STREET performance space is at a premium on Wellington streets.
More people in the city for the Rugby World Cup means more buskers, resulting in more competition for places to earn a dollar.
However, the influx works both ways, with many buskers also seeing a wider variety in their audiences.
Jaime Lee, who normally plays his guitar on Cuba St, was instead down on the waterfront this week.
“You see a lot of South Africans in town, and I’ve been popular with the Irish, singing some Irish tunes,” he says.
One of the extra acts is Rupert Grobben, who doesn’t normally perform in winter, out playing his Bechstein upright piano made in 1904 from the back of his 1928 Ford truck.
Another is a capoeira demonstation, lead by tutor Mestre Bira. Capoeira is a Brazillian martial art, combining elements of fighting, music and dance.
“It’s about bringing Brazil’s culture here. Wellington is always so special, they welcome us with open arms,” says Mestre Bira, who has been teaching for 3 years in Japan, the USA and New Zealand.
There has been a noticeable increase in busking licence applications, says Wellington City Council street activities co-ordinator Gail Reeves.
“There has been a number of new local people and some extra overseas applications coming through over the last few weeks,” she says.
The licences, which are free, set out rules about where and when a performance may be held, and on acceptable noise levels, length and whether or not there will be a crowd stopping to watch.
Enforcement is carried out by WalkWise staff under a formal contract with the council.
“The police are only called if an issue is serious enough that WalkWise cannot handle it,” says Ms Reeves. “This is very rare.”
Jaime Lee says the WalkWise staff get to know the regular buskers: “They usually check your licence, but they’re pretty happy to be lenient the first time, if you don’t know about them.”
One busker believes they act as an informal police force themselves by keeping people happy.
“It’s all part and parcel of the party atmosphere in Wellington,” says Lucky, who was performing on the corner of Cuba and Dixon Sts with his partner Jaqui.
“You see a lot of people performing, there’s a good mood, everything flows.”
EDGED OUT: Jaime Lee on the waterfront instead of his usual Cuba St spot.
MASTER AT WORK: Capoeira teacher Mestre Bira (centre right, gray sweatshirt) demonstrates his art in Cuba Mall.
FIGHTING STYLE: Two students show off the flexibility needed for capoeira.
STRING SECTION: Daniel Spes on cello with Ryan Woolley on guitar.
BRASS BAND: Niko Me Zna, performing as part of Festival of Carnivale.
CUSTOM MADE: John Costa (left, also in video above), with his specially made 11-string Warr guitar, with paua-shell fretboard inserts. He says he intially regretted the paua shell, as it is hard to see against the brown wood under red stage lighting, but is glad he got them.
