One comment on social media pointed out that busking was an art that had been perfected in western countries, especially London. ‘They also have rules for buskers,’ this fellow went on. Well, this isn’t incorrect at all but let me add here that we in India have our own share of Madaris or monkey trainers, snake charmers, bhalu walas or those who went around with a dancing bear (this was banned long back), our own breed of bahrupiyas who pretended to be characters from mythology or history, and then there is a long list of folk musicians and dancers like the Bauls of Bengal and the Lavani performers from Maharashtra. We also have magicians, acrobats, and puppeteers in markets and fairs, not forgetting the nautankis that still thrive. That’s a long list of street performers from India.. However, the London busking scene does have a charm that deserves a mention.
The other day Indra, my grandson insisted that I read aloud ‘Tabby McTat’ by Julia Donaldson. This picture-book is a story in rhymes for toddlers and told me a lot about busking. McTat was with Fred, a busker who played his guitar. The book informed me that buskers accept donations from passersby and tourists and that their spot can also be occupied by other performers. The story tells us about a rock band that performs where Fred once did and later there is a conjurer in the same spot. This story made me think and I began my search for more information on busking in London.
Over the years we have visited nearly every part of London and so I was not surprised when I read that a few of the top spots for busking in London included Covent Garden, Southbank Centre, London Underground Stations, Camden High Street, and Trafalgar Square. I have been to all these places and agree that busking has evolved to include even poets who sit there with their typewriter and draft poems on demand. There are the usual bands, individuals and group singers, acrobats, comedians, mimes, and even artists. Came across some good portrait painters in Piccadilly. Then there are those who do water colours of monuments. There was a lady who sat with her parrots who chose tarot cards for patrons who paid… I am sure the time for henna-artists and palmists to secure their busking spots in London isn’t far.
Busking here in London, is controlled and governed by regulations which is quite unlike the way things happen in India. There are permits and licenses for busking, for instance, Tube stations need a TfL (Transport for London) busking license. Other areas may allow busking without a permit but there will be restrictions to be followed. Amplified sound is regulated and must not disturb nearby businesses or residents. Covent Garden prohibits amplified music. If this sounds like stuff that authorities in India need to think about, consider other facets connected to busking here. time limits are often set and buskers must rotate locations to prevent monopolisation of popular spots. It is understood that performers will “not block pedestrian pathways”, doorways, or fire exits and remain at a safe distance from bus stops and shops.
Every Indian in every city of India knows extremely well the level of public nuisance created by weekly bazaars, street hawkers, thela-walas, and even performers. Our politicians pamper these trends, and I have a faint suspicion that they are all a part of the gang or gangs that collect money from them. The performers and roadside sellers are simply trying to conduct their business, and it is the administrators and politicians who need to think about giving these micro-entrepreneurs the right guidance on where and how to do whatever it is that they are doing. Our streets and residential areas must be family-friendly and law-abiding and not turned into havens for hafta-collectors!
Busking in London has evolved over time. What we see here in the present times is worth talking about. London Underground allows potential buskers to pitch for a license… and these auditions are held even in areas like Covent Garden, Camden, and Southbank.
Busking has a glorious past here in London and a short search informed me that quite a few celebrities in the world of music have had a humble start as a busker. Ed Sheeran used to busk in London and Dublin and has admitted selling his CDs to pay his rent. He says busking “was the best training ground for performing — if you can stop people in the street, you can play to anyone”. Rod Stewart, before becoming a rock legend, busked with a harmonica and sang folk songs on the streets of London and Paris and said that he once “really had to earn every coin that dropped in the hat”. Tracy Chapman busked in London and sang soulful folk songs. Jessie J, the pop sensation, performed in Covent Garden.
Bono calls busking “magic in street music” because it is “raw, real, and it connects with people in a way that big arenas never will”. Ken Livingston, a former Mayor of London, calls street performers “the true soul of a city. They tell stories in song, bringing people together, even if for just a moment”.
It isn’t just musicians who busk. I have a few poets as well… well, busking in London. Allen Ginsberg from the beat generation often read his poetry in unconventional spaces, including streets and parks, bringing poetry directly to poetry lovers. One can see artists painting and with a few of their artwork displayed for sale. Cartoonists and caricaturists too are a part of this world.
I believe, busking breaks barriers, promotes direct audience engagement, and keeps an art form vibrant and accessible. So yes, any sort of performance in public helps it to reach even those who may not have the money to buy tickets or read books or listen to music on expensive players. Art, after all, is not the exclusive domain of a few privileged people.
We often come across talented buskers even in India. Most of us do recollect Ranu Mondal, a street singer at Ranaghat station in West Bengal, singing “Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai”. Himesh Reshamiya encouraged her to sing on a bigger platform and get nation-wide fame. Nataraj Maharaj did Michael Jackson inspired moves as a street dancer in Mumbai and found his way into “Dance Plus” as well as “India’s Got Talent”. Such recognition is not the norm in India.
We in India have a long way to go to turn busking from being “just a temporary way to earn a living” to evolving into a platform where real talent gets a real chance to make it big. The administrators need to initiate the first step which would mean the start of regulations to give busking legitimacy in the eyes of the public.
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Arvind Passey
Uploaded on 02 April 2025
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