[Poll] Buskers in Hastings - like or hate?

[Geoff]

What do you think of the buskers that are regularly found in certain locations in Hastings.

Do you enjoy their music and sometimes donate? Do they annoy or intimidate you? Or do you accept them as part of the culture of our town?

[Gerry Glyde]

In this world of entreprenership they could be the business of the future.

Way back in the 1980s Thatcher era a couple of buskers that I knew in Canterbury got a type of business start grant of GBP40per week. The Sun and Daily Mail had heart attacks. But they fit the rules and put in their accounts to the grant people. One is now in the entertainment and arts business and the other is a Local Authority councillor.

[Herring_Gull]

Check out the guy who plays the bongo drums.

When you walk past him listen up and note what he says about you because you didn't give him money.

[Richard]

I don't know about street buskers but the guy playing a guitar/mandolin in Butler's Gap - it was late last summer.
He charmed my heart and stole my soul.

[Anonymous1]

Mime, jugglers and musicians etc. all make shopping more interesting. The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.

What's the process in Hastings. Do buskers need a license? Are they auditioned before the license is issued?

[movingsouth]

I love Buskers, they have worked hard to learn thier craft and I appreciate them plus makes me listen to music I may not of otherwise.. if music be the food of love play on!!

[Richard]

There are quite a few people on the floor in Hastings, of an evening, begging for money (like London) they are down and out and I feel bad walking past them if I can't give them anything to help.
What is the difference if they have a musical instrument? Some play it very badly and just to assist begging.
Where do you draw the line? A license would be a good idea ( as queried by G.K.) because then we might see some talent trying to get out.

If they are not weighed down by drink/drugs and have the stamina and spirit to stand up and put on a show I am sure most people would encourage them regardless of a licence but I suspect we haven't the Police or whatever to go monitoring in any case.

There is a man with a long tube ?didgeridoo? who seems to be forever practising near Butler's gap and another ?guitar/singer? who bores the shopkeepers occasionally but I suspect it's all part of the general bohemian atmosphere of the place.