You get paid to busk!?! Wow! Where does this system take place. The city I mean, what city is it that pays buskers to perform? There's none of that sort of treatment here in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle in particular. We've gone from a city where busking was tolerated, to now, where in certain parts of the city, routine harassment by members of our law enforcement seems to be the rule. This isn't the case everywhere but my point is it shouldn't be the case anywhere. Several of my friends have had to combat this sort of treatment by taking the issue to the courts. This process though succesful on a case by case basis has not solved the larger issue of whether busking should be allowed everywhere. Isn't this a free speech right we're talking about here? The Pike Place Market still hosts a large busking population but one must pay to be a part of it. It not a great deal of money $15 a year but I remember the days when it was free to perform there. Yep, those were the days. There are also a great number of rules now in place there to control the activity. Nope, not like the old days, when there were no rules. Forgive me if I wax lyrical here but I've never seen much need for all the hubbub. Of course I've never been one to push the envelop either. Things change and ones only response to it is to adapt migrate or well you know, fight the power. There's got to be something in the Constitution that protects this kind of activity in the USA anyway, don't ya think? Or at least some kind of government grant/dole that can bankroll the fees involved and keep "the long arm" from treating those who choose to engage in this activity like criminals. This is an artform and it has its roots, as Larry stated, about as far back in human history as you can go. Of course getting the Feds involved can be both a blessing and a curse, we know what kind of bureaucratic bucket of worms that can be. Any suggestions out there?