx]

I think its actually just one of many ways in which people can reclaim the streets. Its communal, free, entertaining

What I get most fed up with is not listening to music, which is one of lifes pleasures but tripping over bloody tables and chairs spilling out onto pavements. Not because they are an obstruction but because one has to pay to sit there. Every public space now has to be devoted to money making.

[EverythingsDozy]

According to one who was playing in Liverpool they love nothing more than when you stand and listen. Also, this guy took requests so we did stay and listen, gave him a few ££ and left. He was good. Slow down, chill out, take the time to listen. (Although I do agree with the wonderwall comment...)

[lessonsintightropes]

This isn't Switzerland, I like the fact that there's still a bit of unbridled street life going on here. However as PP have suggested, in tube stations etc people do require licenses. If you don't like what they're singing, don't give them any money!

[Andrewofgg]

Remember the advert for some cough and throat lozenge or other"

Clears Tubes faster than a busker singing "Streets of London"

On the Underground there is an issue: they are allowed amplification so ou can hear them right along a platform, which is a PITA at the end of the working day when you want some peace and no noise that you can't shut out, and they cause bottlenecks in narrow passages. I could forgive the second but not the first. Buskers should be unamplified.

[YouTheCat]

We have some excellent buskers in Newcastle.

Like Ojay the bass guitar man who has occasional jamming sessions with any other guitarists that turn up.

[Caitlin17]

They need a licence in Edinburgh.

[mimishimmi]

They need a license in Sydney, Australia.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

There used to be a really hot bloke who played bagpipes in a kilt at East Croydon station. I wonder if he still does...

[morethanpotatoprints]

I thought you had to have a license everywhere to enable you to busk.
My dd wants to campaign to have the age restriction lowered from 14 to 10
Some authorities audition before awarding a license, it seems to be far more restricted than it used to be.
There is a lot of campaigning in Camden atm has anybody down there heard the kazoos.
I got an email from the organisers and signed their petition but didn't go to meet as we are NW and it doesn't affect us, I like to show support though.

[lessonsintightropes]

MrsTP I use EC station daily and sadly, no he isn't there any more. I would have noticed

[mawbroon]

I got lifted and fined about £30 ish for busking in Zurich about 20 years ago.

I haven't done it for years and years. Ha, should give it a go with 4yo ds2 dancing for cute factor

Don't think you need a licence in Edinburgh apart from during the festival up the High Street. I might be wrong though....

[Dwerf]

I saw a couple of really talented buskers in Halifax, a few weeks later I saw them again in quite a nice pub.

All we seem to get in my city centre are old accordian players practising scales.