Busking in Nanaimo

[Piper]

As I promised a new thread about busking in Nanaimo I have been a busker in Nanaimo since 1984 and busked regularly in front of Terminal park liquor store & also the liquor store that was on the corner of Albert st and Cavan. For the past 8 years I have been busking along the waterfront walkways with my family and occasionaly on my own.
Since the busking review in 2003 there has been 4 of us in our group and we hold a valid group licence. On Monday the 23rd I attempted to add my sister to my group license as the bylaw for street entertainers indicates a definition of a group is 2 or more. During my visit to the bylaw office to make the change to my license I was told by Veneta Roberge (Deputy license inspector) that effective imediately I would be ticketed anytime we are performing with any member of our group absent from the performance.
Street entertainers bylaw 5602 Does not say anywhere that if you hold a group license all members of the group must be present during all performances. I did have a meeting with Randy Churhill to clarify what was going on and he told me he would talk to Veneta Roberge and call me but 2 days have gone by without a call. Where does this leave me? Do I go busking anyway and face the possibility of getting tickets or do I do what Veneta Roberge asks and by a licencse for each combination of 5 people in our group?
This would be a $20 license for each member of my group I choose to perform with and also each member of my group would pay $20 for each member they choose to perform with This adds up to $220.00 per group member x 5 = $1100 now should I be angry? Is there something wrong here?
Please help me out with this.

[Rickj]

I looked through the bylaw and there definitely isnt an explicit reference that all members of a "group" must be present. The closest it comes is in the definition of the street entertainment group where it says "includes two or more street entertainers who entertain the public as a group"

Also in the bylaw it says that the license issued to the "street entertainment group" will be issued to just 1 member of the group. This implies a specific member is charged with the responsibility for the group.

As there are limitations in that this member must be present and that the "group" cannot perform more than 2 hours per day in that location or any location within 200 metres I personally do not see the harm in allowing some of the members to be absent.

To put it into perspective, City Council is a group... they still entertain us just the same even if 1 of their members is missing.....

[queen of the waterfront]

Come on James they dont ticket the Cunningham family , no three strikes you are out , they just spend a pile of money and get an injunction.

[Piper]

Well I must say you are so right I just got off the phone with Randy Churchill who is in charge of bylaw enforcement and he made it clear that he supports his deputy license inspector and will start ticketing me imediately if they feel I am in violation of their bylaw. I am the holder of our group license which only has my name on it I feel that I should be able to perform with this license as the license holder. Randy Churchill also reminded me about the court injuction the city of Nanaimo got against our family in 2003 and he told me he will act on that injunction. I would also say that for myself $20 more is not an issue for another license but there is too many grey areas involved in this bylaw and no proper clarification. I would think that after 5 years of performing with a group license in any combination of my family members why would it now be such a big deal? is the city getting short of cash? this is not the end of the story I'm sure there will be much more to come as the summer goes on.

[Piper]

I also forgot to add that I would apprieciate any visits when they put me in jail

[TH2008]

I also forgot to add that I would apprieciate any visits when they put me in jail

Hi, Piper. I know who you are now ("Queen Of The Waterfront" gave that detail up! ) You guys are awesome!

You guys play so loud otherwise, why do you think you need to be amplified? I think you do better without the electronics and amps. Just my opinion. But I hope to see you guys on the waterfront a lot this summer. And I will definitely be tossing some coins in your direction.

Keep up the great work!

BTW, I doubt you will ever get put in jail. The injunction is loose at best. Just keep making great music and all will be well

--
TH

[Piper]

TH2008 I just want to thank you for your kind words It's quite obvious that bylaw enforcement have nothing better to do than harass a busking family,we have been left alone for 5 years but for some unknown reason they are putting us under preasure again. However I have sent the information they asked for at the bylaw office via e mial and I will buy 2 more licenses that should cover our performances. If they continue to bother us then my theory is right they are trying to get rid of us which was the case 5 years ago. the bylaw officers did not apply the bylaws to any other buskers but our family and as of today nothing has changed. As for the amplification we can live without it as we do well busking anyway. Last year I put the buskers festival on and raised money for the 7-10 club but from now on I won't be part of it as it is monitored by the bylaw office.

[TH2008]

[B]TH2008 I just want to thank you for your kind words It's quite obvious that bylaw enforcement have nothing better to do than harass a busking family,we have been left alone for 5 years but for some unknown reason they are putting us under preasure again.

As 'Yes' wrote "Leave It":
http://www.territoriodelobos.com/_so...e_It_-_Yes.mp3

Just go play your music and forget about the politics of it all. You guys do well. Be yourselves and drop the political noise if at all possible.

As far as the 710 club is concerned. They are an important part of the community. I know there are abuses. But overall, it's a great project.

--
TH

[queen of the waterfront]

Piper
You must always remember that busking is not a right even though it is considered to be a job according to Canada Pension.Despite the fact that you have to pay for a Licence the city does not consider the work that you do to be a business. In the words of that infamous polititian a busker is little more than a panhandler with a guitar.

People in power do not like to have their feathers ruffled in public and they hate to be made to look like fools.

Perhaps you should not have tried to put your sister on the group licence? Is it true that you had no problems until you tried to play music with her?
I know it is hard but just keep playing and let the wind blow it will separate the wheat from the chaff.

[queen of the waterfront]

Piper and his family have not been using amplification on the waterfront for years.Only at paid gigs. The only amplification downtown is from City and Parks and rec events.