Right: Melbourne writer and TV, radio personality Myf Warhurst has cited blues guitarist Seasick Steve as an example of someone who busked to earn a precarious living while he developed his skills. Ms Warhurst pointed out that Steve was now performing at international festivals and in concert halls. (See Seasick Steve performing in the "Web links and Documents" section)
.
Arguments against buskers being auditioned and having other restrictions placed upon them
1. This will reduce the vitality of Melbourne streets
It has been claimed that the wide variety of acts currently being performed on Melbourne streets makes an important contribution to the life of the city.
Melbourne-based radio announcer and writer, Myf Warhurst, has stated, 'Buskers are an important part of Melbourne, whether they are wonderful or woeful...There's something to be said for all types of buskers, not just the polished ones. If we set the bar too high, we're in danger of locking out those more marginalised or not quite up to scratch and messing with what makes our Melbourne city streets unique.'
Similarly, Emma Woodall, in a comment posted on Beat Magazine's Internet site on September 13, 2010, stated, 'Melbourne's buskers are a cultural institution in this city. To lose the colour and sense of culture which they bring to Melbourne's streets would be nothing short of a tragedy, and an insult to the liberal democracy in which we exist.'
In an editorial published in The Age on September 3, 2010, it was stated, 'In any city, some buskers will be indescribably awful, most will be tolerable, and a few may be artists of genius in the making. It is a mix that makes the streets interesting...'
Concern has also been expressed as to whose judgement of what is suitable will be imposed on the buskers. Who will make up the auditioning panel judges? The fear is that if their tastes are narrow, this will reduce the variety and vitality of street performances.
2. Buskers represent a more controllable noise nuisance than most
Noise, defenders of busking claim, simply comes with living, working or doing business in a major city such as Melbourne. However, it has been argued, although a substantial level of noise is an inevitable feature of city living, most of this noise does not come from street entertainers.
Lucy Kippist, in an article published in The Punch on May 10, 2010, stated, 'It's never, never, ever, ever going to be quiet. Never. You're going to hear sirens, hoons, trucks, rumble of rush hour, children playing on the street, neighbours having a party, neighbours having a fight...
So why is it that despite the very obvious nature of these noises, there are some people who remain intent on complaining about them, at great length?'
It has further been noted that for most Melbournians the noise created by buskers is relatively avoidable, unlike the noise of traffic and sirens, in that the shopper or city worker does not have to stay and listen to a busker's performance if it is irritating. The passerby can simply walk on.
As a consequence of listeners' freedom not to listen it has been argued that only those buskers who offer people entertainment will attract enough custom to survive.
An editorial published in The Age on September 3, 2010, stated, 'Very few buskers do have only one song, and those who do rarely survive for long. Simply, there's no money in it. Market forces quickly weed out underperforming buskers...'
3. These restrictions would limit musicians' opportunities to develop their craft and become known
It has been claimed that becoming an established musician requires the performer to have had a range of opportunities to work before an audience. Busking is one informal and currently accessible way of acquiring such experience.
There is concern that if only established, experienced performers are allowed to busk, then one valuable means of learning to become a public musician will be removed.
Jessica Paige, 25, who makes a living out of busking, said she hoped the audition process would not discourage budding artists.
Ms Paige has stated, 'No one starts out sounding fantastic, or being great at anything, you always have to work.'
Another Melbourne busker, John Shaw, has stated, 'The music industry is so hard to get started in the first place. I just fear that the fees and restrictions that are being proposed will stifle already struggling musicians.'
Similarly Melbourne busker Luka Lesson has stated, 'No one starts out good and that's why people busk because they can't get a gig yet and so that's your training ground.'
Melbourne-based radio announcer and writer, Myf Warhurst, has also stated, 'Some well-known artists with bucket loads of talent started out this way. They, too, may have had difficulty providing the required five points of ID. Ted Hawkins was an American performer who lived much of his life on the street, struggling with bouts of addiction. He was rediscovered in his 50s, got an international recording contract, turned his life around and toured the world.'
4. For some musicians, busking makes an important contribution to their livelihood
It has been claimed that for some musicians, especially those trying to establish themselves, busking is an important supplement to their livelihood.
Emma Woodall, in a comment posted on Beat Magazine's Internet site on September 13, 2010, stated, 'This proposition could ... mean a significant financial blow to many of these performers, many who live below the poverty line and use their performances not only as an outlet to express themselves, but a financial endeavour, where the small monetary takings help to supplement the meagre income they already receive.'
It has also been claimed that for some people in difficult circumstances busking may be a major part of their income.
Melbourne busker Luka Lesson has stated, 'There are people I know with a mental disability and that's their only means of support.'
Melbourne-based radio announcer and writer, Myf Warhurst, has stated, 'Some buskers would have difficulty getting to the audition stage. Not because they're slack, they may simply not have the means to record a demo, get a bio or MySpace page together. If you're struggling to find a place to sleep, you're probably not that concerned with updating your Facebook status.'
Myf Warhurst also noted, 'Popular bearded bluesman Seasick Steve occasionally lived rough and sometimes busked. He's now performing international festivals and concert halls. A crazy-bearded-guy-playing-guitar-in-the-corner made good, I'm sure he was thankful for that bit of extra coin that helped keep him going.'
5. This is a revenue-raising measure on the part of the Council
Critics of the proposed new regulations are skeptical about the reason for their imposition. Some say that if the Council's intention is simply to regulate the quality and location of buskers there is no need to charge them a variety of fees.
Some have suggested that these fees are merely a revenue-raising measure for the Council.
In a comment published online in The Melbourne Leader, Vivien Leigh stated, 'The proposed new fee for street buskers is yet another piece of hypocrisy by Cr Doyle. If, as he states, his purpose is so that "it does not impact upon the accessibility or enjoyment of those visitors" that come to the cbd, he would simply limit the numbers instead of slugging the poor buskers $50-$200 and $200 for horse-drawn carriages. Clearly, his aim is revenue raising..."
Fraser Miller, 19, busks at Southbank about twice a week. Mr Miller has claimed, 'The council's proposal to charge buskers $50 a year for a permit or $200 a year to sell CDs or merchandise was a shameless money grab.'