Geez, hesp, get it right. The Orillia Downtown Management Board doesn't "forbid busking without an audition" it allows it WITH an audition. I got a license last year and then had Strep Throat. After school had finished I then had to get babysitters for the kids. I ended up not doing it often. I'm too shy to be a good busker but I was hoping to overcome it, oh well.

One of our local buskers got a license this year so he can play on the main street. I think it's silly but you don't have to pay for it and the guy that auditioned me wasn't a musician so I guess he was looking for someone moderately, or maybe even barely, presentable. Last year they weren't just giving out licenses but trying to get more buskers downtown. They thought that it would help increase traffic through the area, they are fighting a mall on the other side of the highway as well as the new Walmart and Home Depot.

Once you start trying to find places to busk though you really notice how many stores are already piping music into the street. I find it difficult to play one tune while another one is playing in the background not too loud but loud enough for me to hear.

But if you want to know what busking in Orillia is like you can talk to John. He's the guy doing tunes on a red guitar in front of the dollar store.