Downtown Cleveland Busker Initiative
Downtown Cleveland continues to be the region’s most dynamic place for unique and unforgettable cultural experiences. Our vision is to create a vibrant, diverse, and inviting urban environment that fosters a safe, comfortable, and respectful atmosphere for performers, residents, business owners, and visitors.
The Busker Initiative is made possible with generous support from Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation, City of Cleveland, and Playhouse Square.
What Is Busking
Street performance or “busking” is the performance of art, theatre, dance, or music in the public space with the purpose to entertain and engage members of the public. Busking has been around for as long as people have been able to entertain. The word comes from the Spanish root “buscar” which means “to seek”.
A street performer is not normally paid and works to obtain donations, or “tips”, which can be money or gifts given by the general public in appreciation of the performance. There is no obligation for the person being entertained to give any compensation for the performance.
Street performance should have a spontaneous feel and be a mobile performance that can be easily moved from one location to the next.
Street performance includes the following types of entertainment:
Balloon Twisting
Caricatures
Clowning
Comedy
Dance
Singing
Street Theatre
Juggling
Magic
Mime
Living Statue
Musical Performance
Puppeteering
Poetry
Busker Pitches
The area that a street performer uses to entertain is called the “pitch”.
Following the City of Cleveland ordinance guidelines, the pitch location should be on public property, not private unless approved, out of the public right-of-way, and within the approved hours. This ensures that a street performer does not interrupt the normal movement of pedestrians and traffic that the downtown area experiences at different times of the day.
With the choice of various locations, a street performer should have no problem finding an open pitch and should be able to adjust their location if the location is unsuitable based on the activities that are happening in the city on a given day.
Gateway District Busker Pitches
Playhouse Square (US Bank Plaza) Busker Pitches
Warehouse District Busker Pitches
Info & Tips for performers
Download our Street Performance Best Practices Guide for information on street performer ordinances, equipment to bring, best practices and tips, volume, merchandise and more!
Get your Busk on Downtown
Do you have any questions? Still not sure busking is for you? Fill out our Street Performer Interest Form below and allow us to help.