I'm new to Austin and I've heard a dozen different versions of what the local laws are on busking. If anyone stumbles upon this and they're from the area, a brief run down of your experience and knowledge would be most appreciated!

I'm from San Antonio, and I've done a little busking here. I've found it's almost impossible to get a definitive answer from the city on what you can do and where, so I've had to figure it out as I went. Basically it's not encouraged, but tolerated under certain circumstances. There are different rules for different parts of town. I suspect it's the same in Austin. I've seen buskers on 6th and on Guadelupe. On 6th I've seen break dancers, beat boxers and painters. I've never seen a magician, but I haven't spent that much time up there. One of the surest ways to do it without much hassle is to get permission from a business owner to busk in front of their place of business. Many businesses like the traffic it brings to the front of their place. Probably the best way to figure it all out is to try, then move on if you're asked.

Great name by the way. I'll check out your site.

Thanks for the advice. The more people I ask around here, the more muddled my understanding of it becomes. Last night, someone told me that if you're in an alcove or otherwise out of the way spot, the cops will leave you alone. If you're on a sidewalk, however, they will stop you. I suppose your tip of just asking the business is the best route to go.
Now for the added double whammy: I perform fire. It's hard enough busking around these parts, and even more difficult to busk fire-related arts....

Isn't Randi Rain in Austin?

Welcome to the Café...

I just checked out her website. I have not met the lovely Miss Randi Rain yet, but I haven't even been in Austin two months yet, so there's still plenty of people to meet...

I think Randi's in DFW.

Call city hall.

Ask the guys working.

Go work the street till the cops tell you otherwise.

You'll have your answer.

In 2006 when I was last there you could work out of your pocket or get a permit to use a table. Things change so don't go on that.

Good luck

Randi Rain is from Fort Worth.

My God there are dozens of music acts that set up on the street of Austin for every South by South West confrence. The Dixie Chicks busked on the streets of Austin when they couldn't get booked at the festival. I have always thought of Austin as the no holds barred music town that Nashville likes to claim it is. Now I have never actually been to Austin YET, but every hard core music addict (like myself) in the world would like to retire, and die in Austin. Go ask a couple of local musicians about busking, my God the town must be crawling with world class musicians.

Is this thread some kind of a joke? Am I the only one at this stupid magic forum that knows of Austin's world wide music, and party fame?

This is no joke. While Austin has quite the music scene, it is very restrictive on street performance. Musicians tend to get a little less hastled than other types of performers, but it's still not what I would call a no holds barred scene.

Welcome to the magic Café. Today is Saturday and there must be a dozen music venues for you to go to tonight. You lucky ducky.

Here is the web site of the Austin jugglers club. I've heard that it is a big club, and if anyone in Austin could tell you about local busking rules it would be them. I can get you email addresses, and phone numbers too if you PM me.

http://www.juggling.place.org/

There's no room on Sixth St. to do a show number one. At least without blocking the sidewalk. And there's almost nowhere else that you can get a crowd other than parts of Congress Ave. and who wants to work there? Not me.

There's only three times to busk Austin as far as I'm concerned and lately it wasn't so good so I stopped going for awhile.

The Spring and Fall Pecan street festivals are the best times there. But as I said the management company that used to run it changed and the new crowd didn't run it very well, at least attendance was way down the last time I went. Besides the Pecan St. Festival, there is another festival coming up called the Victorian Xmas Fest. It's a little more than half the size, and one weekend long. But still well worthwhile to work. The Austin folks can be a great audience and pay well to boot. I'll be there this year most likely and if you're sitting on a prime spot where I might have worked, I'll regret in a petty fashion I'm sure, sharing this information. ;o)

Ciao-ciao

Hi Eric,
Thanks for the response. What type of show do you do? I am eager to meet more people in the area who perform the various arts, and thanks again for the info.
Noel

Hi Noel,

Just your regular magic stuff. Coins, handkerchiefs, rope, you know the usual stuff.

The only other magician that I know works the Pecan Street Festival usually doesn't work The Xmas Fest and that would be Magical Mystical Michael. His show is definitely worth seeing if he's around.

Hopefully see you there.

Tschau-tschau

The only two magicians I know locally are Pendark and John Maverick. Do you know either of them? I have no idea how large or small Austin's magic community is, but I work as Pendark's assistant in the back of the Museum of the Weird on Saturdays and I've eaten fire along side Maverick at a show during Magic Street Fest.

Noel, there's a Freak Show Festival in Austin this weekend.

http://www.sideshowworld.com/GIG-Freak-Show-Fest-10.html

I don't know if you can busk it, but it's likely you can meet other performers there. I applied to work it but I was too late to be considered. I applied to be a paid act though, not a busker. I'm thinking you might be able to tag along with 999 Eyes or another local act that's scheduled and do a little busking, or at the very least make some friends.

Eric's right about 6th street.. it's really crowded and there aren't any places that 'open up' for any kind of big act. Maybe a doorway show. Have you been to Esther's Follies? I've been here in SA for ten years I can't believe I haven't gone yet. There's a living, breathing, vaudeville theatre an hour away from me and I haven't been... yet.

And Al, yes, we are aware there's a huge live music scene in Austin. Despite the fact that it's just generally pretty exciting and diverse, it can tend to work against other types of performers. If you were to approach a venue in Austin to do your act and ask a fair price, they'd very likely tell you they can get a band for the whole night for half what you charge, or free.

Wow, thanks for pointing out Esther's Follies. I bike past it all the time, but never knew what it was.
And I am very excited about Freak Show Fest this weekend. Freakshow is where my passion lies, and I've been covering this event on my blog for awhile now.... Can't wait!

I figured you might already know about the festival. I wish I could be there myself but I've got a couple of shows here on Saturday (I'm a having a good month! Woohoo!).

Oh.. when do you perform at the Museum of the Weird? I'll try to come up and see a show.

That would be lovely! I assist Pendark on Saturday evenings, and I perform fire eating solo on Sunday evenings.