A magician's performance attracts pedestrians on the square in front of Jing'an Kerry Center in downtown Shanghai in October 2014. Photo by Lai Xinlin / For China Daily

Performance times and locations are assigned by the association and are based on an individuals' schedule, as some need to fit the work around commercial appearances.

According to the rules, once the agenda is fixed, performers must show up and are not allowed to change the content, which is approved in advance. Violations can lead to a suspension of their license.

Despite his poor takings, Xing was upbeat. "It was better than I'd expected," he said. "More important, it helped me to get to know more people from all walks of life. On my first day, a white-collar worker told me he was a fellow fan of Beyond (a Hong Kong band) and we exchanged our contact information."

The college graduate from Bozhou, Anhui province, arrived in Shanghai in 2011 to look for work as a singer. He now teaches guitar and sings in bars, and he has signed up for several TV talent shows in the hope of being discovered.

Some street performers have gone on to become stars in China, such as Mandopop singer Xidan Girl and the band Xuriyanggang, but Xing said he is not counting on having the same luck. He applied for the license mainly to have a new experience, he said.

Shanghai began granting licenses to street performers in October 2014. All of the designated performance spots were originally in Jing'an district, but after almost 12 months the city has expanded the trial into Changning district.

So far, 30 licensed artists and craftsmen have been given permission to perform in the street, and according to the association's website they are becoming younger and better educated. Most of the 14 newly licensed performers are aged 25 to 35 and are artists trying to realize their dreams, it said.