Under a new City ordinance to restrict street performing within the City of Myrtle Beach, residents who wish to show their friends a magic trick on public property will now be required to obtain a $50 permit from the Business License Inspector first. The ordinance restricts other forms of entertainment including singing, dancing, reading the Bible, and even sidewalk art such as little girls drawing "hop scotch" on the concrete. It makes no attempt to exclude impromptu behavior by persons not holding themselves out as public performers. The ordinance is posted at the City's website.

The Amazing JoeJoe, a local magician that performs at Barefoot Landing, says the ordinance is unreasonable and too restrictive. He claims the ordinance cannot pass Constitutional scrutiny, and is asking the Council to remove unresonable restrictions being placed on performers.

"It shouldn’t be just for professionals that can afford a permit, it should be for everyone. The people being denied the most are the residents that live here" he tells the Council. He envisions a Myrtle Beach where amateur magicians can learn their craft, clowns have a place to juggle while an old man strums the banjo along the boardwalk. He likens the new permit system to a prohibitive tax that favors experienced performers while discouraging everyday citizens that would otherwise enjoy displaying their talents to the general public. He claims that Myrtle Beach has the potential to become the entertainment capital of the world, but in order for it to happen we must allow citizens the freedom to exercise their rights to express themselves.

Street performing, also known as "busking", has been the backbone of American culture since colonial days. It is believed that Benjamin Franklin used to recite poetry to the colonists in exchange for tips. Myrtle Beach has historically discouraged street performing treating performers as if they were vagrants begging for money in the street, while in other areas many street performers get discovered and go on to become famous such as Robin Williams, Harry Anderson, Penn and Teller, George Burns and Bon Jovi.