Wow, OK, so this is messed up, early in development, and possibly light on suficent information....

As of this most recent weekend, it seems that it is possible that there is no longer any busking allowed in the City of Seattle.

My drummer apparently received one of the Seattle "no sitting/laying-down" tickets (more of a panhandler law) this past Friday because he was playing his drum set ... no different or different location that he has for, oh, only the past year. He was also apparently told, just the same as I and other buskers got in/direct wind of on Saturday that in Seattle if you are a street performer you are legally in voilation because you are obstructing the public's use of the sidewalk (which I thought included us???). Apparently, and/or according to the Dept of Transportation & their pamphlet, you are obstructing the sidewalk if you are standing in one place or set anything down on the sidewalk.

So perhaps this means....
...if you are standing, waiting for a bus, you are in violation -- oh, and that heavy backpack or uncomfortable briefcase, yeah, don't set that down, thats in violation -- probably best to form up a walking circle with the other folks waiting for the bus
...if you see an old school chum on the street, go nutz, say hi, stand and chat, maybe a friendly hug, unless you 2 keep walking, you're in violation (maybe if you continue to jump up & down the whole time in excitement, you're OK?)
...if you're a "street performer" you may play, you may received "donations" (not tips, oh no no no), but you cannot put down your case/hat/jar/etc, you must keep moving, and if you are to sell, er, I mean make available in trade for "donation" merchandise such as CDs, I guess they too have to be hanging off of your body
...tourists and other photographers, from now on, all your shots must be action photos -- of course, you're the one who has to stay in action
...you can't stand waiting for the crosswalk light to change, that would be in violation, even tho you're a pedestrian in the purist form
...if you happen to stop and witness a crime, you're a hypocrite(sp?) because you are apparently committing a crime yourself -- you evil evil incorrageable sad excuse for a human

Apparently this is a result of people complaining about buskers who have made problems, and the City of Seattle is using pedestrian right-of-way under the DOT to make their changes.

We're (my drummer & I) trying to see what's still work'able and go forth. If it seems necessary, there may be some effort to form up local buskers and the folks who enjoy buskers in the greater Seattle area to help work out something best in the interest of all. If you are a busker in the area, please PM me; if you're a busker who was/is also effected by this most recent bogus thing, please PM me. If anyone else has comment with regard to "fighting city hall" when it comes to busking, please post up here.


Well, I guess the Seattle leg of our west-coast tour is over or on hold for the time being.