I paid for a busker’s licence some years ago from Byron Council and read the four sheets of rules. I had to display a photo with my name on it, so I built a frame to support it. I had to make sure no member of the public fell over my 5mm mic cable, so I made a cover for it and fixed it to one side. As I was using battery power, and it and associated equipment was a bit bulky, I made a stand at the rear to hide it. I needed something to lean my guitars and cases against, so I erected a light frame on my right, and as it looked a bit weird, I made one for my left. In case of rain, I fixed some Polytarp on top.
Busking in free-wheeling, loving, community-focussed Byron Bay was looking pretty good. But Council wanted me to be extra careful, so I rang an insurance company and was pleased to only have to pay $50 per week for public liability insurance.
I found a place to perform on Jonson Street, under The Balcony, but Council didn’t approve of that, so I moved in front of a bank. I discovered that there were buskers under The Balcony every night and as I never heard of Council checking up, I lost that opportunity.
When I stepped back from the bank and objectively viewed my safe busking place, I saw it had walls and a roof. Good grief! It looked just like a shop! I thought that was funny until I realised Council really didn’t have a clue about busking, but they sure knew how to enforce shops’ and houses’ requirements. So, they were on the money there!
Recently, after a Bluesfest, I saw hugely popular Tash Sultana performing for an hour, on Jonson St, giving back to an appreciative audience. If the current proposal for a busking policy gets any support, next time Tash busks, she’ll have to: erect a board to display her insurance, her ID and photo; not repeat any hook line more than twice (as it will be deemed ‘repetitive in nature’); and I hope, be ready to stand to attention when she gets interviewed by a Council inspector.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
