What is wrong with Street Musicians?

@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
October 8, 2008 12:29pm CST
It is illegal in my city to "panhandle" on the streets or in the parks. I'm really not sure why. As I've travelled around, I've enjoyed a lot of the street musicians I've heard playing. In Galvaston, there was a guy playing a tenor sax. I asked him if he could play Galvaston by Glen Campbell. He said he'd heard the song, but never played it before.. but still gave it a shot... and did really well! I thanked him and put a $5 in his bucket. I kind of wonder how he's doing now after Ike. I understand that some street musicians get pushy and rude, others play too loudly. But those problems are already covered in "public nuisance" and noise ordinances. Another argument against them is it gets annoying when someone is playing an intrument in the park or on the corner. That isn't a very good argument though, since it isn't illegal to play an instrument in public, it's only illegal to ask for money (verbally or otherwise). I had my guitar at the Obama campaign rally in Green Bay. I couldn't take it in with me, and really didn't want to, but I milled around the crowd playing as I walked. If I had of put out something for people to put money in, it would have been illegal, but since I didn't, it wasn't. Another irony of it all is, if people wanted to, they could legally give me money... I just couldn't ask for it. lol
1 person likes this
2 responses
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
15 Oct 08
There was a huge brouhaha in Philadelphia over this last Spring. A young street musician was arrested in Rittenhouse Square for singing in violation of an archaic statute that was never enforced before. The sad part was that the park where he was singing had a history of busking that went back to Fritz Kreistler who used to go play his violin there for free every time he came to town to play with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Anyway, the nouveau riche inhabitants of the multi million dollar high rises around the square complained about the noise. (The old people in the brownstones didn't seem to care. Some of their kids & grandchildren had been buskers in the square in the 1960's). The ACLU took the street singer's case and won so for the time being there will still be music in Rittenhouse Square.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
15 Oct 08
Not sure what Constitutional question there is here, so I don't see where scum like the ACLU would be involved. It seems to me that local issues should be handled by the local community, but I am glad for the outcome.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
15 Oct 08
ah, much.
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
15 Oct 08
Oops, sorry I think I got my legal initials messed up. It was CLS (Community Legal Services) not ACLU. Is that better. LOL
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
9 Oct 08
Somebody decided it was a good idea to outlaw it, and so they did.. That's the activity of good ole big brother..
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
15 Oct 08
Gotta love Big Brother... by law! :~D