S'pore Busker Laments Challenges After Being Told To Move From Prime Orchard Rd Spot To Beside A Dustbin: “So Many Barriers”

For buskers, performing in public isn't always as simple as turning up with a mic and belting out a few tunes.

A Singapore busker, who declined to be named, recently found that out after spending half an hour setting up his equipment along Orchard Road, only to learn three songs into his set that he was at the wrong designated busking spot.

In an Instagram post, he shared his frustration over the experience and the hurdles buskers face when trying to perform in public.

He and his busking partner had set up outside the Apple store, believing the area was part of their designated busking spot at The Heeren.

It was also the same spot where he had busked two weeks earlier without issue.

But three songs into their set, an Apple staff member approached them and told them they weren't allowed to busk there.

According to him, the staff member pulled up the National Arts Council (NAC) website and told them their designated spot was about 20 metres away.

He has since acknowledged that he had, in fact, set up at the wrong location, having mistakenly thought the area outside the Apple store was part of The Heeren's designated busking zone (more on that later.)

At the time, however, he said he had trouble figuring out exactly where he was supposed to perform.

"The NAC website only gives a general location, one photo, and a small box indicating where we can busk," he said, describing the process as "literally Geo guessing, but harder".

"So when we went, we couldn't find the exact spot and just set up along the road."

The pair eventually packed up and relocated.

By then, they had been there for about an hour but had performed for less than 10 minutes.

Moving wasn't exactly an easy task either. Their equipment was heavy, and his busking partner was older and had recently suffered a slipped disc.

When they finally got to the "proper location", it wasn't exactly prime busking real estate.

The spot was beside a bus stop. And a dustbin.

There were also no benches in front for people to stop and listen.

To top it off, he said the bus stop had an extremely bright digital signboard that was playing its own music.

Not exactly the dream stage.

Still, the pair carried on and ended up enjoying themselves.

"After all we were doing what we love," he wrote.

But he said the experience highlighted the hurdles buskers face even before they get to perform.

"The amount of obstacles that range from equipment, logistics, costs and time are reasons why so little musicians even take the first step," he wrote.

"At the end of the day, we are just people trying to pursue our passion," he said in the post.

"But to just simply sing in the public when no one is paying us to, there are already so many barriers to cross."

Buskers in Singapore need a valid Letter of Endorsement from NAC and can book slots at designated busking locations through its online portal.

After he shared his experience, a fellow busker pointed out in the comments that the area outside the Apple store is listed as Knightsbridge, a separate designated busking location from The Heeren.

The NAC listing also specifies the permitted area using lamppost numbers.

He checked the website and acknowledged the mix-up, explaining that he had assumed the Apple store was part of The Heeren and hadn't realised the area was called Knightsbridge.

"But now my question is, if I didn't know that the place is called Knightsbridge, how would I even find this information?" he asked.

When 8days.sg reached out to the busker, he declined to speak further about the incident, saying that, in hindsight, he realised he had been at the wrong location.

He also stressed that he did not blame the Apple staff member who approached them, saying the employee was "just doing his job".

He said his intention in sharing the experience was to express his frustration over the broader challenges buskers face.

Photos: nac.gov.sg