[Mpls] Busking

[Aaron Neumann]

Mr friend and I like to play music for the masses downtown on Friday or 
Saturday nights.  We put out the guitar case and the people throw money, 
requests, and insults at us.  This is called "busking."  A lot of great 
musicians have done this for years, from Dylan to local folk legend 
Jerry Rau.  It can be a really great way to practice and add to the 
cultural scene downtown or in other places in Mpls.

The problem is some people don't like this, including some cops.  My 
friend and I expect the occasional "get a job, hippie!" from the 
enlightened bar-hoppers downtown, but we have been told to "move along" 
more than once because there is supposedly no music after midnight in 
downtown Mpls.  Can anyone verify this?

If this is true, why can't musicians or artists perform then?  Many 
people, including my friend, rely on this little extra income to make 
ends meet.  In fact, the BEST time to play is from midnight to about 
2:30am.  Folks are "looser" then and seem to enjoy the tunes more, and 
we make more.  Seems to be a win-win, if you ask me.

Now the cops really don't enforce this all that often, but they still 
can and occasionally do.  What a bummer.  Again, does anyone on the list 
know more about this ordinance?  Thanks.

Aaron Neumann
Renaissance Man
Holland Neighborhood, NE Mpls.