BUSKERS & CIRCLE SHOW PERFORMERS
Free Busking: No permit fees required
BMDA is excited to welcome back our busking and performing community to the ByWard Public Market for the 2024 season!
All interested Buskers are encouraged to register their contact information below to receive the most up-to-date events and programming information. Circle Show Performers are required to apply and provide a certificate of liability insurance.
All buskers and performers must follow the Community Guidelines posted at each performance zone.
Busker:
Means a person, or group of persons who plays musical instruments, sings, acts or otherwise provides entertainment in the market and receives voluntary, non-compulsory compensation from the public in the form of donations or tips. Busker performances are typically ‘walk-by acts’ that do not have a distinct beginning or end and the public remains for only a brief time.
Circle Show Performer:
Means a person or group of persons who performs acrobatics, sings, dances, juggles, acts or otherwise provides entertainment. A circle show is a type of performance that gathers and maintains a crowd, and is structured to have a clear beginning, middle, and end. The crowd will typically gather around the performer in a circular manner, hence the name circle show.
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BUSKING IS FREE! No licences or permits of any kind.
Circle Show Performer Licences are $150 for the year. No additional fees apply.
Previously, Ottawa Markets, and the City before us, have charged a one-time annual Permit fee to everyone. Whether you performed every day, or tried it once and decided it wasn’t for you, everyone was reviewed and required a permit.
In an effort to remove some of the regulations and costs associated with busking, Ottawa Markets has decided to drop all fees from its busker program. The fee for Circle Show Performer licenses remains and is set at $150.00 for 2024.
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Come one, come all. Buskers of all types are welcome to perform at any of the nine pitches at ByWard and two at Parkdale.
Circle Show Performers will be required to submit an electronic copy of their liability insurance, naming City of Ottawa and Ottawa Markets as additional insureds, and a Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check. These will be submitted using the form below.
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If you are a busker, you are good to go. We wish you all the success on the market this summer!
You will be put on a distribution list to only receive relevant messages about the busking program, but otherwise won’t hear from us until next year.
George Street Plaza is a multi-use area and as such, the pitch may be unavailable to buskers from time to time as events, concerts, or busking reservations will take precedence at all time. Reservations will be posted daily.
Circle Show Performer applications will be reviewed by staff and processed as quickly as possible
Approved Circle Show Performers will be placed on the distribution list for reservations and will receive a bi-weekly email allowing them to reserve spaces for the next two week period. This process will be first come first serve, with a limit on the number of slots that may be booked.
William Street Plaza is a multi-use area and as such, the space may be unavailable to performers from time to time as events, concerts, or reservations will take precedence at all time. The biweekly email will indicate any unavailable timeslots.
Need some support? Our staff may be reached at 613-244-4410 or visiting the info kiosk during building hours. Any issues after hours require a call to 3-1-1.
Community Guidelines
BMDA welcomes and encourages local artists and performers to animate the Byward Market to create vibrant public spaces that serve our market communities.
Busking is open to all, subject to the below community guidelines:
PLEASE REMEMBER TO:
Follow all posted rules.
Comply with all federal, provincial and municipal laws and requirements.
Cooperate with Ottawa Markets staff at all times.
Remain in designated busking zones while performing.
Treat all people with respect and courtesy.
Ensure that volume levels comply with the City’s Noise By-law (No. 2017-255).
Place a basket, hat, or another vessel to collect tips and donations in a stationary location.
Groove on to another busking zone after performing for an hour at any busking zone.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM:
Unsafe actions that may cause harm to any other person or damage to personal or public property.
Disruptive, aggressive, or disorderly behavior.
Smoking or vaping in busking zones.
Performing outside of designated busking zones.
Impeding any other person; or vehicular traffic flow.
Performing in a loud or disruptive manner that would obstruct any market activity such as vendor/shopper interactions or customer movement.
Selling any products or services (other than CD sales)
Roaming to collect donations.
Remaining in any one busking zone beyond one hour’s time.
