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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that buskers should need a license?

29 replies

DogCalledRudis · 02/05/2014 19:58

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

OP posts:
RyvitaDolce · 02/05/2014 20:01

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

MiniTheMinx · 02/05/2014 20:04

The more the merrier.

usualsuspectt · 02/05/2014 20:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

beershuffle · 02/05/2014 20:05

They do, in a lot of places.

OverAndAbove · 02/05/2014 20:11

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 · 02/05/2014 20:12

They do require a license.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 02/05/2014 20:13

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. Smile

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 · 02/05/2014 20:14

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 · 02/05/2014 20:15

Some are bad - just walk on by . . . Wink

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 02/05/2014 20:15

Oooh - I love that song

theresnowheretohidewithachip · 02/05/2014 20:28

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 · 02/05/2014 20:37

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 · 02/05/2014 22:39

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.

babybarrister · 02/05/2014 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EverythingsDozy · 02/05/2014 22:44

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 · 02/05/2014 23:54

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 · 02/05/2014 23:58

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 · 02/05/2014 23:59

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 · 03/05/2014 00:03

They need a licence in Edinburgh.

mimishimmi · 03/05/2014 00:06

They need a license in Sydney, Australia.

MrsTerryPratchett · 03/05/2014 00:19

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 · 03/05/2014 00:24

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 Grin
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 · 03/05/2014 00:29

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

mawbroon · 03/05/2014 01:09

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 Wink

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

Dwerf · 03/05/2014 01:18

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.