Anon Opin2d ago
The problem with buskers at stations isn't that they exist but that there is no guiding artistic philosophy. TfL should have an artistic director who schedules and promotes jazz, punk, and grunge musicians at the right spots in the right stations at the right time.
Show threadRaven667

@anon_opin that sounds like an excellent idea, although you'd also have to ask the buskers what they want out of their business model, it would suck if scheduling were used as a cudgel to force buskers out of the stations, ruining their livelihood, in favor of less needful acts. Maybe have the _buskers_ organize the calendar, if they don't already have some way to deconflict where they play.

And of course, I would think that any act scheduled should also get a stipend to make it worth their while, in addition to whatever revenue they can earn busking.

Apr 10 at 3:30pmWeb
Show threadUkeleleEric21h ago
@raven667 @anon_opin Non starter, I'm afraid. As soon as you add some amount from another source, they are deemed to be being paid for performance, and that brings music licensing responsibilities for the paying organisation. And most buskers relish the freedom to go where they want, for how long they want, stopping and starting when they want, doing whatever they want. As a busker myself, let me say that that's the positive side to what is otherwise a very low-paying and precarious pursuit.
Show threadRaven66711h ago
@UkeleleEric @anon_opin see, and thats why you want the buskers in charge of this kind of thing, because they know the business and well-meaning randos dont :-)