Busking in Denmark

Subject: Busking in Denmark
From: Freso
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 03:12 PM

I know, I know. I'm going out on a limb here, or whatever that saying goes. Anyway, none of you guys would possibly have any information on Danish busking laws... ?
I've tried to look around on Danish websites, but so far without luck... oh well.

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: GUEST,Brendy
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 05:12 PM

Hi Freso.

I'm not acquainted with the laws regarding busking in Denmark, but it is a lively country for doing it, nonetheless.

On the pedestrian street in Copenhagen (Strøget), there are many forms of street entertainment, and although I haven't observed any regularity with which the authorities tell the artists to move on, I think it is a fairly relaxed regime.

I have been much in Denmark this summer, and there have been buskers at every turn, and unless someone can come in with some definitive do's and dont's about the practice, I would suggest you just go ahead, and if anybody in authority should harass you, just move on to somewhere else.

But I don't really think there should be too much of a problem.

When are you thinking of doing this?
(The autumn and the unclement weather are already upon us....)

Good luck with it, anyway.

B.

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: Jim McLean
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 05:37 PM

I played the pipes all over Denmark in the early 60s and had a great time, meeting great people. I just hope nothing has changed.

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: alanabit
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 08:07 AM

It had when I was there in 1983. I was stopped by two very big policemen as soon as I had pulled a crowd. I was told that only locals could apply for licences. I have heard since that there is a very lively evening scene in Copenhagen. I think that busking is still illegal there, but it is obviously tolerated in some places. The people are great and I wish I could go back for another crack at it.
If you do get stopped, you are only a short ferry ride from Sweden - and there are no problems there. If what you do works in bars, I should give that a crack. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: OldPossum
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 03:39 PM

To the best of my knowledge the rules were relaxed a bit some years ago (10-15 years ago?). The new rules allowed busking providing you don't use electric amplification. IANAL, and I can't quote any actual law or anything. I have also searched in vain on the internet. The only thing I could find was this: Busking rules for Copenhagen (sorry, in Danish only).

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From:
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 04:38 PM

I'll try a translation:

New regulations for sreet mucisions

From the 1st of June there will be new regulations applied to street musicians in Støget in Copenhagen. These regulations were approved at a meeting in the Copenhagen Kommunes (administrative district) building and technical department and replace the regulations from 1992.

In accordance to the new regulations street musicians shall move themselves at least 100 meters every hour, the reason being the wish to create a better work environment for the employees of the stores in the Støget.

In addition will the time period for the street musicians performances be restricted, such that there can only be performances after 1700 o'clock weekdays and after 1400 o'clock weekends.

"The earlier regulations were not good enough. But when these first circulate among the street musicians, I think they will be accepted as a positive challenge. I otherwise encourage our members to call the police if they encounter breaking of the regulations," says Henrik Busch, the chairman of the Copenhagen City Center.

The police do not expect an immediate increase workload because of the new regulations.

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 04:51 PM

Chris you beat me to it. My Danish is a bit rusty but I agree completely with your translation. I was only arrested once in 1961 and that was because of a 'difference of opinion' between an Irish busker and myself. It was settled amicably in the cells as we agreed only to speak Gaelic and the police flung us out!

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 05:35 PM

I have a friend who was a busker here in the Pacific Northwest but decided to go to Denmark some fifteen years ago. He's been there ever since. He does, from time to time, come back for a visit. I understand that he has done very well for himself there.

While busking the other day, a gentleman paused to listen, and seemed to be very entertained by my particular brand of performance. He later told me he was from Great Britian. I asked him if he thought the folks there would enjoy what I do, and I was kind of surprised when he responded to my question with, "No". I guess, after seeing his response, I thought he might say yes. I don't think I would ever just take a gamble and jump on a plane to see if it would be a worthwhile venture. I would rather first try to ascertain if the fields were fertile enough. Well, according to this fellow from across the pond, I should stay put right here.

You oughta hear what I saw!

Sawwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ya later

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 07:39 PM

Actually, I think my question to him was, did he think I would do well there.

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: alanabit
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:13 AM

I never made money busking in Britain, Reggie. However, if you fancied it over here on mainland Europe, the thing to to would be to bokk yourself into a few festivals one summer and then live in a bus for a few months. PM me if you want to chat about it.

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: alanabit
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 03:28 AM

I wish I had spell checked that! I was trying to suggest that you book yourself...

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: Freso
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 09:53 AM

Returning to this thread after a little while, I find that my question at least in part has been answered by the article referenced by OldPossum. Thank you :) I still, however, do not know the actual laws, rules, or regulations for other places in Denmark, or even Copenhagen, outside of Strøget. Oh well. I don't plan on going busking anytime soon, it was really just a streak of curiosity that made me ask :)
(By the way: I am Danish and have lived here in Copenhagen all my life - I'm fairly used to both the language and the weather ;))

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: GUEST,PS
Date: 23 Oct 06 - 07:47 PM

Rules for busking can be found here: www.streetshow.dk

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: OldPossum
Date: 10 Sep 11 - 10:09 PM

Stop press! Fiddle player arrested for lack of talent!

According to Danish newspaper Ekstrabladet, a Romanian fiddler was arrested in the town of Næstved for playing so badly in front of a shop, that he was scaring away the customers. According to the police officer on duty, sevaral complaints were made. "Luckily I didn't hear him myself", he added.

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 06:15 AM

It is a great headline, but the truth is more likely to be that this was simply a beggar holding an instrument - not quite the same as a busker in my book!

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: GUEST,Vega
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 06:39 AM

Alanabit other than the UK, where is it possible to make any decent wages busking ? - I know you're in Germany is that the best place?

Subject: RE: Busking in Denmark
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Sep 11 - 09:36 AM

In '78, when a bunch of us from the sloop Clearwater were on an exchange trip in Denmark we, and a bunch of our hosts, busked for about an hour in Copenhagen. We collected enough for a couple of rounds of beer, had the beer and adjourned to Tivoli. No one bothered us.