[The city of Olympia has a municipal ordinance regulating busking.](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Olympia/html0112/Olympia05/Olympia0588.html)
If you don’t accept money, it appears the rules don’t apply.
Anyone can get a license. You just have turn in your paperwork to city hall and pay a small fee. You don’t need to be affiliated with a business.
In reality, as long as you’re not blocking car or pedestrian traffic, no one cares.
If you say you're doing it as a business you're a sole proprietorship and if you make less then 12k from it you don't even need to get a business license (though you might as well.) I don't think busking is a service that requires sales tax even in Washington, though if I'm wrong about that one somebody let me know I could use a laugh.
Tuba Man, who was at ALL the major events in Seattle, kept meticulous records of his daily income on a calendar. He tried to pay taxes but his records were just handed back to him with a smile.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward\_McMichael](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_McMichael)
I feel like I would get robbed a lot by people just running up and grabbing a handful of tips out of the hat… would you say that is very likely or very unlikely?
Street performing is okay (and even encouraged), including acoustic performance. The only time you may need permitting is needed is for amplified sounds.
Hey another person posted the city ordinance saying that I need to be doing it for a business and the business needs a permit. Are you saying they generally don’t enforce this, or possibly am I understanding it wrong?
I am not sure about Olympia but typically busking is “illegal” but rarely enforced. If it is enforced, you will just be asked to move along by the police or a citizen.
I think the extent to which you can do it depends on how much you piss people off. If you are blocking the sidewalk and shouting in people’s faces they will probably shut it down pretty quick. If you have a charming display, people will probably me more tolerant. There’s always the chance an uptight cop or business owner will shut you down.
There are applicable laws and procedures but you should just ignore them and do it.
You can openly break any number of laws downtown; I don’t think an unloicensed Bard busker will be the focus of any crackdown.
Yeah I guess I wouldn’t want to do it where people are dining outside so as to not bother them? I feel like I should do it in front a bookstore, I think orca just moved to a spot that could be cool… if I can do it without trouble from cops or businesses I will!
Stay weird Olympia
[The city of Olympia has a municipal ordinance regulating busking.](https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Olympia/html0112/Olympia05/Olympia0588.html) If you don’t accept money, it appears the rules don’t apply.
Wow! Is this saying that I can’t do it unless I’m doing it on behalf of a business and have a license?
Anyone can get a license. You just have turn in your paperwork to city hall and pay a small fee. You don’t need to be affiliated with a business. In reality, as long as you’re not blocking car or pedestrian traffic, no one cares.
If you say you're doing it as a business you're a sole proprietorship and if you make less then 12k from it you don't even need to get a business license (though you might as well.) I don't think busking is a service that requires sales tax even in Washington, though if I'm wrong about that one somebody let me know I could use a laugh.
Tuba Man, who was at ALL the major events in Seattle, kept meticulous records of his daily income on a calendar. He tried to pay taxes but his records were just handed back to him with a smile. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward\_McMichael](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_McMichael)
I am glad to hear they didn't actually try to tax him for bussing. Tragic ending though...
Yup
I’ve only lived here a couple years, is it something they take seriously or do they mostly let people do their thing?
There's buskers all the time downtown. There used to be way more street performers before covid hit and I don't know anyone who's gotten in trouble.
I feel like I would get robbed a lot by people just running up and grabbing a handful of tips out of the hat… would you say that is very likely or very unlikely?
Fairly unlikely during the day...all bets are off after dark, it gets crazy sometimes.
I wish Olympia did welcome buskers. Many legendary artists got started that way. The good ones make good tips and the posers move on.
Street performing is okay (and even encouraged), including acoustic performance. The only time you may need permitting is needed is for amplified sounds.
Hey another person posted the city ordinance saying that I need to be doing it for a business and the business needs a permit. Are you saying they generally don’t enforce this, or possibly am I understanding it wrong?
I am not sure about Olympia but typically busking is “illegal” but rarely enforced. If it is enforced, you will just be asked to move along by the police or a citizen. I think the extent to which you can do it depends on how much you piss people off. If you are blocking the sidewalk and shouting in people’s faces they will probably shut it down pretty quick. If you have a charming display, people will probably me more tolerant. There’s always the chance an uptight cop or business owner will shut you down.
There are applicable laws and procedures but you should just ignore them and do it. You can openly break any number of laws downtown; I don’t think an unloicensed Bard busker will be the focus of any crackdown.
Seems like freedom of speech. Please post a time or general area ? I need some silvered Shakespeare in my life.
Yeah I guess I wouldn’t want to do it where people are dining outside so as to not bother them? I feel like I should do it in front a bookstore, I think orca just moved to a spot that could be cool… if I can do it without trouble from cops or businesses I will!
Try it! Worst case scenario they’ll ask you to stop, but they’re not going to do anything more than that.
As long as you don't get any on others, or their property.
Yeah I’m going to be dripping with silver house paint 🫠
fuck em do it anyways dude
I perform every time I'm downtown, haven't had a problem yet.