Tap to tip: buskers start offering card payments

London is to introduce a contactless payment scheme for buskers in what organisers say is a world first.

Busk in London, a Mayor of London initiative, has partnered with technology company iZettle to give card readers to performers.

The project will allow street musicians across London to accept payments via cash, contactless cards, wearable technology and chip and pin.

Launching the scheme, London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said it would allow more Londoners to support the capital’s street performers.

“Busking helps emerging artists to hone their talent and gives them the chance to perform in front of huge numbers of people,” he said.

Charlotte Campbell, a full-time busker in London, said she had seen a “significant impact” on her earnings after trialling the scheme for two weeks.

She has the card reader set up to deduct £2 per tap so fans do not have to select a donation amount.

“I believe if street performers like myself don’t adapt to the cashless society we are edging towards, we’re at risk of becoming a dying art,” she said.

Busk in London and iZettle have started rolling the feature out to performers in London’s 32 boroughs, with more locations planned in the coming months.

iZettle said it also aims to make the feature available to more charity organisations, NGOs and small businesses.