Is busking annoying? or a better form of panhandling?

[Sevenpointfive]

Updates

+1 y

busking
/ˈbəskiNG/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the activity of playing music in the street or another public place for voluntary donations.
"years of busking had taught him how to hold a crowd"

[VIVANT]

•There But For Fortune (Go You Or I)•

{Written by Joan Baez ; To be sung by Phil Ochs}

”Show me a prison, show me a jail

Show me a prisoner whose face has gone pale

And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why

And there but for fortune, may go you or I

Show me the alley, show me the train

Show me a hobo who sleeps out in the rain

And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why

There but for fortune, may go you or I

Show me the whiskey stains on the floor

Show me the drunken man as he stumbles out the door

And I'll show you a young man with so many reasons why

There but for fortune, may go you or I

Show me the country where the bombs had to fall

Show me the ruins of the buildings once so tall

And I'll show you a young land with so many reasons why

And There but for fortune, may go you or I -- or I”

I don’t mind unfortunate situationed people asking for money. I think playing music helps to preserve dignity. But with or without must’ve I’ll give lobster if I can. that could easily have been me given my circumstance and anyone else given diff circumstance.

I also think musicians getting good practice in invaluable and the street is an awesome place to do it... sometimes it even sounds nice. And without practice it never would.

Not everyone has space at home too practice and their neighbors may shoot them... If someone sounds kinda bad it can just be they are starting off. Give them a chance 🤷‍♀️😊

I think there may be cultures where the streets are filled with music as common place and not seem as duplicitous behavior. Sounds wonderful in my opinion 💗

Royal Street 2018
Tuba Skinny - Jubilee Stomp

[purplepoppy]

I don't mind real buskers who are actually talented but more often than not it's used as a loophole to bypass begging laws. A tramp asking for money is breaking the law but if he blows a cheap whistle he's magically a busker.

[Lliam]

Busking is certainly not begging, so I wouldn't compare them to panhandlers.
I usually don't find buskers annoying. They can be if they are loud, like if they play a saxophone or a conga drum. The most annoying thing ever is a dumb ass druggie getting all hypnotic on a damn conga drum.
But most buskers are aspiring musicians. Some are relative newbies and some are very proficient. It's a way for someone who is really dedicated to playing music to practice for hours a day and get better.
A busker isn't tied down by an employer. They can set their own work hours and have their own dress code. In some cities, they can work in beautiful surroundings. And some buskers can earn enough to live simply but comfortably. I have friends, a couple, who traveled around Europe for years busking and playing occasional taverns.

[Sevenpointfive]

what if they aren't taking donations?

[Lliam]

I don't know if I've ever seen one who wasn't. But like I said, they rarely annoy me and some are remarkably good. It's mainly loud saxophones or talentless idiots on congas that I want to strangle.

[Sevenpointfive]

did you ever get the peruvian flute bands where you live?

[Lliam]

Not where I live, but I've seen them a few times. I remember some in Mexico. The last one I saw was in Albuquerque last year. They were great. That band had an electronic rhythm section that made them interesting.

[MiamiMadness]

If it’s legal i the area they do it then I don’t see the issue, they’re not just asking for money with a sign in their hand like most panhandlers. They’re performing and we all need to make a living right? Worse ways to do it.

[Anonymous]

Panhandlers are literally asking for free money. A lot of them aren't even homeless. At least musicians are doing something for the money. If they had a real stage and you paid to come see what is the difference.

[_乃尺OЩ刀_TITI]

No i like buskers, makes the atmosphere lively.

[In_Trance]

not a fan