(KEY WEST) Just when you think they've figured it all out, Key West's city hall has created still more controversy in their busking laws. Being in the news over the past several years, it may be a matter of the successful Mallory Square Sunset Celebration turf just not being big enough for the city's satisfaction.
The city along with the Cultural Preservation Society(?) now wants to charge individual buskers $20 a night for accepting tips. Federal courts repeatedly rule that permit fees for First Amendment activity are unconstitutional. Yet we see constant challenges to the right of free speech. City halls do not seem to understand that busking and street performing are immune to their taxing. Confusion appears to come when the performer is observed accepting tips. It seems any exchange of money gets some excited...

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(SANTA FE) It was less than six years ago when busking was illegal in Santa Fe, New Mexico.Today, business is booming for street-performers. Many talents can be found in downtown Santa Fe these days. Buskers are now allowed to perform between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, they are allowed to perform until 1 a.m.

Full story and video

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COLUMBIA TO SET HAT OUT FOR BUSKERS

(COLUMBIA, S. CAROLINA) Columbia has come a long way in just the past two months rewriting their busking ordinances for all to enjoy.

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Ocean City, Maryland city council passed a resolution limiting it's boardwalk buskers and street performers to two pitches "so everybody can co-exist a little bit better", said Mayor Rick Meehan. The performers lobbied against the the ordinance which would keep them away from store-fronts and benches.

In a written statement that was evidently read to the council, "If it is the intention of the council to eliminate street performing, then I urge them to pass this new ordinance", said busker Alexander Osborn whose reverse-psychology probably didn't help.

The law was passed unanimously by council members. The boardwalk is a well-known beach hangout and visited by over 2.4 million tourists a year. The performers were successful in making one change, however. They can...

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Orlando homeless wanna-be busker Vincent Tarazavich has been prevented by city laws from playing for tips on the streets of Orlando.

It seems that Vincent might be getting his big break, as soon as tonight, possibly. Bob Snow, the man who created Church Street Station back in the day, called me this morning. He's willing to give Vincent a spot in front of the newly reopened Cheyenne Saloon on Church Street.

"We'll throw $20 in the case and get him started," Snow told me. "He can start tonight, if he wants to."

Vincent will be holding his sign for the electronics store this afternoon, so it's not clear if he'll be able to connect with Snow. If he does, though, it would be a happy ending.

Snow told me he was involved in discussions with the city about 10 years ago about setting up a system for busking permits that would have included auditions before a committee...

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(THE NETHERLANDS) An article at TheCityAtEyeLevel.com in the Netherlands has published an article portraying busking as a viable means of rejuvenating city streets. Some city's methodology include Glasgow, Melbourne, and Singapore."Busking is at risk of being licensed out of existence, with permit systems, auditions, fees, written application processes, equipment bans, scheduling and branding making the spontaneous, surprising art in public spaces a thing of the past."

The article goes on to discuss street performing policy, proposed permit systems, and a starters guide to encouraging busking in your city.

Many buskers prefer to be self-regulated but there are always a few who abuse this type of system. This can lead to public disputes where there is strong disagreement.

For more info,...

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