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About Brent Brown
Panelist Follow me @brebro

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19 thoughts on “New busking regulation proposals

  1. boatrocker

    This is my favorite reason to read the X.
    Spot on, as always.

    Just out of curiosity, what ever happened to my second favorite reason to read the X (The Disclaimer)?

    • Able Allen

      The Disclaimer is produced by Tom Scheve and proudly printed and distributed by the Mountain Xpress. However he doesn’t produce it every week, and it’s not available online at this time. Your best bet is to pick up the Xpress in print every week to catch the latest Disclaimer.

  2. Lulz

    You make the mistake of thinking buskers are bringing in tourist. Downtown is transforming into an area of the affluent. Buskers are getting in the way of it.

    As I’ve written before, it’s stupid to believe that the former BB&T (or any other new development) will reserve commercial rental space for anything local. Ain’t no touristy themed stores going in there. The developers claim they are, but it’ll change once the rates are astronomical and the only businesses that can afford them will be such places as Urban Outfitters or big brewers.

    • boatrocker

      To Lulz’ comment, I would direct him to the last panel in the comic.

    • Big Al

      Buskers are getting in the way of tourists? WOW. That is harsh! (Even if it might be true.)

      I wonder if this “truth” is supported by the amount of money going into their hats?

      Any buskers wanna weigh in? Are tourists puttin’ out in 2016, or just stepping over you to get to the Urban Outfitters?

      • Lulz

        I’m not knocking on the Buskers Al. IMO as downtown continues to transform into Vale, they’ll be seen as a nuisance by those that come here. Old Asheville of a decade or two ago is long gone. Upscale and wealthy is now the new normal.

        • Big Al

          When you say “those that come here”, do you mean as tourists or as residents? Tourists seem to love the buskers and show it with mucho dinero.

          Most new residents I know, many of whom you would label “upscale and worthy”(especially the older ones), do not go downtown because they have to walk farther than fifty feet from their car to the door. There is reason why the DWT has its’ own high-priced garage: to avoid the riff-raff (buskers and tourists alike).

          • boatrocker

            Good question- is a ‘snowbird’ who lives here maybe 2-3 months out of the year a resident or a tourist?

            As for folks not liking buskers for simply busking, I don’t mind them one bit. there are so many other reasons to hate going downtown. I hate bars with TVs, hearing canned music from outdoor speakers so homeless folks don’t sleep in alcoves, and being assaulted with radio ads everywhere I go. By everywhere, I mean yes, even filling up on gas.
            At least buskers take a break once in a while.

            Seriously, if buskers are such a terrible thing to some, why do they duck inside in order to withstand a constant barrage of ESPN, awful reality shows and advertisements for some ‘peace and quiet’?

      • boatrocker

        Please list all the ways you can entertain people via real musical instruments,
        then take a back seat to the Tea Partiers, until your power goes out and you can’t blast your Bob Seeger.

  3. Jennifer

    I think that is harsh buskers getting in the way. I am attracted to the historical downtown area because of
    the buskers. Many times after being entertained by many of the talented buskers I will go into that business
    and purchase something,

  4. Davyne Dial

    As usual Brent Brown is spot on. Using the local busker community and it’s artsy vibe to promote Asheville via slick ads and video, all the while pushing them to the hinterlands and beyond.

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