Scrooge outside M&S

magpie · 19-12-2006, 08:40

Scrooge outside M&S

Yesterday I was busy doing my shopping, listening to Christmas Songs . A chap outside M&S was playing his flute and his little dog sat there with him... Yes he did have a collection hat, and in my opinion was doing no harm:
Then along came the Police and Warden, and moved him on: " Is it not Christmas" this man is not a beggar, in fact he is a semi pro musician and very good. But no the Police being ever so " crime conscious " or maybe just wanting to keep their crime figures up, told him he was in fact breaking the law and he had to go.....
If only they used their powers in areas that really matter..... maybe that was Christmas Past:
I much prefer the mellow sound of the flute, to the "Crocking Cries of "Issue Darling , Big issue" but no sadly that is within the law.... ah well:

Happy Christmas to one and all.....

Mick · 19-12-2006, 08:46

Yes i have seen this guy he is there most years at christmas and is very good too but if he has not got a music or a street licence then they allways move him shame really.
and that women with her big issue can be a pest.

magpie · 19-12-2006, 08:59

It makes me really angry that the police did not show a bit of common sense .... after all who was begging: Not the musician, he was providing a pleasant service:
There were no other street entertainment, so he was interfering with nothing:

The police ought to be on the look out for purse snatchers, drunks and vandals and so on.... ah well moan over off down town to join in the Christmas spirit:

Magpie:

cashman · 19-12-2006, 10:05

dont they make you puke? was in new orleans about 5 years ago and heard a fabulous sound, on investigation we saw a street band on canal st. was a huge crowd around,the police stopped got out of their car,listened for a few mins,threw a $10 bill in their collection box, then carried on their way.ENOUGH SAID.:

SPUGGIE J · 19-12-2006, 10:08

I havnt been in Accy for Crimbo since I moved up here so dont know what musician you are on about Magpie. Micks right about the licence sadly and he does need one but I wouldnt class it as begging. He is providing a seasonal service and if he is causing no trouble for anyone and they are enjoying he should be left alone. The season of good will and all that.

It seems that they have to apply for a licence but it varies council to council. http://www.vocalist.org.uk/busking.html

As for the Big Issue selling that can be a bigger pain than busking but as stated is licenced. It has got to the point that if I visit Glasgow or Edinburgh I buy one and carry it to get a bit of peace as there are that many of them especially at this time of year.

WillowTheWhisp · 19-12-2006, 10:11

We do have officially permitted street musicuans with collecting tins too sometimes ....... but I agree that this guy is doing no harm and the police would be better occupied catching muggers and pickpockets.

Ianto.W. · 19-12-2006, 11:18

I hope PC Catchnowt and his sidekick are proud of the sterling work they do in a very dangerous environment, obviously not musically minded.

AccyMad · 19-12-2006, 11:45

Can't see what harm the man & his dog were doing - hope the policemen walked straight into the horse crap that their mounted colleagues left strewn along Broadway yesterday! I'm sure if the bloke's dog had done that they'd have been telling him to clear it up

flashy · 19-12-2006, 12:05

to the "Crocking Cries of "Issue Darling , Big issue" but no sadly that is within the law.... ah well:

no what the woman actually say is ''big tissue please'', she cracks me up everytime i walk past her (and yes i do occasionally buy one form her)

magpie · 19-12-2006, 14:49

no what it is her shoes are too tight... she is shouting bigger shoe :-)

all silent on broadway this morning... shame but true.

Oh and I don't like her calling me Darling, that flippin winds me up: and yes I do from time to time buy a copy of the paper, but they should give you a sticker to show you have bought it. In places like London Manchester and so on, you do get asked all the time.

WillowTheWhisp · 19-12-2006, 15:05

Mimi got conned by a Biggie Shoe guy in Burnley. She gave him the correct change but he said she'd given him two 20ps, so reluctantly she gave him a £1 coin but he didn't give her one of those 20ps back.

It's not the amount. It's the principle.

SPUGGIE J · 19-12-2006, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by magpie

no what it is her shoes are too tight... she is shouting bigger shoe :-)

all silent on broadway this morning... shame but true.

Oh and I don't like her calling me Darling, that flippin winds me up: and yes I do from time to time buy a copy of the paper, but they should give you a sticker to show you have bought it. In places like London Manchester and so on, you do get asked all the time.

Just carry it in hand and wave it as you pass. Some might not like the idea of you buying it of anotther vendor but thats life. Besides first one I come acroos gets the sale usually outside the sliding doors at Queens Street next to the Underground.