New to Thailand...

does anyone know about whether I need a licence or not to busk?

I need to get some playing in, and don't want to be accidentally thrown in the can.

If I do in fact need a license, where7how do I go about getting one?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I would think that you would need a work permit and the proper visa. I would worry about the begger mafia crowding you out.

I would think that you would need a work permit and the proper visa. I would worry about the begger mafia crowding you out.

Watch out for the crackdown on busking. Its next weeks wheese.

I've yet to see anyone busking in Thailand, apart from an "official" event held at Lumpini earlier this year and hugely attended. You would definitely need a work permit and you can be sure it is a profession not open to foreigners. And the chances of a Thai busker? Come one - they can't get past karaoke.

Would you be doing it for money??

If not, surely playing a musical instrument or 2 in the street is surely just recreational. You did say you needed to practice.

If you go along the street singing, I doubt you'd get arrested.

Every once in a while I see the same Farang playing his guitar in front of CP Tower during the day. He never seems to have a problem and I've noticed people putting money in his guitar case.

At JJ market you see many kids playing instruments in their school uniforms as well.

Not exactly the same,

but last July, on a trip to Penang, I met a German guy who did some mime acting at JJ market.

He get busted, spent nine months behind bars and he is now blacklisted.

If you pass through Batu Ferrenghi, you'll be able to see him, every evening or so.

As a foreigner you will not be allowed to get a work permit to busk. WP's are only given out to foreigners if it is a job or volanteer position that a Thai CANNOT do.

If your sitting in a park or somewhere else just playing your guitar and dont have your case open or look like you are looking for money I'm sure you will be ok.

Like the other posters here said, It would be the Thai's and other buskers that would most likely deal with you if they thought you were taking money out of their pockets and trust me that would NOT be a good scene.

I'm sure if you were sitting in a bar at Khao sarn rd (if that still exsists) playing, you would be semi ok too.

I saw a farang in Siam playing guitar with a open case to collect money. He was standing just by the stairs to the BTS, same side as Scala. I hung around because I checked out the DVD sale. It didn't take long before the police picked him up.

As a foreigner you will not be allowed to get a work permit to busk. WP's are only given out to foreigners if it is a job or volanteer position that a Thai CANNOT do.

If your sitting in a park or somewhere else just playing your guitar and dont have your case open or look like you are looking for money I'm sure you will be ok.

Like the other posters here said, It would be the Thai's and other buskers that would most likely deal with you if they thought you were taking money out of their pockets and trust me that would NOT be a good scene.

I'm sure if you were sitting in a bar at Khao sarn rd (if that still exsists) playing, you would be semi ok too.

The highlighted is incorrect, I could name at least 10 professions that Foreigners have obtained WP for and Thais do the exactly the same position

There is a guy in silom every now and again who busks out the front of the shopping centre a bit further down from central there... No one seems to bother him.