Code of Conduct for Buskers and Entertainers in the Grainger Market Event Space

Name of applicant/s: ………………………………………………………………………….

Name of performance group: ………………………………………………………..Number in group:…………….

Type of performance: ………………………………………….Date & Time of performance: ………………………

Booked in/Signed off: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

The Markets Manager does not issue licences or permits for busking and entertainment, but welcomes performers into the Grainger Market event space who are prepared to abide by this Code of Conduct.

This Code of Conduct sets out your obligations and you are requested to comply with its requirements. In particular, it is important that you should avoid causing annoyance or disturbance by always having consideration for the general public. You must also have regard to the needs and rights of the shopkeepers and other business proprietors in the Grainger Market.

The Event Space has been identified as being the most appropriate location in the Grainger Market for busking and entertaining and you should confine your performances to this space only – see attached location plan.

Do’s and Dont’s

  1. You must not stand/sit or spread out your equipment etc. so as to cause an obstruction to entrances/exits to shops and other premises, or to shop window displays.
  2. You must not actively collect money, but you may have a receptacle (e.g. box, hat or musical instrument case) into which you can accept donations from members of the general public in return for your performances. You are not allowed to purport to collect for charitable or for other purposes, this is not permitted in the Grainger Market.
  3. The selling of any merchandise such as tapes, CD’s and T-shirts is not permitted and would be an offence for which you could be prosecuted.
  4. Amplifiers and loudspeakers must not be used.
  5. Busking and entertainment should normally only take place between 10.00am and 5.00pm with performances of approx. 20minutes followed by a 10minute break over a maximum of 3 hours and no return to the same place within 3 hours.
  6. Entertainers shall not perform in a manner which may be considered dangerous to themselves or the public, and shall not carry out any activity which is likely to cause alarm, distress or offence to a member of the public.
  7. The applicant and /or performers must announce their arrival to the Market Inspector on duty (found in the Market Inspectors Office on Alley 2) prior to beginning any performance.

Market Management staff will determine the acceptable level of volume of all performances. Please note particularly that performers must comply with any requests made to them by the Market Inspector on duty and that a performance must cease if requested by a Market Inspector, City Council Officer or the Police.

If you have any queries or wish to book the event space for a performance, please contact:

The Markets Team, Facility Services and Civic Management, Communities Directorate, Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QH - Tel: 0191 2115542

Alternatively you can speak to a Market Inspector on site in the Market Office, Alley 2, Grainger Market, NE1 5QQ

Tel: 0191 2115541

Or email us on

Please bring this document with you to show to the Market Inspector on duty.

H:\Retail\Markets TEMPLATES\Buskers\Buskers code of conduct.doc