Buskers in Covent Garden by Brenda Buterbaugh

I'm sure you can remember back to your childhood watching the Disney movie Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins was set in the year 1910 in London. The movie opens up on Bert's one man band scene. In London , Bert was known as a Busker or a street performer. He played several instruments and entertained people on the streets several times throughout the movie. Street performers have been around for a very long time. According to the London Performers website, the term busker, for street performers came about in the 1860's. The word Busker actually comes from the Spanish verb Buscar which means to seek or wander. London street performers were known as Buskers because they sought a fortune and would wander from place to place. Busking became a way for people to do what they love and make some money. Today you will find many Buskers in tube or train stations in London. However, according to the London Performer's website and The Street's Got Talent website, the best place to find good Buskers is in Covent Garden. Covent Garden is a covered fruit and vegetable market that has been turned into a shopping district and tourist center. It is here that the best street performers come to entertain the large crowds. 

Gold Floating Man

In Covent Garden you will find performers or Buskers like these men in the pictures above. It is very hard to be a street performer in the Covent Garden. According to Streets Got Talent , first you have to audition and have some sort of liability insurance to be a performer. In order to get a permit, when you audition you must attract a large crowd during their audition.If you get a permit, you can then perform inside the market or outside. The performance usually lasts thirty minutes indoors and forty minutes outdoors. Usually there is a range of performers to see. Our group was lucky enough to see a magician/ comedian in the square. He told us street performing is very difficult and you definitely have to be able to connect with the crowd and bond quickly in order to have a good show. These people love what they do and were truly a great experience.