Some of my thoughts on busking etiquette.

If you're lucky enough to live somewhere were you can busk without a license, the only rule regarding spots is Finders Keepers. I would never assume another busker should give up their spot for me, and I take great satisfaction in telling other buskers to f**k off if they get lippy about me hogging a spot. Fact is it's a business, and if you aren't willing to get up early in the morning to secure a good spot then you aren't built for the gig.

I realise that might make me sound like the Bad Kind of busker, but I'm really not. If someone politely asks if they can have my spot, I'll tell them when I plan to finish and I'll try not to leave before they're there to take over. But if they assume that I should move on after a while, or god forbid try to force me off by playing next to me, then they don't deserve any favours. So far several guitarists, a bagpiper, a drummer, a fire-eater, and the army/navy/raf (oh yes) have all tried to force me off a spot, with no luck. Fact is, little old unamplified me is going to get the Underdog Money against any of those guys. And the moment you set up next to me, I honestly have nothing better to do than to make sure you have a terrible day.

Another character to consider is the 'This Is My Spot' busker - the one who turns up after you've been there for hours and says 'eh, look, this is my spot'. Sorry, friend, it doesn't work like that. As soon as I leave the spot, it stops being mine, and that applies to everyone else.

People you should listen to when they tell you to move on - the police, nearby shop owners. That's kind of it. Not market stall owners, city officials, newspaper sellers, beggers, members of the public, etc.

Right. I'm getting off my high horse before I ride it into battle. On this topic, I get a bit heated.