Just starting out.

[Firespinner_no.42]

Hi all. I haven't started busking yet, but I'm very interested and would love if someone could help me out.

I live in Ashland, Oregon, and I was hoping someone knew what the laws around busking in the area are. I have a performance area in mind (down in Lithia Park) but I'm scared of doing something there and getting stopped by the cops because I'm missing a permit of some sort. I've tried to look this up myself, but obviously I've had little luck, or I wouldn't be asking right now. So if anyone can help, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks for the help!

[Michael Neal McGee]

May I see your permit?

Just do it. If you need a permit they will tell you, if its not allowed at all they will tell you that as well. As long as you remain civil it is far easier to ask for forgiveness (pleading ignorance of course) than it is to beg for permission. Just my thoughts.

Pops

[martin ewen]

You're just lucky I've mellowed with age

and the fact that I'm in rehab with time on my hands helps also.
Listen here you little scamp. You are just about to set out on a voyage of a million mistakes. Some of them will be spectacular and others just dumb. But you will learn from each one and you will survive if you have the courage to trust yourself and not become a parking attendant.

You are at present, being a non street performer, 51 % full of bullshit.

If you become one of us. And we cannot be fooled and when you become one of us you will not be able to be fooled either.

You will, like us, proudly be only 49% full of bullshit.

If you are still plugging away a year from now I will personally come and put money in your hat.

If someone lends me some.

Now go read this

http://www.performers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=17048

[Firespinner_no.42]

Thanks!

Thanks guys, it's nice to hear words of encouragement from people who have been doing this for a while.

Thanks for the link Martin, I'll be sure to use it.

Thanks again, I hope I use your advice well and give a good show.

[Isabella]

If you have called these offices/people:

Fire Marshal
City Clerk (and the five other people who don't know, whom they will route you to)
Chief of Police
Superintendent of Parks
County Sheriff
City Commissioners
County Commissioners

And you still don't have the answer, spend some time in the park and ask the next cop you see.

Then come back and tell us you can't find the answer. And then you will have taken another step towards becoming a street performer, which is learning to find and deal with people in authority.

I'm also going to make a really offensive assumption, Fire Spinner, and say to make sure you've had a shower and a shave, you're wearing deoderant, your dreadlocks are in a tidy hat or bandanna, and you're wearing an outfit your grandmother would be pleased to be seen with you in, when you meet any of these people listed above. It will help.

You also want to trot over to Specialty Insurance and get yourself some insurance, which will also help.

It's never too soon to start learning how to make nice to the Fire Marshal.

Also, go and try. You will probably meet whoever regulates the area within the first hour. Keep it low key, keep the volume down, keep your hat discreet, and you may be able to find out what you need without getting busted. Worst case, they will ask you to leave. They are unlikely to arrest you unless you give them sass or meet fewer than two of the criteria above. Nonetheless, make sure you're also not carrying or doing anything else illegal.

Welcome

[Firespinner_no.42]

I did it!

I just got back from the park. I set up and started performing, which was a lot of fun. The only downer was not getting money, but I kinda figured that would happen the first time.

Thanks again everyone for giving me advice and pushing me to just go out and do it!

[Michael Neal McGee]

I just got back from the park. I set up and started performing, which was a lot of fun. The only downer was not getting money, but I kinda figured that would happen the first time.

Thanks again everyone for giving me advice and pushing me to just go out and do it!

Don't forget to "prime the pump" Seed your hat with some bills!

[Isabella]

Congrats! Did you get an audience?

[Firespinner_no.42]

Audience

Congrats! Did you get an audience?

Not really. People noticed me when they walked by though, and would give comments and stuff, instead of just ignoring me, which made me ridiculously happy

[Kazoo]

Did you have a sign? I ,being visually impaired with a white identification cane, and otherwise disabled note this as my sign on a nice white tri-board (used in science fair displays).

DISABLED STREET PRFORMER
Am Local and Not on Government Assistance
Tips Are My Only Income

You might want to keep it simple put in your have a little sign I suggest a small postage white box cut and on it put TIPS placed in your hat. Get the point across you would appreciate tips in a plain way. I use tips not donations since your a performer offering a serivce not a beggar and it sounds nicer. I obviously have no problem making an appeal on aiding me due to my disabilities you need to sometime hit the heartstrings a bit and my tips are often very nice compared to before when I just dropped my hat with a TIPS sign.

But this is our JOB so be clear you want gratuities, also a big help take out some money now and then if you have a hat with lots of money people often will tip less or not at all. Just be discrete like take your break, take the hat or other container to the restroom and take out most of the money.

[Michael Neal McGee]

Not really. People noticed me when they walked by though, and would give comments and stuff, instead of just ignoring me, which made me ridiculously happy

Ha! You're hooked!