Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_09_04/GA_04092003_E1_014.pdf 

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Saving the beautiful noise
With Galway's buskers fearing they will be regulated out of existence under new city bye-laws, JO LAVELLE went out to hear the beat on the street and hear the views of those most directly affected.
T H E R E ' S A N air of disbelief a m o n g Galway's artistic population and a feeling of disquiet amidst the carnival ambiance. Usually noted for playing the just trying to make things work." forced to go elsewhere. A lot of professional cello player who has Galway is going to be negatively For Galway city's most spirited accordion outside Anthony Another of his suggestions to people don't take pride in their been earning his living from affected if it goes ahead." and cultural entertainers in our Ryan's on Shop Street, Paul, who attain a truce between Galway music and are simply amateur Meanwhile, Mark Keane, co street entertainment throughout city the buskers - are being is visually impaired, says the buskers and shopkeepers is for acts. "They will be the only Europe for almost 15 years. He ordinator of the Music threatened with regulation. response he has had from the the musicians to ask permission people left in this town if has been playing on the streets of Performance/ Production course The very word appears to go public over the years has been from a shopkeeper if he intends legislation is going to be Galway for the past six years. at Galway Community College against everything a busker to play outside his or her shop. introduced. A lot of us give a extremely commendable. ,," Galway there is a body of agrees with the concept of prides himself on " free spirited, great deal of c o n s c i e n t i o u s He, like many other musicians, "It's about getting everyone on professionals who take great regulation of busking in the city, spontaneous and soulful public does not overly fear the your side and having a good suggesting that it will result in a pride in their act. They are no practice to ensure the highest of entertainment of the city's people. standards and that is reflected in introduction of a licensing time." way insensitive to the importance higher class of entertainment on Attitudes on the regulation of However, he says he has found busking, which could be anything that many shop owners and from an outright ban, the workers get uptight about street introduction of licences to busk music and tend not to like street or the enforcement of time limits trading. To them, he says, it are conflicting considerably. represents a lifestyle of people Campaigners for free speech, who don,t pay taxes and do not assembly and activity, as well as stand for the bourgeois middle the majority of buskers, fear that class. Their attitude is that people the proposed bye-laws by the city should either be working, council may result in a blanket shopping or going home. ban, stripping the city of its Jean-Marc from France plays vibrancy to make way for an the nGonni, a West African harp. eerie-like cemetery feel to the He has been busking in Galway city centre. for five or six years during the The issue of regulation of summer months and spends busking arose some months ago, winters in Africa. following complaints by In recent years, however, he shopkeepers of amplified music finds that busking in Galway outside their work place, making does not provide a livelihood it difficult to conduct their anymore due to an increase in business. artists to the city and only visits Following these complaints, due to his love of the city. officials of Galway City Council He appears to have a more proposed that bye laws be simplistic view on the current introduced which will require situation and reckons he doesn.t written permission to 'conduct or know what ail the fuss is about. participate in any musical "Galway should be happy to have performance, concert dance, so many buskers. It's lively. circus act, parade or other artistic Without it people wouldn't walk event, in public. In addition, they the streets as much. People have proposed to designate shouldn't complain. Big particular areas where busking amplifiers can annoy shopkeepers can take place. from time to time and they can Undoubtedly, there's a get bored with the same multitude of talent on the streets. musicians everyday. But the shop Polish busker Thorn Haluszkiewiz. Photo:- Mike Shaughnessy All of them playing for different owners are happy to reap the reasons. For some, it's their and not the the support of the public. It's a system, as he believes he would profits of local business. We don't have the streets. He believes that livelihood, for others, it's a bit of be granted one. However, he inconvenience." free spirited entertainment." the 'devil may care' attitude some musicians should rotate so that craic, and others play for a few "We've got a culture to be suggests that the council should The idea of a licensing system shop workers are not listening to people may think we have. Both quid for pints. proud of. Without music Galway does not faze John, however he is adopt a means of distinguishing musicians and businesses can be the same music day in day out. Whatever the reason, very few would be dead." adamant that many great artists between professional buskers and mutually benefited. Music can be He also thinks that musicians can disagree that what the Undoubtedly, we all need some those who have little no talent to a big attraction to the tourist and will be lost to Galway if such a who wish to busk on the streets majority of street entertainers add speak of and are using busking as music in our lives. Soul, spirit system comes to fruition. the high quality of shops in of Galway be auditioned by a to the city's vibe far outweighs and entertainment of an "There are over 200 acts a form of begging. member of the arts department in Galway work hand-in-hand". inconveniences caused to either According to Paul, a UK law extremely high quality has been coming through Galway each He believes one of the main the city council. shop owners or the public. summer and it is not feasible for dating back to 1829 entitled The brought to us from all over the reasons for such a focus on "It will keep up the standard of Delta McLoughlin, chairperson world and is free for everyone. them. The busking lifestyle is so Vagrancy Act should be adopted busking this year is due to the of Defend Free S p e e c h , busking in the city and will keep There is no cover charge, no in Galway. The act states that it is fragile. People come and go. If long spells of good weather, Assembly and Activity, says the the buskers happy. There are not illegal for those using an dress code. It seems it is only there's a whitewash ban, the which has attracted a multitude of some appalling buskers out there. proposals will be used as a means when issues such as these arise instrument to collect money if I don't believe it would take the buskers, both good and bad, to council will be shooting of clearing the streets and that the that certain groups in society get they have 'discernible talent'. He themselves in the foot. Some spontaneity out of busking. the streets of the city. council have given no clear says that if Galway city council their deserved praise. It is easy to John has seen many examples days there's one fantastic act after Applying for a licence would just indication of what exactly the used this law as a guideline, overlook what busking and street another. restrictions will enforce on be one little chore, like a job of where regulations such as the entertainment has done for our many of the problems would "Galway city bases itself on its proposals have been disastrous. interview. It wouldn't take away buskers in the city. city. art culture and hospitality. It,'a dissipate. "Busking is a fragile business from the value of what they are "They could even want to vet Picture however, a Galway "On a day when you get a lot wonderful, warm lively bubbling and I have been in towns and buskers. That's not what busking doing for the city." of bad players, its very tempting devoid of music and its renowned town. It could become sterile if cities where legislation has been Many of the buskers in Galway is about. It would take away any to think there should be licences. vibe, it would be a seriously all acts are banned. It would introduced and it has made spontaneity if the buskers had to are somewhat in agreement of A talented person could come different place. Hopefully, with a destroy the town." apply for a permit. There's regulatory system in the city, so busking untenable as a career. In little imagination, the issue can into town and not be able to play Paul is one of Galway's more that those who are talented get to Munich busking is only already been a similar attempt in recognisable buskers in our town. because they do not have a be duly cleared to make way for play on the streets and those who permissible in the middle of a Dublin but because hundreds of another summer season of top Originally from the UK, Paul has licence. Galway is selling itself park and for a short period only people protested on the streets, are simply earning a few quid and acts on the streets. because of its culture, activity six hours a week. You may as been playing gigs, busking and show no talent are kept off the the byelaw did not get passed. well ban the whole thing. In this teaching music in Galway since and street entertainment. There's streets. The point we're making is the a carnival buzz here. We're all 1981. case professional buskers are John is a thirty-five year old social and cultural diversity of