(SEATTLE) It takes one glance any day of the week to see lots of buskers performing at Seattle, Washington's Pike Place Market. The popular and colorful water-front marketplace is alive and well.Busker Central reporters recently visited the scene and observed that street-performers were literally on every block. Pianos, guitars, saxophones, and clarinets were all making music leaving the possibility wide open for larger circle shows. Although the pitches are now permitted, some performers had been busking the market for over 10 years.

A huge tourist mecca, Pike Place Market is also home to the first Starbucks coffee shop. The line to enjoy a cup of java was well outside the door and down the block. Beside the line, a guitarist was busy performing classic rock songs and really seemed to be enjoying himself. Down...

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We've all found ourselves at one point or another staring in fascination at a busking mime or a talented street musician.In recent years, busking, the term for performing in public places usually for money from the crowd, has grown into an organized art form complete with professional networks, associations and showcase festivals around the world.

Here in the United States, cities such as Miami, San Francisco, New York and New Orleans have become known for their thriving busking scenes.

Take Maria for instance. A longtime busker in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Maria acts as a human statue, completely still, covered in metallic gold paint and dressed in a matching antique wedding gown. While one may think Maria, often referred to as the Jilted Bride, just stands there doing nothing, her motionless presence...

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Is anybody as addicted to their magic table as I am? I don't seem to be able to operate without it. I've gone out a couple times without it and sucked. I ususally do 3 shell game and a Benson Bowl type routine with the table. I don't seem to have the same confidence without it. I do sharpshooter and the misers dream and a signed bill into a nest of dolls which doesn't need a table, but my show isn't as good without what I do with the table. Anybody have any similar experiences??? I would like to ditch the table and stand and just work out of a Dr. bag which would be great if the quality of show was as high. Suggestions please!!!!

blackbeltmagic@gmail.com
http://blackbeltmagician.com

(YORK) City Halls often see busking as a potential problem to be managed and restricted. The victory with the York City Council resulted in a document designed to encourage and welcome buskers from all over the world.An online petition was started by the Keep Streets Live Campaign. It was signed by over 4000 people and called on York to scrap their restrictive policy and work with the busking community to produce new guidance. It seems while one town is outlawing busking and street performing, another is begging for buskers to revitalize their historic and shopping districts.

The York document may influence London's policy that criminalizes street musicians. A campaign has been set up to challenge it and protect Britain's public spaces. The Camden dispute has organized buskers consulting in the House of Lords, taking the...

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A man attracted scores of curious onlookers when he performed the highly unusual stunt of inflating balloons with his eyes during a special show in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, last Thursday.

Pin Zui (stage name) wore a pair of glasses with a plastic pipeline linked to the balloon and drew wild applause from the crowd after fully inflating it.

Pin, a member of China television Guinness art troupe, performs his stunt in public in many cities around the country.

He is said to be the first person able to use his eyes to blow up balloons on the mainland.

(China Foto Press)