Busking in Nanaimo

[Piper]

Queen I have part of your answers for you, There are 6 pink spots for anydays, There are 10 yellow spots for even days of the month and there are 10 blue spots for odd days of the month for a total of 26 spots. Now 16 of these spots are never used by buskers you now have a total of 10 spots for buskers. divide that in 3 for each of the colours which can only be used on specific days. That now gives you a total of 3 spots per day and one extra to cover pink. now you divide 4 spots amongst 34 licensed buskers and 3 unlicensed buskers and tell me how much time 37 buskers have to use 4 spots in 10 hours.This does not take into consideration Heat,Rain or buskers who violate the bylaw by staying over there time. Thats as far as I can do the math maybe someone else can do the rest for us.

[Piper]

Nanaimo jake, I belive that you are talking about public space? Buskers perform on public space and don't need a lease to do so, Businesses operate out of private space or property which gives them the right to choose there hours. In Nanaimo it seems that businesses would like to have control over what goes on in public spaces. As for taxes I as a busker pay taxes everyday when I go shopping, put fuel in my vehicle, order meals at resturants ect.
I have 5 kids 3 are buskers and they also pay taxes everyday they spend money. And while we are on the subject of Port property {Federal land} 4 of my kids work full time and pay their fair share of taxes to the Federal government. I am a dissability client and I claim my busking money to the provincial government. this is only a small portion of my family who pay taxes it does not include wives, girlfriends my sister or her family of 5 kids and their spouse's or all of our inlaws. I need not say no more we pay lot's of taxes everyday.

[queen of the waterfront]

It is true that most businesses own or lease their property.
However the space that buskers or school bands play on is not private property it is a public space that every taxpayer has contributed to. Especially in the case of the Ice cream shop spot . It is a public walkway, access to the waterfront or the parking lot is used by everyone and not owned or leased by the waterfront merchants.

Buskers do pay taxes whether they claim their income or not. Most do . For some it keeps them off welfare.
For others busking is just a great way to learn the craft or showcase their talent

[NanaimoJake]

Queen & Piper: I totally understand that where you play is public property, that is key, and I understand that you pay taxes. What I am getting at is that there has to be rules and regulations on said public property because you don't own or pay for use of that space directly.

I cannot setup my business downtown anywhere and try to sell my wares whenever I want, if that was the case it would lead to chaos on the streets and sidewalks. Buskers are given a special opportunity to make money on public space, so they should abide by the rules set forth. All of us pay for that space, all of us enjoy it, no one should be to do as they please there.

I'm just trying to show the other side of the argument, which has some merit. I am not against busking at all, I agree it adds some character to downtown, but it has to be regulated. I wouldn't want to see 20 buskers operating downtown on a single day, it would be loud and lose its appeal.

Why can I not sell my artwork on the waterfront downtown whenever I want? Why isn't there designated days and spots for me? I pay taxes...I would even pay a small licensing fee

Throwing another side of the argument into this, that's all. Have a great weekend and enjoy Nanaimo!

[queen of the waterfront]

Nanaimo Jake
Thankyou. You are right on all counts.

I think what Piper and I are trying to get across is that the rules are not applied in the same way to all buskers.

How the City or the Port define busking depends on what definition they dream up.
Example

Crimson Coast Dancers can collect donations while they perform. Isnt that busking? They can do that in many places buskers cannot.

So what is busking?

If a charitable or non profit organisation performs on the highways and byways and accepts some sort of gratuity, isnt that busking?

I thank the Lord for Devil's advocates they teach us to look at all sides.

[NanaimoJake]

I definitely see what you are saying about what is and isn't classified as busking...and the discrimination factor. I hate saying this but there needs to be more regulations or at least a clearer set of rules about who can perform and where.

I know one business owner on the waterfront who has a problem with buskers and entertainers near his business. He has had a few complaints from customers. But he also mentioned that he likes a couple of them. Maybe he has complained to the city, and that has lead to some of the discrimination in regards to who can play where???

Have a great weekend!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world we be at peace"

[queen of the waterfront]

As a busker,I would dearly love it if someone came and said to me


I have a problem with what you are playing

I would respond by saying what would you like to hearI will see if I can find it on the internet and learn it for you

Or if someone would say you are too loud

I would say I apologise I will play quieter

Or and I hope it never happens

Your dress is innappropriate
i would respond by asking what they would prefer.

Everyone , merchants the public or whoever should tell buskers first if something bothers them.
Real performers are happy to learn what they can do to improve their performance . Just as good business people appreciate feedback and good neighborhoods work because people care enough to let their neighbors know if they have a problem.

good relationships make good families, good neighborhoods
and just plain good communities.

There will always be bad apples and that is why we need laws to deal with the people who cause trouble

I am still in favor of licencing for buskers if it is enforced properly and not casually .
My speech for the day
I have to get geared upto play at Tanias Red Martini Grill with my six piece band
Sadly no busking for me this weekend

[Piper]

Well I am on my way to go busking and I do agree that busking should be regulated but I know that it isn't regulated and when there is any attept by bylaw officers to regulate they focus on our family and no one else. Businesses are given more power and control over what goes on in public space than they should have, after all businesses are suported by everyday people such as buskers and people who support buskers. I have said all the way through this busking thread that the street entertainers bylaw should be applied equally and fairly amongst all street entertainers and this includes port property and the ice cream shop. The fact that taxpayers money paid for court costs $15,000 for an injunction against my family tells you who the bylaws are applied to, that's if there is an injuction. If there is I don't have a copy of it and I've never seen a copy of it.

[Piper]

I forgot to mention that I do pay for the public space I use for busking thats why I have three different licenses that I paid for.

[Smokey©]

There are 6 pink spots for any days, There are 10 yellow spots for even days of the month and there are 10 blue spots for odd days of the month for a total of 26 spots.

Each day there are 16 spots available.
Any of the 6 pink spot plus either 10 yellow or 10 blue.
Busking is allowed from 10AM - 10PM for a total of 12 hours a day.
Each busker may only attend each location ONCE per day for up to a maximum of 2 hours.
Therefore there are 16 spots for 6 shifts per location or a total of 96 different locations per day.

If there are only 34 licenced buskers (spots are ONLY for licenced buskers) then that means that 32 buskers could play for 6 hours per day at 3 different locations.

Why are some of the spots not used?