Busking in Prague...

[Splatt]

Greetings,

First of all, I'm new here...Hi and things...

So I'm about to embark on a little bit of a European adventure and am going to be studying for a month in Prague till mid July. I'm a Musical Saw player and am just wondering if anyone out there has any experience with Busking in Prague. Is it even possible?

Any advice in regards to Prague and the rest of Europe would be of great help as I'm taking a giant stab in the dark in regards to busking in Europe full stop.(kind of pointless adding another full stop after spelling it out already, but you get my point) . (I couldn't help myself with that one)

David Splatt

[worldwidese]

Prague

Mostly on Charles Bridge, and the square in old town. I have seen buskers on trains in the Metro (subway)

[Laurent Piron]

Hi,
When I contacted the fringe organisation to try to busk during the festival, they told me that busking is not allowed in the city !!
Do anybody ever try it ???

[Isabella]

Busking in Prague is officially illegal. There are some - licensed and local - buskers on Charles Bridge. It is impossible to get a permit unless you are local and speak fluent Czech - there are too many offices to visit and too many forms to fill out for someone living temporarily or not speaking fluent Czech to deal with. I had a local, who knew people in city hall, working on this for me for six months prior to arrival - no dice.

That said, I have seen renegade shows - very small circle shows, 15 minutes or less - working on the main approach to the bridge in the city streets - there are a couple of wide sidewalks before you hit the actual bridge (in the neighborhood, not on the actual bridge) where fire-spitters and jugglers sometimes work.

Don't even try the main square - there are a ton of cops and you will be shut down in minutes. They can confiscate all your stuff and deport you from the country or put you in jail, and they are very vigorous about enforcing it.

Good luck!

[strollivarius]

play on private property in Prague?

Same goes with any city that bans buskers. I believe the cops in Prague must honor the concept of private property and honor the concept of performing on private property. You probably don't need to show an open tip container since most citizens of Prague who appreciate your performance will come up and hand you a tip without any solicitation on your part.

[strollivarius]

play on private property in Prague? (con't)

knowing that the cops there will take your instrument- here's an idea.

take an old instrument case that you can afford to have taken by the cops- and go through the motion of playing the instrument.

Embarrass the cops with a sign that says:

"YOUR POLICE TOOK MY INSTRUMENT AND CONFISCATED MY TIPS for the horrendous crime of STREET PERFORMING.

I am here visiting Prague with no way to pay for my ticket home (USA or wherever)"

I am sure the residents of Prague are aware of the plight of street performers. They might even gather together and physically protect you from the police. (especially if you are a woman.)

Also- if you are a resident of Prague or any other city which incorporates those nazi-like tactics- and you would like to see them end to enliven your streets with more performers (and fewer "nazis")you could do the above. After all-Where are they going to deport you??!!

[Isabella]

You haven't spent much time in a formerly communist country, have you?

[gav]

Read the posts in this thread, Prague is off limits ! The local performers who actually get licences like to keep it that way.
At this time of year German and Belgian christmas markets might be your best bet.

[strollivarius]

You haven't spent much time in a formerly communist country, have you?

Sounds like its still communist or else fascist. Any country that treats buskers like that doesn't deserve any tourists.

I guess they will let you play if you agree to give all your tips to the cops.

[Samora Squid]

People are people and as long as you don't cause a problem, the security will watch your show, laughing and smiling. 8 shows, 3 days, no permit, no problems. I'm sure they'd call the cops if there was an issue, then you're stuffed.

It's what I call a prop-up pitch: I had to do small shows, so as not to attract too much attention, so I removed the middle of my show, resulting in a smaller hat taking than usual. THis, in conjuction with their shitty economy, language barriers (everyone there is from all over, so no one language will sort you -better to use little bits from many)
The highest tips I got were from American Tourists in the form of Euros (not very useful in Czech, but should come in handy later)
Czech money is useless outside Chzech, but you'll earn enough to live a comfortable lifestyle there, if you're passing through. Bit like working Mexico, in that respect.

Got shut down by the cops last week. They were doing a "begger blitz" and I was sitting alone, counting coins, so they took me as well.
Nothing to do with Communism, either, people. Latvian cops love me!