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Below: Just for fun: "Michael", the bottle musician has been playing in Sydney's Chinatown for years. He always draws a crowd.
Below: A US news clip featuring auditions for the summer entertainment program run by the Washington subway system. MetroPerforms is run by Metro and an arts commission. A panel of judges chooses the performers, some of whom have gone on to greater things, while others have had at least a chance at fame. As this clip shows, all of the audition crowd, including the judges, are serious about what they do. . Below: Lord Mayor Robert Doyle answers questions on his plan for busker auditions. (Although much of this clip is purely audio, there is video footage near the end featuring what may be one of the "dodgy" buskers Mayor Doyle talks about. Below: Busker made good: Steven Gene Wold, commonly known as Seasick Steve, is an American blues musician, although he prefers to be called "a song and dance man". He plays guitars, and sings, usually about his early life doing casual work and, of course, busking, to earn a living. (Edited version of a Wikipedia entry) . |
 Web links and documents |
On September 5, 2006, the Planning Committee of the Melbourne City Council released a report titled, 'Management of Busking in the City of Melbourne'. The report outlines current pressures on the city that involve busking and acts as valuable background to the current proposals. It includes interviews and survey results that attempt to gauge Melbournians' attitudes to buskers.
The report is quite long (78 pages) however it is clear and very informative.
The full text of the report can be found at http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/Lists/CouncilMeetingAgendaItems/Attachments/387/PC_57_200609050630.pdf
On October 29, 2009, columnist Jeff Corbett argued that buskers are essentially beggars in a comment published in The Newcastle Herald.
The full text of the comment can be found at http://www.theherald.com.au/blogs/jeff-corbett/busking-beggars/1663077.aspx
On May 4, 2010, an opinion piece by columnist Lucy Kippist was published in The Punch. The comment titled 'Hey city-slickers, stop shouting about the noise' argues that city dwellers are unreasonably sensitive to noise pollution.
The full text of the comment can be found at http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/hey-city-slickers-stop-shouting-about-the-noise1/
On September 2, 2010, the Melbourne City Council issued a media release titled, 'Active streets to keep time with city beats'. The media release announces and promotes the Draft Street Activity Policy 2010. The full text of this media release can be found at http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/MediaReleases/Pages/Activestreetstokeeptimewithcitybeats.aspx
On September 2, 2010, The Daily Telegraph published a brief news report titled 'Buskers could be forced to audition for permits' written by Evonne Barry.
The article gives a quote from Melbourne Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle. The article can be found at http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/buskers-could-be-forced-to-audition-for-permits/story-e6freuzr-1225913200535
On September 2, 2010, the ABC issued a report titled "Buskers worried about audition plan'. The report gives the views of both the Melbourne Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle, and some of those who oppose the Council's proposals. The full text can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/02/3000508.htm
On September 2, 2010, The Melbourne Leader published a news report titled, 'Buskers, horses face CBD crackdown'. The article outlines the Council's proposal and the reactions of some of those affected. The article is followed by a comment by Vivien Leigh opposing the proposals. The text can be found at http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/buskers-horses-face-cbd-crackdown/
On September 10, 2010, The Sydney Morning Herald published an opinion piece by Myf Warhurst titled, 'The beat of a different drum'. The piece is a defence of buskers good and bad. The full text of this article can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/the-beat-of-a-different-drum-20100909-15385.html
On September 13, 2010, Emma Woodall's comment criticising the proposed restrictions to be placed on buskers in Melbourne. The comment is titled, 'Melbourne's Buskers to be Censored?' and was published in Beat Magazine. The comment can be found at http://www.beat.com.au/content/melbournes-buskers-be-censored
On September 16, 2010, The Melbourne Leader published a report titled, 'Southbank busker criticises Melbourne Council' written by Nic Price. The report gives the views of young Melbourne busker, Fraser Miller, who is very critical of the proposed auditions.
The article is follwed by two comments, each also from a Melbourne busker and each opposing the Council's proposals. The full text of this article can be found at http://melbourne-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/southbank-busker-criticises-melbourne-council/
On September 20, 2010, James Smith presented an analysis of the increasing hostility toward noise pollution among those living in Melbourne. The article was published in The Age's real estate supplement Domain. Titled 'Shush turns to shove' it can be found at http://news.domain.com.au/domain/home-buying-tips/shush-turns-to-shove-20100920-15izd.html