Can you play tennis for free in New York city?

Is it against the law for people in New York City to play music on the streets and ask for money?

• Whenever I go to New York City they have people on the streets and in the subway playing music whether this is singing or playing an instrument or sometimes I see a guy singing and playing his guitar and in front of them the person has a hat on the ground and people toss coins and bills into the hat for the person. Is that legal for someone to play music and get money like that? Or is something like that against the law? I was just curious as I see it all the time in the big city.

• Answer:

  Technically, buskers need to be licensed. The City issues permits or licenses to those performers who wish to busk in the subways, Penn Station, Times Square Station and Grand Central. The performers display a black and gold banner, issued with the permit. However, most of the time unlicensed buskers aren't hassled unless they're some kind of nuisance, or if they don't move when asked.