New group forms in response to proposed bye-laws on street performing in Cork city

A NEW association to represent buskers and other street performers in Cork has been formed with the aim of creating a positive street culture for Corkonians and visitors as they shop and wander the streets of the city.

The Cork Street Performers Association (CSPA) was established following a meeting last week involving a core group of ten musicians and up to ten others who are supportive and is a response to the ongoing consultation about street performer bye-laws which is being carried out by Cork City Council and which is to close on December 8.

While the proposed bye-laws would impose a 75-decibel limit on musicians as well as requiring that street performers have a repertoire of at least 30 minutes, a draft code of practice being drawn up by the association suggests varying limits on the volume of music being played but a lengthier repertoire.

Other suggestions in the code of practice, which is to be discussed further at a meeting of the street performers on December 6, include that backing tracks be permitted, a suggestion which would run counter to the ban proposed in the draft bye-laws.

Also being considered is a badge that would be worn by street performers to identify them as members of the association.

Paul O’Doherty, who has been elected as the secretary and spokesman of the collective, said that the code of practice which members of the association would be required to sign up to would ‘essentially mirror those in the draft bye-laws’.

'BEST OUTCOME'

“We’re all looking for the best outcome for positive street culture in Cork that is sensitive to the needs and interests of all relevant stakeholders,” he said.

Membership of the CSPA could be withdrawn from street performers if they didn’t adhere to the code of practice.

“The association will want to support the City Council in developing sensible and workable byelaws to secure the best outcome for Cork in terms of its street culture,” said Mr O’Doherty.

“It is hoped that responsible self-regulation on the part of buskers will create a situation in which it will be possible to avoid measures that we fear would have a chilling effect on the street performance landscape, leaving it impoverished for both the public and performers.”

As a street performer in Cork for many years himself, Paul, a jazz musician who plays the saxophone and is on the cusp of raising €20,000 for Medecins Sans Frontieres, is hopeful that there will be amendments to the bye-law which proposes to outlaw backing tracks to be played.

He also said that, while a volume limit of 75 decibels, would be appropriate in some locations, in others it would mean that the music could not be heard as the background noise would drown it out. He suggested that, as the consultation on street performing bye-laws coincided with work on noise abatement in the city, that decibel level limits could be posted in locations around the city.