States may pay buskers’ permit
Monday 20th July 2009, 2:29PM BST.
BUSKERS could see their liability insurance being paid for them by the States in future years.
The Culture and Leisure Department, which has paid for cover for the next six months, said it would review its decision at the end of the year.
If the new scheme, which sees acts applying for a permit and signing a code of conduct, proves successful then performers may escape paying between £200 and £500 for individual cover.
Culture and Leisure marketing director Peter Falla said the department would talk to the buskers to see how the year had gone.
‘We will sit down with them and have a chat about experiences and different things such as the insurance,’ he said.
Fourteen acts have been issued permits to perform on the streets of St Peter Port.
Mr Falla said he was pleased with the response from local performers. ‘The acts tend to be acoustic performers and single musicians.
‘We have had others who have expressed interest and are open to any new acts.’
Performers who want to apply for a permit can fill out a form and hand it to Culture and Leisure. They will be asked to do a short informal interview so that a panel can decide if they are suitable to perform in Town.
Once issued with a permit, acoustic acts are entitled to play in the High Street, opposite Boots and outside the Guernsey Information Centre.
Amplified acts will be allowed to play at the Market Terrace, where a power point will be available.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
Not sure I agree with this. I don’t have a problem with buskers playing in town however I do have an issue with taxpayers covering their costs. Let’s say all 14 were covered by the States at the £500 insurance premium then taxpayers would end up paying £7000 to insure what are effectively private traders. Other self-employed individuals have to pay their own liability insurance, buskers should too.
Report abuse
Paul I agree. why should the tax payer fund their insurance payments.
I thought the States were supposed to be saving our money.
Report abuse
What a curious way of looking at it, Paul Le P.
What do you think the purpose behind this is? Is it to enable a few privileged people to get rich because they own a skill that can generate wealth? Or is it really just St Peter Port trying to improve its summer vibe with some music and the cheapest way of doing this, as it has always been popular when staged for events, is to ‘allow’ buskers to do what they were actually allowed to do before but were discouraged because they were seen as in-it-for-themselves beggars?
The amount of money is peanuts. How much do all the flowers cost to sort out, and other ‘environment enhancing’ niceties that we expect the States to supply?
We pay States Works, don’t we? The buskers get paid if they get a good mix of conditions so it’s cheap to trial, and the value it may add to the perception of tourists or the mood of shoppers, will never be able to be quantified or costed.
Similarly, I doubt a busker could be sued for making someone feel ill by doing a bad version of a particularly hated song.
Report abuse
I cannot see why on earth the tax payers should pay towards these useless licenses. Buskers should get real jobs instead of not paying tax on money they have earned by doing half an hours work. It is sickening.
Report abuse
I agree with the two posters above;
Why should the people pay for those artistes. they chose that way of life, then they must endure any hardships that might arise.
Would Guernsey buskers receive the same inducement?
Think back to some of the most famous of buskers, I talk of Flanagan & Allen , they made it and good.
I foresee if it’s passed to pay these people-
then one can expect an influx of so called ‘musicians.
Report abuse
In the U.K. as a public performer I pay £42.00 a year for £1,000,000 public liability insurance. Looks as though some insurance company is taking the States to the cleaners
Report abuse
George Wheeler – perhaps the States are paying £42 per year, then charging the buskers £500…a kind of musicians stealth tax?!
Report abuse
I wonder if the buskers will be paying Income Tax on what they earn.
Report abuse
Really some people are miserable!!! Do you think that these buskers do this as their main job when they’ve never been allowed to perform in the streets before? Do you not think that they just do it for pleasure at the weekend because it makes them happy to entertain?!!!!
I know the state of the economy is not good, blah, blah blah, but if you actually work it out how much it’ll cost the individual it’s pittence!!
I’m sure most of these buskers have paid they’re stamp over the years so why shouldn’t they get something from the States? Would be nice of we all could to be fair!!!
Report abuse
Personally, i think it the individuals want to busk they should either pay for it them selves or get a sponsor of some kind. With it being the carnival this week town is mayhem with clowns catching people in nets and riding oversize bicycles, extremely loud music in the market square and outside boots, dix neuf & creaseys. Most people are still at work this week, and i cannot imagine how they can concentrate with this racket going on. Im glad i dont work in town and only had to pop in on my lunch hour.
Report abuse
Guernselgal – I disagree, it’s nothing to do with being miserable, it’s simply a matter of being fair. If you read my first post, you will see that I’m not against buskers, I just object to taxpayers money being used to subsidise their insurance payments, especially in an economic climate where other small traders doing an honest graft are struggling to make ends meet.
Arnald – in response to your comments, especially where you mention that “the amount of money is peanuts” – the old sayings ‘pennies make pounds’ and ‘look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves’ come to mind. It may not be a huge amount proportionately however that’s not an excuse to squander.
Report abuse
Maybe the States will pay my car insurance if I say that I will drive on the roads for them.
Report abuse
Nobby my friend, I think they should, at least that is if you’re a busker…after all how else will they get their guitar and amplifier into town? ;-)
Report abuse
In the grips of a pandemic of clear and real danger (pah) – should we be promoting people to stand around and take money from the crowds – who knows what bird flu and swine flu and mad cow disease they could catch from picking up all those pennies.
Report abuse
Gsy Gal – or should I say Victor Meldrew…
I too work in town & I had a smile on my face as I wolked from one end of town to the other during my lunch hour – how nice was it to see performers enjoying themselves & crowds of people watching…
It is so much nicer to hear music as you walk through the town… Our town quite suits music as you walk through & it must be great for tourists to see town in its full glory!
If you dont like it then pop down to the bridge or shop elsewhere….
Oh & please dont sympathize with us town workers – as we are quite happy with it thank you very much!!
Up the buskers!!!
Report abuse
As one of the buskers, i feel i should make it clear that I am only doing it for charity, and I’m pretty sure there are others to whom that applies. it will be up to the States to decide whether to cover us next year for the Insurance.
Report abuse
Vic R.
If that is the case then good luck to you, and i don`t mind chipping in with my tax to pay the insurance.
Report abuse
I think the major point should be what is the insurance for. Obviously the states decided they need it for some reason. Is it in case of being sued for bad guitar playing or gratuitous sax and sensless violins?
Report abuse