PART 1
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/they-rock-the-mayor-decides/story-e6frgczx-1225917047856
PART 2
PART 3
The first link is an article from The Australian which attacks some proposed censorship of street musicians based on aesthetic appeal, while the second is a link to the general area busking—to busk being the verb for playing music on the street—for the Melbourne area. The article claims, as I said, that it was at least proposed at one point that buskers have to audition for a permit; the law, however, states that while no audition as such is necessary, all musicians do have to bring their instrument in to demonstrate the volume. Furthermore, the locations for busking seem to be heavily regulated, and much of it is restricted without having to get a more specific permit. Having busked extensively in 7 major cities I have never encountered such strict permit laws, so it will be interesting to see how strictly these are enforced, as I definitely plan to busk while in Melbourne.
http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story/2010/07/13/hes-breaking-the-law-by-busking-in-the-whitsundays/
ReplyDeleteThis article from the Daily Mercury discusses an Australian man in trouble with the law for busking in Whitsundays. In Whitsundays busking is illegal yet it hasn’t stopped this man from doing what he loves. Mr. Finley describes what busking means to him and how he is just entertaining, however “his passion for entertaining and busking has seen him wind up on the wrong side of the law and he has voiced his frustration at being treated like a criminal for doing what he loves.” He is trying to advocate a policy change to allow busking. It is interesting that there are such regulations and rules in not just Melbourne but in other areas of Australia, when it is not as restricted in places in the US.
The Australian: Mayor in a song and dance over busking
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/mayor-in-a-song-and-dance-over-busking/story-e6frg6nf-1225913526469
I find this topic extremely interesting. Any time I go to a Mariners game or other sporting event in Seattle I hear buskers and I find the art particularly fascinating. This article from the Australian reflects upon the impact busking has in Melbourne and how the mayor is looking to resolve what has become a hot-button issue. "Hold[ing] busker auditions on Wednesday mornings in the city square in kind of a public Melbourne idol" would be really cool to witness but I believe that a person should be allowed to play regardless of talent level. Besides musical taste is extremely subjective anyway. I do not think it is right for the city to be able to take such a form of self-expression away from its people. I agree with Kyla's comment and find it perplexing that there are no such restrictions or public uproar over busking in the U.S.