Am i allowed to play the Bagpipes on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh without getting an ASBO?

Question

I have been busking on the Royal mile now for a couple of years and I play the bagpipes. What i have previously done is just play, without a licence, above the cut of area of the Royal Mile where the begining of the Fringe starts. This has always been fine even though sometime i would get moved on. Recently i have heard that people are being threatened with ASBOs for doing this!! Is this true?

Answer 1

It is true, have a look at this report from the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edin...

From the article:-

"20 regular buskers have been asked to sign "acceptable behaviour contracts" banning them from performing in Castlehill and Lawnmarket."

"We explained that we would take their pipes away and they would not want that."

"We really don't want to go down that road, but we told them that if we have to we will".

"The contract also informs the buskers that if the playing continues after warnings are issued, anti-social behaviour orders would be issued."

Answer 2

Yes with licence - helps if you can play well !

Answer 3

Contact the Licensing Department, City of Edinburgh Council, City Chambers, Edinburgh

Busking in itself is not illegal although many local authorities have passed by-laws prohibiting busking. If you want to busk it is worth contacting the local authority to see if any by-laws have been passed with regards to busking. Children under 14 years may not busk.

Busking - the playing of musical instruments and/or singing in public places in the hope that the passing hordes will show their monetary appreciation - is perhaps the best-known form of street theatre. It really is 'street entertainment' so anything goes: singing, comedy, magic, juggling skills, fire-eating, and even sword-swallowing.

Busking is something you can do to earn a few quid if you're down on your luck, homeless, hitchhiking around the world on a shoestring budget, or just feel like sharing your talent with the world. All you need is a musical instrument and a container such as an upturned hat to collect the coins donated by passers-by. An ability to sing would help, although some buskers just play well-known tunes. You can busk alone, with a friend or in a group, like Welsh group Manic Street Preachers who started out this way.

Some places require you to have a permit to busk, but in others this could be illegal and get you arrested. Therefore, you would be well-advised to check with the local police if you're travelling and reach an area where you don't know the local by-laws and customs. For example, in Calgary, Canada, you would need to pay the necessary fee for a busking permit, but in Kuwait, where begging is illegal, they could lock you up and throw away the key.

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Answer 4

You heard right.  Unfortunately Scottish people are no longer allowed to freely play their bagpipes. You now need to apply for a licence of some sort. It's a complete outrage! They should all go out and play their pipes in protest. FREE SCOTLAND! lol :-)

Answer 5

Just a general comment...I was over for the World's in Glascow and took a side trip to Edinburgh.  After what I saw going on with the Fringe, piping should be the least of their worries.  There was a busker outside of Deacon Brodies and he was a good piper.  I heard someone earlier in the day, maybe on Princes Street or in a close, but he was awful and I had no desire to take a look.