I play a recorder, and sometimes I busk in Central Park. Someone walked up to me the other day and told me it was illegal to do so. Is this true? Can I continue to play my recorder in the park?
Natalie, Hell's Kitchen

busking - to play music or perform entertainment in a public place, usually while soliciting money.

New York City is chock full of talented (and some not so talented) musicians who give impromtu performances all over the city. But is it legal for them to be there?

We did some digging, and it is indeed perfectly legal for you to go play your recorder in the park, although soliciting money falls into a gray area. A friend of ours who busks periodically says that cops occasionally ask her to move, but as long as she's not bothering anyone, they let her be. And, according to this Village Voice article from 2002, there's no law against busking in subway stations, either, although panhandling is a no-no. (So asking people to pay you to play might get you in trouble, but if you were to, say, leave your guitar case open, and if someone just happened to leave a couple of dollars there...)

In fact, the MTA promotes underground music as a way to promote ridership.

See also Support-your-local-busker.com, home of the Platform zine, about a girl who fiddles on the subway.

Related: Gothamist readers ponder the best and worst subway performers in the forum.