Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a busking licence?
- When can I go busk or gig?
- Do we have to play music to go busking?
- Is there a minimum that we need to raise?
- Do I need insurance for running my event?
- I still need more help!
1. Do I need a busking licence?
This depends on the council for your area – they all have different rules and regulations. Once you have decided where you want to hold your Busking Cancer event, you need to contact your local council and ask exactly what forms are required for you to hold your event. Some councils will request that you apply for a licence and some councils will thank you for contacting them and will let you run your event without any further correspondence.
You could also choose to gig at an established venue – clubs, pubs and live music venues have the correct licences, insurance and PA systems which means you won't have to pay for these or get permissions.
2. When can I go busk or gig?
Busking Cancer is very flexible and you can choose any date that suits you best.
3. Do we have to play music to go busking?
Not at all. Most of our buskers are musicians but we have also had circus acts, dancers and actors – why not do something different?
4. Is there a minimum that we need to raise?
We do not have a minimum that we ask our buskers to raise. Some buskers raise £20 in a day and some larger events raise over £1,000! If you are one of our biggest fundraisers – you could be picked by the Busking Cancer Committee to become a Busking Cancer Champion.
5. Do I need insurance for running my event?
This is another one for you to investigate if you go busking. Sometimes the local council will be able to provide cover for you or you may find out that the shopping centre that you are busking in has an insurance policy that covers your event.
Please note – Cancer Research UK cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or injury from your event and we do not cover your personal liability for any injury you suffer or anyone else as a result of taking part in the event.
You could also decide to gig at an established venue – pubs, clubs and live music venues already have insurance policies.
6. I still need more help!
If you need more help, you can talk to our fundraising hotline team: 08701 60 20 40 (between 9am – 5pm).
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