Should buskers have the X-Factor to entertain Hull shoppers?
THEY stand on street corners in all weathers, hoping for the jingle of loose change in their guitar cases.
Paul Heaton and Stan Cullimore cut their musical teeth busking in Whitefriargate before achieving chart success with The Housemartins in the 1980s.
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Busker Simon performing in Jameson Street, Hull.
Now, buskers could face X-Factor-style auditions before being allowed to entertain the masses on city centre streets.
The idea is one of a number of "management" options for buskers being considered by the city council.
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Anyone can simply turn up and perform in the city centre without having to apply for permission or pay for a licence at the moment.
But new options up for discussion include introducing auditions, issuing licences and designating approved sites.
Taking a break from entertaining the crowds in Jameson Street by drumming on paint tubs, cooking pots and tin lids, Polish musician Simon hopes Hull will stick to its free-for-all policy.
Simon, 25, is a regular visitor to Hull and his act is featured on YouTube.
"I play all over the country," he said. "In some places, like London, Liverpool and York, you have to pay a fee, but it's still free in Leeds and Manchester.
"People in Hull don't have much money to give so it's good that it's free here.
"I like it here in Hull and think it should stay free for people like me to play music."
Among the options to be discussed by councillors next week will be a voluntary code of practice covering issues such as noise levels and the length of performances.
An accompanying council report says: "Buskers can provide activity and vibrancy to public spaces but conversely, on occasions, can create a problematic situation, especially with residents and business users."
The report says some cities, including York, already hold auditions for street buskers.
It adds: "There are arguments for and against.
"Auditions would create delays that could mean buskers do not visit the city centre, some are itinerant and only spend a few days at any one location before moving on.
"However, auditions would mean an element of quality could be injected into the process."
For Simon the drummer, turning up unannounced to play music on the street was a key part of being a busker.
"I can pack up my drums and move on whenever I want. I like that," he said.
Among the appreciative audience watching him play was Bill Dalley, 68, of National Avenue, west Hull.
A former musician with 1960s Hull group The Crestas, he said busking should stay free from council red tape.
"I like coming into the town and seeing this sort of thing," he said.
"It's spontaneous and gives people a chance to express themselves.
"As a musician myself, I enjoy seeing others playing.
"There aren't any bandstands anymore where people can just set up and play so I'm all for buskers."
Comments
by DrumVolta
Saturday, October 06 2012, 1:46PM
“Me and my brother are buskers, we've played all over Yorkshire and met some great people doing it. Some people's views on busking on here seem really negative but its probably because they don't know a few rules about busking:
If you are getting annoyed by a busker (be reasonable) you can ask them to move on - If this happens to a serious busker they HAVE to move. At the end of the day buskers are there to entertain and annoying people isn't an outcome that anyone wants, so polite-fully asking them to move should get you some quiet.
Its illegal for any busker to ask for money - busking IS NOT begging, we never ask for a penny, and in my case I prefer to see people dancing, singing, smiling and in awe of our set rather than some guy throwing a tenner in and not even listening to our music. The money people put in are purely at their own will.
Buskers are not supposed to stay in the same place for over two hours - No one has a set that long, and by this time they may have played the same set over three times, the reasonable busker would move on to a different area after this to stop people getting irritated. If they have exceeded this, just ask them to move to a different area (if its annoying you).
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If you have a bad attitude towards buskers go to York city centre, one of the MAIN attractions there are the busking, there is a licensing scheme round there but only because of the amount of professional buskers that play there.
What brings the quality is not licensing its the welcoming attitude towards buskers that brings the professionals in, and I would love to see this in Hull.”
by mavericka
Saturday, October 08 2011, 7:19AM
“if we are goihg to have auditions, lets have the x factor panel there . after all the council did waste money on the big screen. ?”
by dontwo
Friday, October 07 2011, 9:42PM
“Yeah. What about the people like zoodweller who have to listen to this begging cr@p music everyday. The environmental health people should pay a visit and slap a noise abatement order on them. As for that guy trying to play his harmonica, someone ought to shove it up his @rse. Bet it would sound better than the cr@p he currently blows from his lungs.”
by Lottonews
Friday, October 07 2011, 2:42PM
“They should definitely have to have an audition.Some of them sound absolutely appalling and are an auditory menace to shoppers methinks.”
by Baldrick9
Friday, October 07 2011, 2:21PM
“dontwo - what a massive chip on your shoulder, you don't have to give them money. If you don't like it, walk on by.”
by zoodweller
Friday, October 07 2011, 2:06PM
“I work within earshot of a guy (on whitefriargate) who attempts to play the same three songs on the harmonica over and over again, for hours and hours, day after day. The incessant, noxious, droning sound of these three songs being murdered repeatedly on a daily basis has become a torture worthy of a CIA interrogator at Guantanamo Bay!! In the interest of my sanity, and my rights under the Geneva convention, someone please make it stop!!!”
by pedelrebel
Friday, October 07 2011, 1:20PM
“The Buskers are giving a service and are not begging, the majority are not asking for money, you either pay to be entertained or you dont. Some do Busking to practice cause they maybe cant do it at home, (i know my friend does). Theirs nothing better than to here a good musician playing for himself and others. Apart from panpipers that is. Ha”
by dontwo
Friday, October 07 2011, 12:44PM
“Oh come on. All these people are just beggars who can play a musical instrument. The dole people want to check up on them to make sure they declare their "earnings". Most of them should get a job and carry on this musical "gift" in their spare time. A lot of people like myself can play musical instruments, but most of us dont have the time or the cheek to go ******* off other people. Like other beggars, dossers, and nuisances, the police and the Council should be giving them ASBOs.”
by David_Nivea
Friday, October 07 2011, 10:37AM
“More Marxist-Lite control-freakery disguised as being in 'our' interest.
What next - a dress code to walk through the filthy streets?
Why don't the council enforce the littering fines to raise some money?”
by January48
Friday, October 07 2011, 10:35AM
“Think of the poor shop workers who have to put up with this all day.”