Montreal

[Talondark X]

I've got a few questions about busking in la grande cit-ay de Mon-tray-al. I've seen people performing in subways and in Old Montreal. Do they need permits, etc.? Are there any specific pitches you can suggest?

[Irina]

I just came back from Montreal. There are buskers and they all have permits. There are 3 types of them - Old Montreal, "the rest of the city parks" and the Harbour. Right now the only one available is the one for 'the rest of the parks", it's 120$ Canadian a year (about 95$ US). You get in in a city-building on a street right above St.Catherine - the building # is 888(easy to remember, 5th floor, but I don't remember the street name, it's in French, of course...but if you can't find it - ask in the city-hall, anybody will show you where it is)

I also saw some musicians on St.Catherine street (which is packed on the weekends), and they didn't have any permits displayed...(all buskers and artists on the Harbour Promenade and in Old Town have them displayed..)

To get a permit for Old Montreal, you have to be there in person in October to apply for next year, and present some pictures or video of your show - they choose which ones they want, as the# of permits is limited. Harbour prmits you get in the Port Management, and you have to apply in person in February.

Also - everything is in French, if you don't speak it - you'll be misarable there, as all the paperwork is not available in English, and all the shows are in French too, though a watched a couple of 'bilingual' ones.