This is one extra point in connection with my last question here. I mentioned it but did'nt expand on it. It's to do with busking in New York. Is it allowed and if so, where? We dont want to be too cheeky and get arrested. I know New York is such a busy place but is there anywhere musicians can just play in the open legally. Could we play near to a big shopping complex or in special park areas? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
It has been over seven years since I was living in NYC, but I busked some of the Manhattan parks and the subways while there, and picked up a few pence.
My observation then was that, like many other communities about the planet, NYC and their authority figures usually have better things to do than go looking for people to hassle.
If something is not a problem to anybody really, they may be inclined to just ignore it. This can include the police. I was playing in Washington Square Park, the mounties rode by, and when they looked my way I asked if what I was doing was all right. They said it didn't bother them, named a couple of other places where I would not be rousted, advised me not to do any pyrotechnics or public displays of nudity, and said it then wouldn't interest them at all. Very nice of them.
I guess what I'm saying is that if you can keep under the radar, and use a bit of common sense, you may not become a public nuisance. The banner "Just trying to make an honest living" still carries weight in some places. But above all, you really do not want to get busted in NYC.
On the dark side:
All my experience is Pre-9/11, and I have no idea how tight things may have become.
Also, every foot of space in that city BELONGS to someone, and you better be ready to "move along" when asked. (Could be a doorman, a cop, a metermaid, anyboy, but I never got anywhere by questioning that persons right to move me along
Permits were definately required (and it was enforced) for many prime territories for street performers.
Another lesson occurs to me, if you are feeling lucky: If you are in a park, 'tis a lovely day, people out strolling, etc. and you whip out your ax and start playing, even if you attract unwanted attention (Cop!) you may be simply asked not to do that here, and you are off with whatever you scored up to that point.
Obscure Rule Of Busking: It is sometimes easier to gain forgiveness than permission.
My two cents, don't know if it helped. Be careful out there.
The City issues permits or licenses to those performers who wish to busk in the subways, Penn Station, Times Square Station and Grand Central. The performers display a black and gold banner, issued with the permit, with the name of their "act" or group on it. Don't know if that applies to street performers, as well.
However, that's not to say that you wouldn't be able to busk "underground" or anywhere else, for that matter. See Rook's "Obscure Rule Of Busking" above...
Hopefully, you won't be playing a pan ("ethnic") flute!!! We have more than we need in NYC these days!
Are the streets of NYC (and Boston, while we're at it) still vibrant with the Sounds of the Andes?
One of the things I don't miss about the Big Apple is having to navigate through the throngs of viewers surrounding often mediocre Colombian and Ecuadorian minstrels (curse you, Simon and Garfunkle, yeah, I'd rather be a hammer than a nail too!), or hoodlum breakdance troops threatening people out of their spare change. Grumble grumble....
I do hope the Celtic street players don't ever reach the level of "nuisance".
I don't know about "the streets," as I travel underground in the colder weather. You have aptly described the so-called entertainment found in Penn Station and Grand Central on 2 mornings EACH per week. No break-dance groups so much anymore....
However, there is a bright spot on Thursdays and Fridays - a duo called the Ebony Hillbillys - banjo and fiddle - playing good ol' Appalachian / Irish fare. And last week I came across an 8 piece brass jazz group with a brilliant drummer. They were a breath of fresh air! Heard them twice, and they "disappeared."
Busking in the Big Apple.
Busking in the Big Apple.
This is one extra point in connection with my last question here. I mentioned it but did'nt expand on it. It's to do with busking in New York. Is it allowed and if so, where? We dont want to be too cheeky and get arrested. I know New York is such a busy place but is there anywhere musicians can just play in the open legally. Could we play near to a big shopping complex or in special park areas? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by lilt
Re: Busking in the Big Apple.
You might find the information you're looking for here:
http://www.citylore.org/citylore_links-guide.html
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by Upsetter
Re: Busking in the Big Apple.
1
Find park
2
Find warm tree
3
Get on with it
Oh and don't worry about the Bluegrass bands they don't buzz until the weather warms up a bit .
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by Schlongbow
Re: Busking in the Big Apple.
Washington Square Park would probably be a great place to play.
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by irishfiddler32
Re: Busking in the Big Apple.
It has been over seven years since I was living in NYC, but I busked some of the Manhattan parks and the subways while there, and picked up a few pence.
My observation then was that, like many other communities about the planet, NYC and their authority figures usually have better things to do than go looking for people to hassle.
If something is not a problem to anybody really, they may be inclined to just ignore it. This can include the police. I was playing in Washington Square Park, the mounties rode by, and when they looked my way I asked if what I was doing was all right. They said it didn't bother them, named a couple of other places where I would not be rousted, advised me not to do any pyrotechnics or public displays of nudity, and said it then wouldn't interest them at all. Very nice of them.
I guess what I'm saying is that if you can keep under the radar, and use a bit of common sense, you may not become a public nuisance. The banner "Just trying to make an honest living" still carries weight in some places. But above all, you really do not want to get busted in NYC.
On the dark side:
All my experience is Pre-9/11, and I have no idea how tight things may have become.
Also, every foot of space in that city BELONGS to someone, and you better be ready to "move along" when asked. (Could be a doorman, a cop, a metermaid, anyboy, but I never got anywhere by questioning that persons right to move me along
Permits were definately required (and it was enforced) for many prime territories for street performers.
Another lesson occurs to me, if you are feeling lucky: If you are in a park, 'tis a lovely day, people out strolling, etc. and you whip out your ax and start playing, even if you attract unwanted attention (Cop!) you may be simply asked not to do that here, and you are off with whatever you scored up to that point.
Obscure Rule Of Busking: It is sometimes easier to gain forgiveness than permission.
My two cents, don't know if it helped. Be careful out there.
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by Piece
Re: Busking in the Big Apple.
The City issues permits or licenses to those performers who wish to busk in the subways, Penn Station, Times Square Station and Grand Central. The performers display a black and gold banner, issued with the permit, with the name of their "act" or group on it. Don't know if that applies to street performers, as well.
However, that's not to say that you wouldn't be able to busk "underground" or anywhere else, for that matter. See Rook's "Obscure Rule Of Busking" above...
Hopefully, you won't be playing a pan ("ethnic") flute!!! We have more than we need in NYC these days!
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by Ceolagusrince
Re: Busking in the Big Apple.
Outside The Lincoln Center springs to mind.
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by Strathfoyle
Re: Busking in the Big Apple.
Query:
Are the streets of NYC (and Boston, while we're at it) still vibrant with the Sounds of the Andes?
One of the things I don't miss about the Big Apple is having to navigate through the throngs of viewers surrounding often mediocre Colombian and Ecuadorian minstrels (curse you, Simon and Garfunkle, yeah, I'd rather be a hammer than a nail too!), or hoodlum breakdance troops threatening people out of their spare change. Grumble grumble....
I do hope the Celtic street players don't ever reach the level of "nuisance".
That's my ex-New Yorker whine for today.
Cheers.
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by Piece
Re: Busking in the Big Apple.
Rook:
I don't know about "the streets," as I travel underground in the colder weather. You have aptly described the so-called entertainment found in Penn Station and Grand Central on 2 mornings EACH per week. No break-dance groups so much anymore....
However, there is a bright spot on Thursdays and Fridays - a duo called the Ebony Hillbillys - banjo and fiddle - playing good ol' Appalachian / Irish fare. And last week I came across an 8 piece brass jazz group with a brilliant drummer. They were a breath of fresh air! Heard them twice, and they "disappeared."
# Posted on March 11th 2007 by Ceolagusrince