Cities turn to buskers to improve downtowns

Buskers are in high demand as cities look to improve downtown street scenes

What you probably already know: Buskers, or street performers haven’t always had the best reputation, but they’re a common fixture on the streets of many cities. It’s also a tough way to make a living, as many rely entirely on tips from friendly passersby. But as downtowns continue to struggle with empty office buildings and reputations as dangerous places, cities are turning to buskers for help.

Why? Downtown associations and cities are paying up to $200 an hour for street performers to do their acts, according to the Wall Street Journal. Jugglers, musicians, artists, mimes and magicians are suddenly in demand. The idea is to bring some life back to the streets, particularly around lunchtime when office workers are out, and offset the doom loop of downtowns that feel unsafe because of how few people are on the streets, which causes people not to want to come into the office for work.

What it means: Busking is hard work and with fewer people out on the street, tips have all but disappeared except in high-traffic areas. These new initiatives aim to bring the street performers back while offsetting the challenge of fewer tips. Austin, Texas put in place a $200 per hour minimum pay for all musicians at city events in 2023, and Downtown Grand Rapids is paying $40 per hour.

What happens now? Downtowns are vital to the health of a city, contributing an average of 22% of the citywide property tax revenue and holding about 25% of employees. While some cities such as Las Vegas and El Paso have thriving downtowns that have completely recovered from the pandemic, others such as St. Louis, Minneapolis and Seattle are still just above 50% of daily visitors compared to pre-2020 levels. While it’s not a cure-all, for those cities, having some talented musicians and artists on the streets could make things feel a bit more welcoming.

Check out the Formidable Podcast — informational interviews with women leaders on news-driven topics, spotlighting timely and thought-provoking issues facing our world.

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.