(BUSKING) It seems as little as ten years ago, the term "busker" or "street performer" was looked upon with disdain. Suddenly, now it's the "in" title to tell new-found friends and acquaintances. Strange as it may seem, public perception has shifted in favor of said buskers. The internet has seemed to have had a positive impact on the perception of street performers world-wide.

Wannabe buskers abound on the internet. Some sites have sections dedicated to busking. Unfortunately, once entered, one finds several performers that have only been thinking about busking but somehow never found the backbone to discard their day job to busk full-time. This may be a good thing, however, as some may not have what it takes to begin with. It would probably only add to the long lines at the unemployment office.

...

[ Continued ]

(CLEVELAND) Like so many other American cities, Cleveland's Downtown Alliance is making way for buskers and street performers to create a more vibrant shopping environment.Ranging from musicians, dancers and artists alike, the Alliance wants to include mimes and comedians, puppeteers and balloon twisters.

Over twenty pitches will be available. The busker program is one of the latest initiatives from the DCA which has been trying to create more experiences downtown with other programs.

The DCA also has a guide with city rules and tips for the performers on its website. And people interested in finding buskers can check out a map of locations online.

Check out the link below to more information.


...

[ Continued ]

(NYC) Get ready for the 15th annual BuskerBall on April 22! A celebration of New York City’s vibrant street performance culture, the event is being held at Unit J
338 Moffatt Street, Brooklyn, NY. This unique event will feature a selection of the city’s best buskers showcasing their musical talents and highlighting the importance of street performance to the cultural fabric of the city.

The BuskerBall isn’t just about music – it’s about celebrating the vital role that street performers play in the cultural life of New York City. These artists bring joy and inspiration to our streets creating shared experiences and fostering a sense of community among city dwellers.

By supporting street performance, we can help to ensure that the arts remain accessible to all - regardless of economic status or social ba...

[ Continued ]

(TAIPEI) Busking is a thriving art in Taipei - a city that is busy promoting Taiwanese street performances featuring modern and traditional elements. In Taipei City alone, there are 59 public places now open to street performers including parks, commercial plazas, and a number of metro stations.

Besides Vieshow Square, the Ximending area in western Taipei and the Tamshui Metro station near the northwest coast of New Taipei City are also renowned busking sites.

Born from this success, the Taiwan Buskers Development Association was created whose mission is to fight for more street performance space, advocate buskers job rights, and keep the traditional arts alive.

The talents of these street performers range from portraiture, singing, acrobatics and juggling to posing as living statues, magic tricks, street dancing,...

[ Continued ]

(SAN DIEGO) Hosting buskers from around the country, the Seaport Village Spring Busker Festival is quickly becoming one of the premiere busking venues in the United States.Celebrating it's 6th year, perhaps the reason for success of the two day event is actually Seaport Village General Manager Terry Hall. Having spent time in Europe, Hall is familiar with the customary busker and wants Americans to understand the respect due these facinating performers. He is literally bringing a world standard to a culture-starved nation.

The great tradition of busking has given rise to busker festivals around the world. Pier 39 in San Francisco, Faneuil Hall in Boston, Covent Garden in London, The Halifax International Busker Festival in Canada, the Christchurch World Buskers Festival in New Zealand, and the Adelaide Fringe...

[ Continued ]