Commission approves Buskit Market Street street-music series; organizers say program paid $150,000 to local artists last year

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission conditionally approved a one-time outdoor event permit for Buskit, a Mid Market Foundation program that will place curated busking-style performances on Market Street between Fifth and Eighth streets and adjacent locations from March through December.

Rob Reddy, speaking for the Mid Market Business Association and Foundation, told the commission the program’s second year would run from March 10 through Dec. 20, with two-hour sets at sidewalk locations and private patios at participating businesses. Reddy said organizers paid more than $150,000 directly to local artists during last year’s run, hired about 130 musicians and supplied approximately 550 hours of free live music to the public.

Staff recommended approval with the Entertainment Commission’s good-neighbor conditions; SFPD Northern Station provided no recommendations within the response window. The applicant requested flexibility for daily hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; sets will be two hours and staff said total hours of outdoor amplified sound would not exceed six hours on any given day. Commissioners moved and seconded the staff recommendation; the motion passed with all voting aye.

Commissioners praised the program’s neighborhood economic and cultural benefits and noted the staff-to-applicant outreach materials in the record that documented business permissions on the route. The commission granted the permit on condition that organizers follow the listed good-neighbor policy and coordinate follow-up with project and communications staff.

Clarifying details in the staff packet and applicant presentation included a schedule window of March 10–Dec. 20, two-hour sets, a requested daily window of 11 a.m.–8 p.m. for scheduling flexibility, and participating businesses such as La Cuisine Cafe, Sam’s Diner, Red Tail Beer and Wine Bar, Holy Stitch and others along the Market Street corridor.