What's the story with busking permits?

Lol12379

Do people need a permit to busk? Or is it a plan the council thought of but haven't implemented? If one does need a permit to busk in Galway where does one get it?

zell12

Cllr Michael J Crowe is under the impression that "amplification is the biggest problem in Galway".
Maybe he knows the answer
https://www.fiannafail.ie/people/cllr-michael-crowe/

biko

Some info here https://www.galwaycity.ie/uploads/downloads/bye_laws/Draft%20Busking%20Street%20Performance-Busking%20Bye%20laws_EN.pdf

Mrs OBumble

Council voting on a proposal for limits and some permits tonight.

Whereisgalway

The city council are trying their best to drive buskers out of the city, banning amps? Most are under 50kw. Shops pay massive rates, buskers don’t, the council are only ever going to think short term. Sad day for the city that this got voted through


Galway 2020 city of cultural. Comical we should be embarrassed and Hand it back

Whereisgalway

Whereisgalway wrote: »

The city council are trying their best to drive buskers out of the city, banning amps? Most are under 50kw. Shops pay massive rates, buskers don’t, the council are only ever going to think short term. Sad day for the city that this got voted through


Galway 2020 city of cultural. Comical we should be embarrassed and Hand it back

Good buskers don’t need amps.

Amps mean buskers have to stand further apart.

No amps means more space for buskers means more good buskers.

Mars Bar

No amps before 6pm was passed last night. Buskers under the age of 16 have to be accompanied by a parent.

I'm glad to hear the end of the amps to be honest.

Mars Bar

Mars Bar wrote: »

No amps before 6pm was passed last night. Buskers under the age of 16 have to be accompanied by a parent.

I'm glad to hear the end of the amps to be honest.

Buskers under 16 need a parent, can't wait to see the primary school Christmas Carrollers

Mrs OBumble

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Buskers under 16 need a parent, can't wait to see the primary school Christmas Carrollers

Hee ... and the exact parent who is named on the permit needs to be present. I don't know how close they have to be to be considered present.

Mars Bar

Wonder what's going to happen to the fella with the hat and the backing tracks? He's awful but he bloody loves it.

dok_golf

Ed Sheeran?

biko

Mars Bar wrote: »

No amps before 6pm was passed last night

Not enforced just yet, I saw a bunch on Shop Street with amps at lunchtime
Probably too new for them to know

Mrs OBumble

Mars Bar wrote: »

Wonder what's going to happen to the fella with the hat and the backing tracks? He's awful but he bloody loves it.

Hopefully Jody will continue to perform and if the community wardens try to confiscate his gear a spontaneous citizens army will arise from the street to protect him.

Ditto for Emma the dancer ... who according to the mayor is supposed to hire live musicians to play for her every day.

Whereisgalway

Shocking out of the council ruining a great assets the city has would be more in there line to clean up the city maybe enforce dog walkers to pick up poo after their pouch’s on the prom to start with

inisboffin

The whole 'good buskers don't need amps' stuff isn't true at all. Some buskers just use an amp to save their voices when they have gigs etc, and so they can work full weeks.

Tell me that if you've lived next to a bad piper or sax player. All it means is more shouty ballads, and soon will come more brass players.

Drum kits banned entirely.

Street theatre (circle acts) banned entirely days and weekends before 6.

No dance acts (like Emma) with backing tracks, and others.

And the one about "You can't say or do anything offensive to anyone"? WTF

This is a bad decision.

inisboffin

biko wrote: »

Not enforced just yet, I saw a bunch on Shop Street with amps at lunchtime
Probably too new for them to know

They won't come in until September apparently. The last meeting at least has to be accepted at next meeting. Not much incentive for the buskers to follow any rules now this summer, given half them will be run out.

TerrorFirmer

Mars Bar wrote: »

Wonder what's going to happen to the fella with the hat and the backing tracks? He's awful but he bloody loves it.

I'd say he's unwittingly a major driving force behind the bye-laws.

Fitz*

Ya Jody probably was the loudest to be fair, didn't help that he was not that good!:pac:

Why not put a limit on decibel level / amp size instead of banning amps altogether?

One of my favourite things to do since I moved to Galway 11 years ago is to walk down shop street in the evening time and hear that dude playing the electric guitar playing Eric Clapton or the likes, and not loudly either. Seemed like a perfect blend of relaxing music and the calmness of shop street in the evening etc. He is one who will miss out big time now.

What started as probably an idea to stop the congestion outside Brown Thomas & River Island where bigger sized bands and acts used to get bigger crowds is now going to destroy the busking culture.

Gingganggooley

Mrs OBumble wrote:

Hopefully Jody will continue to perform and if the community wardens try to confiscate his gear a spontaneous citizens army will arise from the street to protect him.

He is one of the reasons why these restrictions are now required. One or two numpties have ruined it for everyone else.

JohnCleary

Gingganggooley wrote: »

He is one of the reasons why these restrictions are now required. One or two numpties have ruined it for everyone else.

Source?

Mrs OBumble

Gingganggooley wrote: »

He is one of the reasons why these restrictions are now required. One or two numpties have ruined it for everyone else.

So he will be put off the street, but Down Syndrome fiddle guy won't be, because he doesn't need an amp.

How's that fair?

smurf492

Mrs OBumble wrote:

So he will be put off the street, but Down Syndrome fiddle guy won't be, because he doesn't need an amp.

What has his personal condition got to do with busking

Gingganggooley

It's not fair. It's not a good idea to legislate in this way, but it the easier and cheaper option. I would advocate an alternative involving dealing with individuals on a case by case basis.

Long-serving and more highly skilled street entertainers have tried to police the situation themselves but have been given the middle finger and told where to go by others, which leaves us here.

pure.conya

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Good buskers don’t need amps.

Amps mean buskers have to stand further apart.

No amps means more space for buskers means more good buskers.

Have you ever tried playing an electric guitar without an amp? tis a sad sight

pure.conya

Mars Bar wrote: »

Wonder what's going to happen to the fella with the hat and the backing tracks? He's awful but he bloody loves it.

As a matter or interest, do you like music at all?

pure.conya

FitzShane wrote: »

Ya Jody probably was the loudest to be fair, didn't help that he was not that good!:pac:

Why not put a limit on decibel level / amp size instead of banning amps altogether?

One of my favourite things to do since I moved to Galway 11 years ago is to walk down shop street in the evening time and hear that dude playing the electric guitar playing Eric Clapton or the likes, and not loudly either. Seemed like a perfect blend of relaxing music and the calmness of shop street in the evening etc. He is one who will miss out big time now.

What started as probably an idea to stop the congestion outside Brown Thomas & River Island where bigger sized bands and acts used to get bigger crowds is now going to destroy the busking culture.

Tony's guitar strumming is amazing and I will not stand for the stupid city council deciding he can't play anymore

ben.schlomo

pure.conya wrote: »

FitzShane wrote: »

Ya Jody probably was the loudest to be fair, didn't help that he was not that good!:pac:

Why not put a limit on decibel level / amp size instead of banning amps altogether?

One of my favourite things to do since I moved to Galway 11 years ago is to walk down shop street in the evening time and hear that dude playing the electric guitar playing Eric Clapton or the likes, and not loudly either. Seemed like a perfect blend of relaxing music and the calmness of shop street in the evening etc. He is one who will miss out big time now.

What started as probably an idea to stop the congestion outside Brown Thomas & River Island where bigger sized bands and acts used to get bigger crowds is now going to destroy the busking culture.

Tony's guitar strumming is amazing and I will not stand for the stupid city council deciding he can't play anymore

What are you going to do? As a matter of interest.

flazio

pure.conya wrote: »

Have you ever tried playing an electric guitar without an amp? tis a sad sight

Electric guitars don't belong on a busking street anyway, it's all about the acoustic atmosphere.
From what I've seen, ring performers are moving over to Eyre Square and are still drawing in the crowds.
In my opinion busking should be a little more intimate, not loud and brash and therefore I'd like to see how the new regulations are given a chance to change the atmosphere in Galway.

Whereisgalway

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

So he will be put off the street, but Down Syndrome fiddle guy won't be, because he doesn't need an amp.

How's that fair?

He’s a very talented musician, an outstanding ear for music and is pretty good at drama aswell. You should look past the superficial surface/syndrome and look at the person inside. Try talk to him next time you see him, find out his name even.......

pure.conya

flazio wrote: »

Electric guitars don't belong on a busking street anyway, it's all about the acoustic atmosphere.
From what I've seen, ring performers are moving over to Eyre Square and are still drawing in the crowds.
In my opinion busking should be a little more intimate, not loud and brash and therefore I'd like to see how the new regulations are given a chance to change the atmosphere in Galway.

so everybody that enjoys electric guitars played on the streets of Galway are wrong and you're right? how about a bass?

Mars Bar

pure.conya wrote: »

As a matter or interest, do you like music at all?

I have a degree in Music Technology and play the guitar and the drums.