Asheville Busking Scene Gets National Play

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Two major publications put Asheville's busking scene in the spotlight.
The USA TODAY list puts Asheville among the top cities for busking. Meanwhile, New York Times looks at the issues related to the growing number of street performers.
But no matter what you've read lately, "Abby The Spoon Lady" of Asheville Buskers Collective says it's clear.
"I think that it goes to show that busking is very central to the art scene here," Abby says. "It's an extreme draw for tourism here."
The debate about Asheville's ordinance stems from complaints about crowds blocking businesses.
Councilman Jan Davis now foresees very little change, saying ideas like permitting are likely dead.
Though the city may expand the required distance between acts to help ease the crowd issue.
"The good part about it, there was conversation about people's unhappiness with what was happening," Davis says. "And the collective itself seems to be handling that part of it."
Abby says nationwide, buskers are used to cities like Boston dictating rather than discussing.
"They're wanting to charge performers $200 to $2,500 to perform at a specific mall," Abby says of Boston.
She believes the collective has given artists a voice with local government. She's still pushing to give buskers the ability to sell CD's of their music, but is satisfied with the inroads being made so far.
"Talking with each other and figuring out where the middle ground is. I think the fact that these talks are even happening is groundbreaking as far as busking around the country in general is concerned," she says.
The Public Safety Committee isn't likely to discuss the street performing issue again until late June.
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: / news13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Twitter: / wlos_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: / wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on UA-cam: www.youtube.co...
Listen to AnchorMOMS, the Podcast:
wlos.com/news/...
Watch more top local news stories: • Western Loses At ETSU,...
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit www.wlos.com
Watch our live newscasts and other live video at wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: [e-mail]
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.