Letter: Make a distinction between singers and beggar buskers

I think we have some good musicians in Shrewsbury – and good live music is good street life, and I feel that its really good to see young student musicians out practising on Saturdays and I never go to compete with them on Saturdays.

So, Yes, I go to sing, but I am not beggar busker. No band can play the full range of my songs, which is why I started to sing unaccompanied and no one else can do what I do – in the world maybe. Never mind just in Shrewsbury.

I never sing for more than 1 hour 15 minutes at a time or I would lose my voice or damage it. I always go late afternoon when other performers have had the whole day to use the spaces.

I get comments from elegant, wealthy, well-dressed people and tourists of many countries – as I sing in five languages.

Some sit for half an hour or more. I used not to put out a basket for offerings but people just interrupt the song to ask you where the contributions basket is.

I feel that some discrimination needs to be going on about buskers who need to amplify an instrument they are playing.

Maybe your officers can make that distinction?

I feel that instrumentalists who use amplified backing tracks are no more than karaoke singers that is perhaps unacceptable. By banning amplified but wholly live music of quality, I feel you are encouraging the real beggars with whistles.

The only time I might sing more than two times in week is at Christmas – to sing carols and Christmas songs.

Anyway the officer who told me of this ban, said the council is considering licences again. Well I had the first licence in Shrewsbury – which I cannot find.

I am asking if the council can issue me a licence for 48 hours a year? Which would cover all eventualities, and, to permit me to use my tiny Roland Cube amp.

I have just lost my voice trying to project only classical songs and some jazz, un-amplified, but I cannot do a good and pleasurable job with 'In the Bleak Midwinter'

I hope to hear something as soon as possible so my offering of festive songs are not missing or lost this year.

Newena Martin, Shrewsbury