Performance by South Korean band Harmonica attracts a crowd. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A matter of pride

For another performer Cai Xiaoyuan, becoming a licensed street performer means both dignity and responsibility.

An IT practitioner-turned-street musician, Cai started performing on the streets in 2012. After more than five years of cat-and-mouse games with urban management officers in downtown Shanghai, he eventually teamed up with a few like-minded street artists to form a band called Wuxian, which literally means "infinity." Last year, they became the first band to receive a license in the city.

Despite being a seasoned performer on the streets and at commercial events, Cai recalled that he was so nervous before the audition that his hands trembled.

"I was so looking forward to getting the license," he said, explaining why he was a ball of nerves. "When we are certified, that means we represent more than just ourselves, but also the city."

For him, having a license also means having a responsibility to uphold the legalized status of street artists.

Cai has volunteered to manage the performance and rehearsal schedules for street artists at Jing'an Park, which was made the first official base for street performers in May. Performances and rehearsals are allowed at the park every day from 3 pm to 9 pm.

On days when his band is scheduled to perform, they would always arrive at least 20 minutes ahead of schedule so as not to keep the audience waiting. The band's popularity has grown rapidly over the past year, in part thanks to the accessibility of online streaming services.

They have been offered deals by various streaming platforms which pay them more than their street performances. They once earned more than 30,000 yuan performing a song that a fan ordered through a streaming service, Cai said.

However, after spending time in the recording studio for the streaming platforms, Cai realized that he preferred performing in public. For him, playing on the streets has become a lifestyle, and it allows him to find inspiration and make friends.

"I can't find a better stage than the streets where I feel so free and inspired. My music becomes alive as I can interact with passers-by," he said.

Yu shared the same feelings. "The audience on the street has the most critical ears," said Yu. "They will leave if you play a wrong note. But they will stop for a song as long as it's well written, be it familiar-sounding or not."