In land of no amplification, bagpipes are king
Bagpipes only have one volume, and that’s extra loud, even without an amplifier
This week Lib Dem councillor Neil Ross tabled a motion asking officers to draw up management rules for buskers.
Cllr Ross said the problem was not so much the music the buskers play, but the amplification many of them use, which means it is heard over a much bigger area.
The police have powers to move buskers on, but they don't have enough resources to do so. And up until now, the council hasn't had any enforcement powers beyond a polite request.
I've always felt that buskers who use backing tapes are cheating. There's something inauthentic about it. Busking should be pared down and spontaneous. Amplifiers aren't cheating, but they aren't fair. It feels like their purpose is to attract the biggest crowd, draw people away from the acoustic busker along the road, as if the one who shouts the loudest will get the biggest crowd, whether they have the most talent or not.
And I suppose it might be true. But in Edinburgh during August there is a busker every 20 yards, so you'd think that even they themselves might appreciate a more level playing field. If everyone has to play at the same volume then that should mean the most talented ones get the biggest crowds. In theory, at least.
But this new rule isn't for the benefit of the buskers, it's to save the poor people who live and work near their chosen pitch from being driven to distraction as the same five songs are played on repeat at high volume all day, every day.
A council survey found public support for busking as part of Edinburgh's cultural fabric, but also concern about the impact of excessively loud music on residents and businesses.
Cllr Ross is optimistic that there will be cross-party support for his motion. I can't imagine there will be much opposition.
But I wonder how it works with bagpipes? They only seem to have one volume, and that’s extra loud, even without an amplifier. Beside a piper, the acoustic guitarist doesn’t stand a chance. We could be in danger of hearing nothing but bagpipes as they drown out all other buskers for miles around.