Paul,
We weren’t dependent on busking, only did it for fun and a bit towards drinking money on our way to folk music venues.
Are the councils anti-busking or is there good money to be made?

Glen Innes Council pays the insurance for registered buskers during the annual Celtic Festival, which, as a Celt I avoid at all costs!!

Is Mise, I asked my now grown-up muso son about the cost of portable amplifiers for busking. (He's moved in with me because of lack of work due to covid). They're cheap, he said, check out costs of Pignose amps.

So...here's a fun video about Pignose! The first portable guitar amp in history: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWjfvPQRuo8. This one was battery powered (AA), and seems to be still available http://www.fishpond.com.au/Electronics/Pignose-Legendary-7-100-Portable-Amp/0639586071007?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=ps&utm_campaign=AU&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-rPW59T98wIVVXRgCh3z1wTGEAQYAiABEgKI2fD_BwE.

There are many other brands of small portable, now rechargeable amps: Fender, Marshall, Boss, Donner. Top end prices can be high, ca $5000, but many are between $100-200. Here's one for $57.99 http://donnermusic.com.au/products/donner-da-10-mini-guitar-amplifier-5w-portable-british-tone?variant=40339309723804&currency=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4LHDkNX98wIV0sFMAh2XvQ_CEAQYAyABEgK2CvD_Bw. And there's lots of secondhand ones listed on Ebay, Gumtree etc.

So your argument that buskers don't deserve any money because they can afford expensive amplifiers doesn't really hold. Very cheap amps are readily available. Your army workshop analogy doesn't hold either. It was legitimate to complain about the loudness of music in your workplace, because you were forced into close proximity. With street buskers, if it's too loud, you can just walk away.

Cossomby,
First off, my workshop experience was not an analogy it was an example shewing that not everyone likes the same music as buskers and amplification is an intrusion, if I’m in town to go shopping I don’t want to be forced to listen to someone’s discordant attempt to be an entertainer.
So I shall continue to not give anything to a busker who thinks that he/she has some right to force people to listen to their efforts, if nothing else, it’s downright bad manners on their part.
There was a time when canned music was played in aircraft until a famous conductor complained and claimed that he had a right to travel in comfort and not have to listen to drivel, the upshot was that airlines introduced individual access to the music.
I play a number of instruments and when I play I make sure that I don’t intrude on anyone who doesn’t want to hear me.

Hi Issy and Cossy,

There's money in busking, but its location, location, location. Markets are good, festivals as well. The wife's amp is on wheels, rechargeable, she said 2nd hand paid $200. Have to pull it out to check how it is, its output was good. Some of the cheapies are a bit of a let down. Wife is good with guitar, sax and uke, she also has keyboard, but doesn't play it much, she sings. She also has some Buddha bowels and drums which give meditation music.

One of our favourites; Te Aroha does a fantastic job with this song with the uke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es3Vsfzdr14&ab_channel=PlayingForChange

My son tells me that at the football they no longer at the bar and food bars take cash.

With the prices they charge at those places, I guess they want an arm or a leg. No one enough enough cash.