Busking in Hong Kong

What do buskers do in their busking?

What do buskers do in their busking?

• singing, dancing, music performance
• juggling, magic, talk show, comedy, balloon twisting, painting

Besides busking in the street, are there any other forms of busking?

Other forms of busking

• cyber busking
• stream performances on the Internet
• make a donation via PayPal

What is the value of busking to people who love music?

Value of busking to music lovers

• a form of expression
• a platform where they display their talents and get recognized
• without the restrictions from rent to popularity
• get instant feedback from audience
• earn a living

What is the value of busking to pedestrians?

Value to pedestians

• freely choose from the variety of music they like
• have better enthusiasm about music
• take a break from their busy lives

What is the value of busking to the community and society?

Value to the community

• foster a sense of community, a connection to the community
• bud talented musicians
• local bucking tourist attractions

Is Hong Kong a good place for busking?

Misconceptions on buskers

Misconceptions on buskers

• disabled beggars
• not able to succeed in other aspects in their life

Is busking legal or illegal in Hong Kong?

legal or illegal?

• legal
• no licensing system
• unless they pose a 'noise nuisance'

legal or illegal?

• anyone performing with musical instrument on a public street is required to secure a permit from the Commissioner of Police
• HK$500 fine and up to three months in jail

Why agree low-standard buskers should be fined

What is the meaning of "substandard"?

substandard

• poor music quality (karaoke-like)
• not moral enough
• e.g. not limiting their loudness and thus affecting residents, shops and even other buskers

Agree to the fine

• State the clear definition of "substandard buskers"

Agree to the fine

• State the clear definition of "substandard buskers"
• the number of complaints regarding noise and crowds
• is escalating
• Reason?
• poor selection of locations

Agree to the fine

• should weed out the dire displays
• give more opportunity to more engaging street performers
• not to hinder the development of busking culture
• not to hinder amateur artists from shining

Disagree to the fine

• hard to define substandard
• Who can define?
• Impossible to take into practice unless introducing licensing system

Disagree to the fine

• Fine / Any other kinds of penalty
• discourage busking
• lower the value of busking to music lovers, pedestrians and the community

Agree that a public competition is the solution?

How do you compare "a public competition" with "busking"?

busking

• informal occasions
• a free platform to display talent, trial and error
• diversity of "successful stories"
• busking at different locations draws audience's attention

a public competition

• formal occasions
• a platform with rules and restrictions, practice and preparation
• only one winner
• Fixed location(s)

agree to a public competition

• blur between buskers and beggars
• buskers --> amateurs
• to ensure true artists
• to prevent a drop in quality of performances

How to improve the quality of busking in Hong Kong
(Solutions)

Different stakeholders

Different stakeholders

• street performers
• audience
• the government

Street performers

Street performers

• consider the situation from their audience's point of view
• If they have nothing to share, or only have some random rumblings, it's not fun for listeners.

Street performers

• Locations
• They often choose the most crowded venues to perform
• They must observe the laws of Hong Kong, including the prohibitions on noise nuisance

Street performers

• play gigs at restaurants or clubs as another way to express themselves and entertain the public with their talents

Street performers

• keep learning and improving
• from other buskers
• attend lectures

Audiences

Audiences

• be more engaged
• show respect to good performances
• understand the difference between buskers and beggars

The government

The government

• The government has launched an Open Stage Pilot for six months.
• Effective?
• limitations + locations are far away from the crowd

The government

• West Kowloon Cultural District
• set designated areas where buskers can apply to perform after auditions
• The logic isn't sound.
• Concert =/= busking

The government

• What is the role of busking?
• What types of performers should we accomodate?
• people who want to have fun singing in the street?
• musicians who regard busking as an alternative platform for performance?
• the destitute who are trying to earn money?

The government

• Licensing system
• e.g. New York and Sydney
• Audition
• e.g. Taipei
• Allocate time slots to buskers
• Provide locations of more foot traffic

The government

• give clear guidelines
• make the application process transparent and convenient
• regulate the noise levels
• encourage more forms of performances, e.g perform with reused materials
• respect people's right to hear

Prepare for your speaking

• Write a notecard
• Speak for 1 minute (iPad filming)

Giving response

Giving response

• Agree

Giving response

• Agree
• Repeating (Candidate X mentioned that ...)
• Rephrasing / Summarizing (What you mean is ...)
• Elaborating (I agree to ... because ...)

Giving response

• Disagree

Language use

• agree (v.i.)

Language use

• agree (v.i.)
• I agree.
• I agree + object. XXXXX
• I agree + prep. + object.
• I agree with Candidate X.
• I agree to the policy.

I agree with Steven's opinion.Hong Kong is a city with freedom,so buskers are.If a busker should take part in competitions tocheck out his quality however he misses just by mistakes,he would lose confidence and does not want to busk even gives up playing music or others.So it is why some people's talent has not been shown.Competitions not only will strangle talent but also will strangle buskers' dreams.

I agree with Steven's opinion.Hong Kong is a city with freedom,so buskers are.If a busker should take part in competitions tocheck out his quality however he misses just by mistakes,he would lose confidence and does not want to busk even gives up playing music or others.So it is why some people's talent has not been shown.Competitions not only will strangle talent but also will strangle buskers' dreams.

I got your point, Brian. There is no any standard on busking, It is hard to define substandard busker with their distinctive performance.Consequently, they should not be fined.Busking is an art, there are no any battle or standard between the artist.There should not have winner and loser.

I see your point.First of all,if busking is an international performance,why Hong Kong discourage busking?However,you have said that if we don't have busking in Hong Kong,Hong Kong international image will destroyed.I was so confused on it.By the way,i am appreciate with your clearly speaking.

one example,most of the music performer success because they had a opportunity to develop their singing skills.hong kong government does not apply any liscening systems because it wants to develop hong kong become diversifcation,which is one of hong kong cultures.busking can reflect hong kong is a melting pot of international cultures.