Please sign to support Asheville's buskers!

Buskers are one of the first things visitors experience in downtown Asheville. They are a vital part of the feel of the town, and one many reasons this place has become so popular. Last week, a proposal that could drastically restrict Asheville street performers' ability to make a living was pushed quickly through the city council public safety committee. The buskers and business owners involved were not notified or consulted before this proposal (which was written by the police, city lawyers, and planners) went to committee. Despite many voiced concerns by affected parties, the proposal was passed and a plan was made to "test" these new harsh laws for the period of a year. That's a long time, especially for the musicians who rely on busking to eat, sleep, and pay for their lives!

Some of the most grievous restrictions put forward in the new proposal include tiny boxed in performance areas at three of the main busking spots, with a prohibition on bands at both Woolworth and the Flat Iron. This will cause there to be long waits for band trying to busk at Spiritex and Pack Square, which will be the only remaining band spots. It also will disallow the flexibility that makes busking work, and completely put several buskers who have larger instruments, like piano or didgeridoo, out of work entirely. This rule may cause many more problems than it solves, by pushing bands to more inappropriate spots and stressing the relationships between performers waiting longer to play.

Instead of the city lawyers finding a way for buskers to legally sell their recordings, the proposal also includes much stricter language banning the sale of CDs, outlawing offering recordings even for a donation. The sale of CDs is legal in many other places around the country, and there is absolutely no reason for Asheville not to seek a solution to allow it. 

The proposal also includes a strict ban on buskers being accompanied by any dogs or cats. This is clearly directed toward eliminating travelers from the streets of downtown, but will also affect many professional musicians who live here and lack access to a fenced yard for their companion to stay in while they work. Also, passers by tend to love the animals.  

The signers of this petition would like to encourage Asheville city council to rescind their decision to implement this pilot program, and instead, work with buskers and business owners to develop real solutions to the issues at hand. We stand by the Asheville busking community asking for freedom to continue playing at their classic spots, the ability to sell or receive donations for their recorded music, and the right to keep their companion animals with them.