(LONDON) Radio 1 star Olly Murs has received his makeunder as a homeless guy with head lice. His mission was to perform in Covent Garden and see how well he does.The trend of stars busking on pitches around the world seems to have manifested itself. Whether for a commercial, skit, or social experiment, the stars are coming out at all hours. The celebrities over the years include Sir Paul McCartney, Joshua Bell, Guns & Roses, Bruce Springsteen, Usher, Murs, and more yet to come.

You'd think Murs would be releasing some fantastic new album but this social experiment was at the top of the list. He demonstrates how important professionalism can be when busking in the real world. Even in his condition, it was more of an audition than a handout.

Murs performed 45 minutes of his own songs and even has the video to prove...

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(SYDNEY) From hulahoops to didgeridoos, over 260 buskers turned out to break the Guinness World's Record of 230 set in the UK for the world's largest busk. Although not all were authentic buskers with the youngest being 4 years old, they were officially registered as performers who came out to busk for a worthy cause and break the record at the same time.

Performers played for two hours in 100 places as part of the Bondi Winter Magic Festival donating their day's earnings to SoundSchool which teaches music to disadvantaged children.

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(WWW) Most people think that fame is instant - namely that through a fluke, fame comes to performers overnight. Far from the truth, it turns out that fame usually comes only after years and years of dedicated performing.Some start out in very different themes before becoming famous. Who knew a fire eater would become James Bond or a mime become an Academy Award winner? One famous performer actually got deported from Spain for sleeping on the streets. Another got his nickname the "Beale Street Blues Boy". Can you guess who?

A closer look at fame reveals startling inconsistencies in perceptions of success. A famous comedian starts off playing banjo for lucky passers-by. Another star begins playing piano at age six. Just who will make it and who won't is written in the stars (no pun intended). Such is life.

Let's...

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(HONG KONG) A social-psychological study by the College of Professional and Continuing Education has shown some intriguing results when it comes to perceptions of public space.An affiliate of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the study revealed that public space was perceived as more restorative with street performance than without street performance. In addition, people who had engaged with street performance in the space perceived the space as more visitable, more restorative, and more preferable than people who had not engaged with street performance.

This can have an interesting and dynamic influence when it comes to public policy-making. When updating areas in need of an overhaul, busking and street performing can only help in restoring run-down regions.

Some scientific assumptions and limitations...

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(NEW YORK) Times Square, the self-proclaimed "Crossroads of the World," is the top destination for tourists hoping for the quintessential Gotham experience. An article by John Tierney in City Journal magazine takes us through a 2+ decades trip of Times Square. Recent developments have converted automobile traffic lanes into lanes for street-performers and street-vendors."Fake Buddhist monks begging for money, living statues, the Naked Cowboy, topless women, and a horde of costumed cartoon characters are all pressuring tourists to pay them for a picture - because nothing says New York like a selfie with the Incredible Hulk."

"A remade Times Square could start taking shape at the end of this year when the new plaza is supposed to be finished. By then, city officials hope to have...

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