Hi,

Thought I'd join in to the debate. I am a fulltime musician and have busked on and off for a living for the last 9 years across the UK and Ireland. I tried a few times without amplification but it never worked as the songs I write are ballad country style that even I was having trouble hearing my picking and don't want to strain my voice by singing to loudly when have paid gigs to do as well.

I have always taken it very seriously and mainly busked in York and Edinburgh and some in Bristol and a few years ago in Ireland. All great spots though harder now with the recession. Anyway I bought an AER amp beautiful sound etc out of my busking money and sell CDs through donations (don't need license anywhere for that not even in YOrk) and yes you can use amplification in certain areas in York.

I have always just had the amp enough to be heard by people within the limits of the busking guidelines (50 metres) and it has been absolutely crucial to being heard and taken seriously as a musician. I have business cards with me and signs with info which people really like and have numerous gigs off the busking.

The AER is the most gorgeous sound but way to heavy to lug around so about to invest in probably the Roland street amp to take around Europe and NZ etc.

I find if I look more professional I get taken more seriously as a performer and at at end of the day I want to be doing concert gigs and moving on from the busking as main source. As a woman on her own busking is hard enough so getting things right and making sure that you amplify it enough only to be heard and not to drown the street as many I have heard do which I absolutely hate as it means others can't play anywhere near.

I also only ever play between 1 hr and max 2 hrs before moving on and do move around so I am not in the same city day in day out. Got to think of the shops, the punters and the other buskers.

Most times its great and I have met so many amazing people this way but its not easy.

:-)