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Mid Market Foundation’s Buskit music series granted one-time outdoor permit
Summary
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission conditionally approved a one-time outdoor entertainment permit for Buskit, a curated Market Street busking program that will pay local musicians and run March–December.
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on Feb. 4 conditionally granted a one-time outdoor entertainment permit to the Mid Market Foundation for Buskit, a free live-music program that places paid local musicians at sidewalk and private-patio locations on Market Street between Fifth and Eighth streets.
Rob Reddy, speaking for the Mid Market Business Association and Foundation, told the commission the program is in its second year and aims to bring customers to local businesses while directly paying artists. Reddy said last year’s program paid more than $150,000 to local artists, engaged about 130 musicians and supplied roughly 550 hours of free live music to the public.
Staff recommended approval with a good-neighbor policy and additional permit conditions after noting the applicant completed neighborhood outreach and submitted permission letters from participating businesses. SFPD Tenderloin Station did not submit any recommendations within the response window, staff said.
Commissioners praised the project for channeling revenue to musicians and activating the Market Street corridor. The permit will allow curated two-hour sidewalk performances at roughly a dozen locations, scheduled between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., with no more than six total hours of outdoor amplified sound requested for any given day. The program’s run is proposed from March 10 through Dec. 20.
The commission approved the permit on a voice/roll-call vote. Vice President Wong, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Perez, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander and Commissioner Thomas all voted aye. No opposition was recorded during the public-comment period.
Ending: The Mid Market Foundation must follow the conditions listed in the staff memo and work with project and communications staff on next steps before operating the Buskit series.
