http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_343183.html
Stricter rules for buskers
Buskers have to choose five places islandwide to perform and only three can be in Orchard Road
By tara tan, arts reporter
Brass Collective comprise Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts students, including (from far left) Edgar Teng, 19, Andi Shafiq, 20, Ray Chionh, 20, Teng Siang Hong, 19, and Laurel Ho, 21. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
View more photos
BREAKING into the music industry and getting gigs can be tough on new bands. But these days, some are turning to busking to showcase their talent.
There will be stricter rules from the middle of next month on where buskers can perform.
The National Arts Council, which runs the busking scheme and reviews it regularly, said buskers will be able to perform only at 14 designated spots along Orchard Road.
It says the list is not finalised yet but the spots include outside Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City and Far East Shopping Centre, among other places.
The underpasses and traffic junctions in Orchard Road are out of bounds for buskers.
Another change: Buskers must pick five locations out of 109 busking spots islandwide for performing. Of the five, up to three can be along Orchard Road.
Under current rules, buskers can perform in any public space in Orchard Road. There are also no limits to the number of spots islandwide where they can perform.
NAC's deputy director of festival programming, Ms Quek Yeng Yeng, 39, told Life!: 'Orchard Road is going through a series of revamps and we need to ensure that buskers do not obstruct traffic flow.
'We are looking at it together with the Singapore Tourism Board to finetune and demarcate busking areas.'
She said that limiting buskers to five locations each will help the council manage over-crowding, especially during festive seasons.
Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times Life!
Orchard Road is the regular haunt of buskers Qamaruddin Mohd Amin, 60, a retired legal clerk, and his wife Laetitia Caya, 55. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Veteran musician Peter Diaz (left), who has played with Jerry Lee Lewis, finds busking 'challenging'. -- ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
The 11-member percussion group Rhythm De Passion (above) turned to busking to promote themselves. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
Stricter rules for buskers
Buskers have to choose five places islandwide to perform and only three can be in Orchard Road
By tara tan, arts reporter
Brass Collective comprise Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts students, including (from far left) Edgar Teng, 19, Andi Shafiq, 20, Ray Chionh, 20, Teng Siang Hong, 19, and Laurel Ho, 21. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
View more photos
BREAKING into the music industry and getting gigs can be tough on new bands. But these days, some are turning to busking to showcase their talent.
There will be stricter rules from the middle of next month on where buskers can perform.
The National Arts Council, which runs the busking scheme and reviews it regularly, said buskers will be able to perform only at 14 designated spots along Orchard Road.
It says the list is not finalised yet but the spots include outside Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City and Far East Shopping Centre, among other places.
The underpasses and traffic junctions in Orchard Road are out of bounds for buskers.
Another change: Buskers must pick five locations out of 109 busking spots islandwide for performing. Of the five, up to three can be along Orchard Road.
Under current rules, buskers can perform in any public space in Orchard Road. There are also no limits to the number of spots islandwide where they can perform.
NAC's deputy director of festival programming, Ms Quek Yeng Yeng, 39, told Life!: 'Orchard Road is going through a series of revamps and we need to ensure that buskers do not obstruct traffic flow.
'We are looking at it together with the Singapore Tourism Board to finetune and demarcate busking areas.'
She said that limiting buskers to five locations each will help the council manage over-crowding, especially during festive seasons.
Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times Life!
Orchard Road is the regular haunt of buskers Qamaruddin Mohd Amin, 60, a retired legal clerk, and his wife Laetitia Caya, 55. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Veteran musician Peter Diaz (left), who has played with Jerry Lee Lewis, finds busking 'challenging'. -- ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
The 11-member percussion group Rhythm De Passion (above) turned to busking to promote themselves. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
