(LAS VEGAS) Let's take a trip down the Strip in Las Vegas and see how the buskers are melting. No, it's not that kind of trip. This is for reals.It's never been hotter in Sin City which just tied an all time record of 117 (47.2 C) degrees in June. Regular street-performers seem to be gravitating towards the Fremont Street Experience where it's a tad cooler. But anyone in an enclosure or costume almost has to have a whole thermos of cold water with them.

Cupid has the right idea. This short, chubby busker runs around in his wings sporting a white g-string. Mix in a few drunks and it makes for a good time - assuming you drink. This is, after all, Las Vegas - home to over 400 Elvis'.

Off to the left is a Golden Statue, to the right is Gold Man. In the center is Golden Girl. Down the way is Sponge Bob...

[ Continued ]

(VANCOUVER) Once a bustling tourist mecca, Vancouver is rapidly gaining a reputation as the "No-Fun-Allowed" city.Granville Island has recently revamped their busking regulations with a dizzying array of almost impossible requirements.

Included is having to pass not one but two auditions by a non-qualified jury, a doubling of license fees, arbitrarily banning popular performers, and for good measure, an unbelievable 15 pages of rules.

And they're just getting warmed up. Forget fire and circle shows. Even with insurance, these are out. Want to change a line or joke? It's not allowed once the license agreement is signed. It's the most preposterous, cockeyed, idiotic conception Busker Central News has ever reported.

License fees were doubled because they "hadn't been raised in 5 years."...

[ Continued ]

(CHARLOTTETOWN) Things are rapidly shaping up for Prince Edward Island's inaugural buskerfest to be held over Labour Day weekend in August.The festival will not only feature daytime performances but nighttime performances as well. The international event will feature buskers from across Canada, the United States, and Argentina including some who have broken several world's records.

Jason Henderson is the festival’s artistic director and can be seen walking over glass barefoot while juggling fire among other amazing feats. He said the idea for holding the event came last year on Canada Day.

The New Hot 105.5 FM radio station is the media sponsor for the buskerfest. Other performers for the initial event will include Victor Rubilar, Fire Guy, James Jordan, Trulee Odd, and Dave Cox.

For more information, v...

[ Continued ]

(BOULDER, COLORADO) From Boston to Los Angeles, newspaper reporters around the country are suddenly running articles about the best buskers in their neck of the woods.Chained in ownership, it isn't hard to see that reporters in each city were given the same assignment. Other papers soon hopped on the bandwagon.

As a result, you can now take your pick of the major city in which you're most interested - or the whole sha-bang from coast-to-coast.

Of course, on any given day, there are different buskers out and about. On slow days, it isn't unusual to find full-time buskers enjoying the day off bicycling or hanging at the local café. C'est la vie.

Conversely, since buskers live for the weekend, this is the time to search and report. Unfortunately, the poor reporter may now be off work and having fun doing their ...

[ Continued ]

(NEW ORLEANS) It's the same old story with a different twist. Just as most captive audiences are tough on buskers, the same held true recently when a busker decided to entertain passengers on a public streetcar in New Orleans.Being the birthplace of jazz, it isn't unusual to find buskers performing songs up and down the venues in the French Quarter which is quite famous for the impromptu entertainers. However, this time was to be different.

The busker pulled out his guitar on the trolly and started singing old Beatles tunes including "A Hard Day's Night". The passengers went about their business expecting the street-performer to soon pass the hat and be on his way. Much to their surprise, the busker just kept playing more Beatles songs having a seemingly endless supply of them on hand.

When...

[ Continued ]