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[VIC] Free 12-Month Busking Permit from City of Melbourne (up to a $300 Saving)

2040

Looks like City of Melbourne wants more people to come into the city. Not sure if handing out free busking permits will help or detract from the cause but given it usually costs quite a bit depending on the busking licence I thought it's worth posting.

We might even get JV busking on the streets to add to the daily entertainment.

When you apply, you will need to:

  • Provide a digital example of your busking act (link to your online act profile, photos or video).
    Upload a video of yourself performing your act if you don’t provide a link to online examples of your act (accepted video file formats: .avi, .mp3, .mp4, with a maximum file size of 2 GB).
  • Attend a virtual seminar, live audition or safety assessment if required, depending on your performance type.
  • Obtain consent from a parent or legal guardian if you are under 16 (refer to the FAQs for more information).

​​​​​​The City of Melbourne welcomes all varieties of buskers and street performers to perform on our streets. At this time, we are inviting buskers to apply for a free permit until 30 June 2023. Musicians, singers, dancers, magicians, mimes, puppeteers, living statues, painters and chalk artists are all eligible. Apply now – we’d love to have you entertain city visitors. The free permit waiver includes all permit types, selling fees, renewals and new applications.

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closed Comments

  • +33

    We might even get JV busking on the streets

    See you soon @jv

    • +6

      Is part of the act talking in bold?

      • +3

        She's certainly a bold keyboard warrior. Somehow tough talk online doesn't translate to the real world though.

    • It would be very bold of jv to give a street performance

  • +35

    Some Ozbargainers driving Camry with 250k in their Ubank or BOQ account will definitely appreciate this license.

    • +18

      with 250k in their Ubank or BOQ account

      And, not or

    • +11

      does jumping thru the hoops to maximize an ING account constitute a worthy performance!?

      • OzBargain live streaming redux

      • Only if it involves discounted giftcards stacked from at least 3 different retailers.

    • I get very conflicting messages from people on this forum… on one hand everyone is saying they are cashed up and frugal, on another, they are complaining they can't afford a property…

      • +18

        on one hand everyone is saying they are cashed up and frugal, on another, they are complaining they can't afford a property

        Those aren't mutually exclusive.

      • +10

        Most people don't have any money on here. There are just some who do and make the loudest noise

      • Having money on hand doesn't mean you want to put all your eggs into the property basket.

  • Wow very useful

    • Yep, so Kazoo, Vuveuzela or shittyflute?

  • +7

    Never knew such a thing existed wow

    • +5

      You didn’t know busking licenses existed?

      • It's seems natural to assume that people who are standing on public and random areas are able to do it for free lol.

    • +2

      Neither did I. I wonder is there is an assessment before they give you the licence

      • +1

        There is, but only to make sure the act is safe I believe. It’s not an audition.

        • +1

          And here was I thinking of the audition at the end of flashdance.
          I had already broken out the leggings and the headband.

    • +3

      I didn’t realise the melb council actually charged $300 for busking in the first place! How do most make any money?
      Unless the plan is to have the buskers move to a more welcoming place.

      • Depends on the license. There are cheaper ones if you aren't selling any items. Can be cheap as $30.60 for a limited permit.

    • Neither did I, tbh. Bastards are busking for profits!

  • +1

    $300 (valid for 12 months from date of issue). The selling component is included in this fee.

    Great way to sell your dignity

  • +39

    you could get pretty creative with what constitutes art…

    day sleeping on a bench? living statue
    drinking from a brown paper bag? mime
    tagging/graffiti? painting
    ranting and raving at random passers by? spoken word
    pickpocketing? street magic

    • +4

      Posting comments about random strangers on Post it sticky notes …. cough cough jv

    • +5

      Do a realistic simulation of New Yorker selling hotdogs, bottled water and ice cream from a trolley, right down to the exchange of money. $300 profit easy in a day

    • +17

      Step into the captivating world of 'Smoke Signals,' a thought-provoking street art performance that pushes the boundaries of artistic expression with a haze of mystery. Witness the enigmatic figure put on a mesmerizing display of creativity and introspection. Located in the heart of Melbourne, this performance becomes an embodiment of counterculture and challenging societal norms with the choice of expression.

      AKA sit there and smoke a bong.

      • +1

        yes, yes, this could be a part of a series of kid friendly street theatre initiatives - in the case scenario you outlined an interpretation of 'Puff the Magic Dragon' would be highly relevant!

      • -6

        Would a white male get away with this in Melbourne? Probably not.

        Would a first nations LGBTQ+ non-binary vegan that identifies as a white male get away with this in Melbourne? Almost definitely yes.

        • +2

          Lol, so much angst.

          The cops in Melbourne do not have the best history of treating minorities well. Most likely said hippy would be tackled to the ground while already sitting.

      • +1

        There are now vape trick competitions showing their artistic talents of blowing out smoke. I suppose there are people enjoy watching smoke blowing.

  • +13

    Next Ozbargain Meetup?

    • +3

      yes, wear your Champion tracksuit and Adidas runners.

      if everyone has a permit, it wont be an illegal flash mob will it?

    • Make the event post now and sign me up

    • +1

      We could be personal shoppers for passersby.

      New leather jacket? What are you doing here? shop online with 5 discount e-gift cards and cashback!

  • +6

    Time to start learning a new instrument and earn while learning.

    • +21

      WFS (work from street)

    • Nothing like pitty pennies while you try and play a tune

  • +14

    OzBuskin'

    • +5

      Buskin' makes me feel goood!

  • +1

    I assume that potential buskers still need to audition prior to issue of the permit.

    • +12

      What is this, "Buskers got talent" show?

      And who are the judges?
      Lord Mayor of Melb
      Pauline Hansen
      His Majesty Dan Andrews (shoots rubber bullets on unsatisfactory performance)

    • Really? Source?

      • +4

        Not the OP, but I believe you do need an additional approval (via auditioning) to busk at the key locations such as Bourke St mall.

        Found it: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/arts-and-culture/film-music…

        Next Audition is 21 June. Get out your G chords!

        • +5

          How do you find the G-chord?
          Asking for my wife

    • +4

      Nope:

      When you apply, you will need to:

      Provide a digital example of your busking act (link to your online act profile, photos or video).
      Upload a video of yourself performing your act if you don’t provide a link to online examples of your act (accepted video file formats: .avi, .mp3, .mp4, with a maximum file size of 2 GB).
      Attend a virtual seminar, live audition or safety assessment if required, depending on your performance type.
      Obtain consent from a parent or legal guardian if you are under 16 (refer to the FAQs for more information).

      • they will trade you a safety video for your busking video

        How high will you rate them

      • +3

        Can I use an Only Fan video?

    • +7

      Hobos got talent?

  • +7

    Suddenly the council are innundated with requests just because it's free. Good ol Ozbargain mentality 🤣

  • +4

    Good thing they've only waived the cost and not the reasonably rigorous barrier to entry processes (evidence of competence, and mandatory attendance to an in-person induction where required) otherwise OzBargainers would probably have spoiled this by the end of today.

    • +1

      You just have never heard my version of The Girl from Ipanema.

  • +5

    Maybe they should change their decision to add paid parking on Sundays, that might help

  • Wow! Thanks OP. Just signed up! I have an awesome talent of having No Talent!

  • +5

    Great timing for tomorrow's RBA announcement (homeowners)

  • +7

    Great more crackhead bin drummers

    • I suppose you're getting a performance with it right?

  • Cossie Livs

  • Well given the streets will be closed to cars, why not have a street rave

  • +2

    $300 for a license to play music in the street, jesus.

  • +6

    how about the leftie Council brings back FREE PARKING after dark & weekends,
    also stop excluding cars on CBD roads?

    • -4

      You are describing the opposite of who leads the council. And the opposite of being a leftie. Drink some woke mate.

    • +1

      Wowowow hey there mate,
      Stop talking common sense. It this was reddit you’d be shot dead for such a suggestion.

    • +1

      bring back FREE PARKING after dark & weekends,

      Haven’t gone out to the City for an excursion in quite a while now.
      I didn’t know they had changed that, damn.
      All those free parking spots (late evenings and weekend) on A’beckett and King, gone?

    • +6

      Get a busking pass for your brand new street art installation, "Urban Automatica".

      People passing by will be able to witness the artistic process unfold in real-time as you develop your expression on the city streets with a powerful and controversial message lasting from 4-8 hours as engage in a provocation to the state by seemingly abandoning your exhibit. Patrons will be left to question the clues left behind, why a Toyota Camry? Why are there so many 7-11 coffee cups inside? Were the lights left on as a symbolic gesture that illuminates the connection between urban exploration and artistic expression? Only for the entire artistic masterpiece to be demolished in a moment when you come and drive off.

      Complimentary parking privileges to visitors attending the installation during the designated viewing times will be available for all OzBargain members.

      • Unfortunately one of the rules you can't 'perform' in a parking space.

    • +3

      Too many welcome to country & drag bingo events to fund. They need the revenue!

    • just park at Docklands or Carlton then tram..

      • Too lazy, he/she needs their car.

      • +1
        1. Docklands or Carlton is not inside the free tram zone
        2. what's the point of driving cars when I need to spend another 30 mins just to get my car?
        3. I do take the train to get into the city during the day, because it comes every 10 mins or so. After 8pm? Only 1 every 30 mins + still nowhere to sit, no Thanks.
        4. It's not safe in the CBD area at night, drunks drugs everywhere. Especially when there will be another so called "safe injection room" on the Flinders street, where it is just not safe for everyone else.
    • -1

      No, CBD is better without traffic.

  • I'm going to perform a song about Spriggy. Hand out referral codes. Oops, no can't do that…

    • -1

      Where's the mods. Penalty Box please.

  • -1

    Is this called a bargain? What?

    • +8

      Usually costs, now it's free for a year but only till the end of this month. Given people do pay for it I think it's bargain worthy. I personally don't need it, but I'm sure someone does.

  • +5

    perfect for 300k exec who does a bit of uber eats for exercise , some busking on melb streets to mix it up

  • Looks like City of Melbourne wants more people to come into the city. Not sure if handing out free busking permits will help or detract from the cause but given it usually costs quite a bit depending on the busking license I thought it's worth posting.

    Its probably due to a reduced number of permits as more people find themself in financial trouble. As reported in the media, these times are much like GFC times. Its amazing that it is $300 for a permit for 12 months.

    Hopefully this does not cause some terrible performances as has been observed around Sydney the past year. Some shocking busking.

    • +2

      Worth noting the $300 is for a subtype of permit that includes selling. They do have some cheaper ones but I just put the most expensive one as you may as well have less restrictions.

      • Nothing like living in a 'free' society. Next you'll be telling me we're not a democracy!

  • Do you need talent?

  • +2

    Perfect just in time for tomorrows rate hike

    See you guys at flinders street

    • -2

      stonks are pumping tho

  • I see all these beggars sitting outside shopping centres, gonna ask one if they have any musical talent and direct them to this.
    Still wont drop any coin in their collection.

  • -2

    Does the free busking permits also apply to junkies (which are prolific in the Melbourne CBD) hassling people for donations to feed their habit?
    To the OZ's that are not resident in Melbourne and suburbs, the Melbourne CBD is a no-go zone, plagued with homeless people and junkies. Enter at your own peril

    • +6

      I would say that's a pretty big exaggeration

    • +1

      Not something unique to Melbourne, sadly.

  • -8

    Thanks to Dan Andrew and it’s minions Melbourne a half dead city trying to revive. Largest state debts and largest interstate exodus.

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