The schedule wall at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2011
The Quest to find the Perfect Permit SystemOne of our goals is to find out what permit systems work around the world. The idea is to come up with as good a system as possible, a middle ground between the lovers and the haters of permits.
The Busking Project is not created by buskers. We’re relying on the experience of others as we go. So, please tell me where you think I’m wrong, or what I’ve missed. We’ll incorporate your views into the final product.
“The Pros and Cons of Permit Systems” (below) is the first part. The second part will then detail a permit system that deals with them. The final part will talk about implementation of the system, who will benefit, and what still needs to be resolved.
Thanks for reading,
Nick
PART I: The Pros and Cons of Permit Systems
PROS
An audition process ensures that some standards are met
Permits reduce police harassment for permit holders
Permit holders are in some ways “legitimised” — reducing self doubt and embarrassment, convincing people that it’s okay to perform on the streets
Formally scheduled pitches reduce arguments between buskers
Permit systems allow authorities to quickly remove bad apples. If they`re not playing by the rules, they will be pushed out.
An organised authority managing buskers makes contacting them for gigs easier
CONS
An audition system will give weight to performers who conform to “established urban aesthetic notions about what a professional musician is”
A limited number of permits arbitrarily denies some buskers permission
Cops are more likely to harass non-licensed buskers
Permits might legitimise some buskers, but they also delegitimise the rest
Buskers who aren’t free on audition day will not be able to get a permit
Not all ethnicities in a city will be equally aware of the permit system
Licensed pitches fill up easily, restricting permit holders
It costs a lot of money and time to properly administer a license system
An organised schedule removes the cultural exchange between buskers
Nomadic buskers cannot get permits quickly
The bureaucracy of permits takes the “street” our of “street performance”
Permits add to the myth of the “established” or “professional” artist, something many buskers are against
The issues permits fix can be handled without the need for a permit
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