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The City of Holdfast Bay values the diversity and entertainment that buskers and street performers bring to public spaces and encourages busking, which contributes to a vibrant, interactive, and creative environment.
To offer musicians and performers appropriate spaces to busk within the city, we have allocated designated busking spots at Glenelg, Somerton Park, Brighton and Seacliff locations.
All buskers within Holdfast Bay must hold a current permit to perform. These permits are issued by Council, and we encourage buskers and street performers to apply online.
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below will assist buskers and street performers, businesses, and residents understand the guidelines and rules around busking and performances in Holdfast Bay.
FAQs
Busking is a form of public entertainment that provides opportunities for interaction and creates a lively street culture in public spaces. It is the art of performance that provides entertainment in public places for donations.
Types of busking may include:
- Performing with an instrument or instruments.
- Performance of a dance routine.
- Juggling, clowning, puppetry, magic or mime.
- Comedy, spoken word or poetry.
- Actively working in an artistic medium (excluding aerosol art).
Any activity or demonstration involving selling or exchanging merchandise, products and services is not busking.
The below activities are NOT considered busking:
- Vendors of any kind – including flowers, jewellery, food and other merchandise.
- Performances that involve animals.
- Touting or spruiking, including street preaching.
- Political rallying.
- Tarot card reading, palmistry and fortune telling.
- Face or body painting, including henna and temporary tattoo application.
- Begging or requesting money.
- Massage treatments or any physical manipulation.
- Artists selling pre-fabricated works must be active in creating the work as part of the performance.
You need a busking permit to perform in public space in Holdfast Bay. To obtain a free permit, buskers must submit an online application and agree to act under the Busking Permit Conditions.
The application form asks all applicants to upload a video/ audio audition clip for review as part of their online application. Applicants will also be asked to nominate their preferred busking zone/s.
If you are under 16 years old, you must have parental or legal guardian consent to apply for a permit and must not perform during school hours. Minors under 15 years old also require parent or guardian supervision at all times while performing.
Permit Holders under 16 years are not permitted to perform during school hours.
The permit application is free.
A busking permit last for six months from the date of issue.
Busking applications can be made online only.
Busking Permit applicants must include an uploaded YouTube clip or a website link demonstrating your music or past performances.
Once a Busking Permit application has been submitted and approved, a permit will be emailed to you within ten business days. The permit will be valid for six months from the date of issue.
Applicants who are not approved will receive an email advising them of the outcome within ten business days.
Council has public liability insurance in place but does not accept liability nor assume any responsibility for any acts or omissions of buskers, regardless of whether or not they are authorised to perform. It is not a mandatory condition that a busker holds public liability insurance, but it is recommended that buskers arrange their own insurance, including public liability, personal accident and illness insurance and cover for their own property and equipment.
We have identified designated busking locations/zones across the city. Locations and times vary depending on the specific zone. Permit holders are responsible for understanding the permit conditions and must select their preferred zones as part of the application process.
There are three busking zone categories;
- Zone A – Jetty Road Glenelg
Designated Busk Spots in Zone A are located at four sites along Jetty Road, Glenelg.
Busking must only be undertaken between 9am – 6pm in Zone A.
The Busking Permit Conditions can include information on the four allocated Busk Spots. - Zone B – Moseley Square (Amplification allowed and groups of up to 4 performers)
Busking must only be undertaken between 9am – 8pm in Zone B.
Performances in Zone B may incorporate dangerous objects, but conditions apply. - Zone C – Designated sites along the Esplanade at Somerton Park, Brighton & Seacliff
Busking must only be undertaken on the weekends (Saturday / Sunday) between 10am – 6pm in Zone C.
Buskers are permitted to use battery-powered amplification in Zone B (Moseley Square, Glenelg) only. If amplification is used during a performance in Moseley Square, the permit holder must ensure that the decibel level generated is no greater than 80dB(a).
Amplification is prohibited at designated busking spots in Zone A or Zone C.
No, buskers must only perform at the designated busk spots within the selected zones.
Permit holders can remain at the designated busk spots for a maximum of 90 minutes and then move on.
Buskers can perform for a maximum of 45 minutes at a time. During this time slot, no songs or performances must be repeated.
Buskers may take a break following a performance and then perform again, ensuring they do not exceed the 90-minute maximum time limit.
Yes. We may suspend, revise, or cancel a permit if you fail to adhere to any of its requirements or conditions.
No, you do not need to display your permit but you must have a copy of the permit with you when performing.
Busking Permit Terms and Conditions
All buskers and street performers applying for a busking permit (permit), must read and agree to act in accordance with the below terms and conditions.