Was interested to read the notes about busking in London. How many folks here regularly play "on the street," or in subways and other public places?
Here in Boston, there had been an ongoing tension between buskers and the authorities because of city ordinances restricting street performance, but the laws were repealed this past spring. So that means you don't have to go through a whole bunch of red tape, or worry about overzealous cops, if you want to play some tunes at a subway station or a local park and make a little money in the process.
Some young musican friends of mine, in fact, decided on the spur of the moment one weekend to head downtown and busk; they stayed for the better part of the afternoon and took in about $60. The money was welcome, of course, but they simply enjoyed going out and performing in front of people in an informal, spontaneous format. I may just try it myself when the weather gets warm again.
Earnings aside, have you found busking to be a worthwhile experience?
with limited experience _ london's covent garden (twice), down 'the tube' (? somewhere), wandsworth common (SW london), oxford, dublin and ballina (co. mayo)
Carwen Fowler, a harpist I "met" on ebay of all places, has a diary of his busking experiences. Quite interesting - particularly about what sort of people give him money, the best and worst places to busk on the street, and some UK cities and how much money he's made. Worth a read - at http://www.carwynfowler.blogspot.com/
Had a fabulous and blurry time busking in Key West with a good friend of mine last summer.
Lots of drunk people with too much money = two very well fed and extremely drunk fiddlers. Enough cash made to buy our way out of a nasty hangover. I seem to remember something about a test tube full of 151.
Could have done without the naked old dudes though. And their genital costumes.
Genital costumes? Sounds like FantasyFest. Biggest freak show in North America, or at least outside of San Francisco. Bloody hot and humid, too, during the summer.
I've always wanted to give busking a go, but I've never found the right fiddler (I'm way too shy to give it a go on my own). Perhaps in my next life. I've always kept an eye and ear out for good buskers, but they're rare, even in those places where you'd expect to hear some good busking. Lots of crappy acts out there, even in Key West. Who wants to see acrobatic cats? Give me some decent music!
I've done Hard Core busking in the past, and have a residue of stories which I may assemble someday.
Here in Vancouver, though, there are a number of sanctioned opportunities through Parks Departments, outdoor markets, and some public transportation stations. Pretty good fun, and usually well appreciated by local merchants. Always enough profits for fish and chips and beer afterwards; sometimes more. Sometimes leads to other gigs.
I used to go busking regularly with a friend. He needed the money and I needed the practise! Besides the cold in the winter, the thing I didn't like was that it was usually the people who looked like they had the least who gave the most generously.
I spent a whole summer busking due to miner's strike - you find out the extent of your repertoire when you are playing 6 hours a day 6 days a week.I ended up with long arms from carrying the PA and tennis-elbow from the RSI of playing it all day.
There were some teenagers who played brass but were only learners. They used to play on the best spot and keep it for me untill 10am, when I used to slip them £5 to move on, which was more than they would normally get so everyone was happy.
Probably the most rewarding thing was seeing people dancing in the street at 10 in the morning. If you can get people to do that, you must be playing something right.
When there are tourists there, you need more of an broad repertoire of national stereotype tunes they will recognise - thats the best way to milk them. Playing just for local trade can be somewhat unrewarding, unless you are very good or it is coming up Christmas, when you can milk the jazzed-up carols.
I was twelve when i've busked for the first(and only) time. As a birthday present from my father. And it was in summer in the middle of the market place. We played from morning til noon, and we got enough money so i could buy my presents.
What i remember is that i was frghtened. It seemed to me very unusual to play outside our home, or outside a pub, at least outside a "proper" place to play. So i thought it was strange and i was a bit ill at ease. But it was so funny to see the facesof the other people who were not used at all to meet 2 musicians playing across their way to the market. And they really enjoyed it.
as far as i'm concerned, i'm not lookinf forward doing it again(too much stress), and anyway, in France, it's been forbidden...
I've done busking in the past and I found it to be relatively lucrative I was making any where from 60-100$ an hour depending on location, time and day of the week. I enjoyed my busking so much I did my final presentation in university on how to be a successful busker. (B. Comm Marketing) Since I've been playing for several years and find that practicing can become boring quite quickly busking was a great way to be able to perform and practice all at the same time. It also got me some different type of gigs.
As I mentioned on the other thread, I used to spend one to two hours busking in underpasses and tube stations in the north end of Central London, Edgeware Road Baker Street, Euston, King's X and so on. I got between 4 -12 pounds per hour, probably averaging 6 pounds, so maybe an extra 50+ quid in a week (way back in the early 80's), and that I guess helped pay for my mountaineering trips to N.Wales and other rocky places. I don't and didn't think it's worth it unless you really need to do it and/or don't want to take on an extra part time job. I suspect it may have to do with what instrument you play. I don't think a flute will attract as much dosh as a box, for example. I think I could make more money (inflation taken into account) *now* playing box, than flute, yet I'm much much worse a box player than a flute player...but I'm too old and "respectable" to test that theory now.
yes i'll be there and see who i can rustle up _i'm looking forward to it . . .
thanks for letting me know DANNY as i overlooked (and probabily wouldn't of checked) that entry four pages in on 'discussions'
i'll bring down a few friends (few) CD's for anyone interested in a copy of Brendan Ring (2001), Sean Casey (2002), Aidan Burke (2004) and 'hungry grass' (2005)
Busking/street performing
Busking/street performing
Was interested to read the notes about busking in London. How many folks here regularly play "on the street," or in subways and other public places?
Here in Boston, there had been an ongoing tension between buskers and the authorities because of city ordinances restricting street performance, but the laws were repealed this past spring. So that means you don't have to go through a whole bunch of red tape, or worry about overzealous cops, if you want to play some tunes at a subway station or a local park and make a little money in the process.
Some young musican friends of mine, in fact, decided on the spur of the moment one weekend to head downtown and busk; they stayed for the better part of the afternoon and took in about $60. The money was welcome, of course, but they simply enjoyed going out and performing in front of people in an informal, spontaneous format. I may just try it myself when the weather gets warm again.
Earnings aside, have you found busking to be a worthwhile experience?
# Posted on November 21st 2005 by sts
Re: Busking/street performing
Yes.
KFG
# Posted on November 21st 2005 by KFG
Re: Busking/street performing
yes, but a ''killer'' on the fingers
with limited experience _ london's covent garden (twice), down 'the tube' (? somewhere), wandsworth common (SW london), oxford, dublin and ballina (co. mayo)
and somewhere else i can't now remember . . .
# Posted on November 21st 2005 by lisaniska
Re: Busking/street performing
Used to supplement my income at rush hours in the Bart stations in SF. 20 smackers an hour, average. Gets you in shape musically too.
# Posted on November 21st 2005 by Farr
Re: Busking/street performing
Yes, though many moons ago
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by ...
Re: Busking/street performing
Carwen Fowler, a harpist I "met" on ebay of all places, has a diary of his busking experiences. Quite interesting - particularly about what sort of people give him money, the best and worst places to busk on the street, and some UK cities and how much money he's made. Worth a read - at http://www.carwynfowler.blogspot.com/
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by Mark Harmer
Re: Busking/street performing
Wow, he's doing okay for himself, isn't he? Thanks for that, Mark.
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by Q
Re: Busking/street performing
Get him on here! He sounds like a character.
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: Busking/street performing
Had a fabulous and blurry time busking in Key West with a good friend of mine last summer.
Lots of drunk people with too much money = two very well fed and extremely drunk fiddlers. Enough cash made to buy our way out of a nasty hangover. I seem to remember something about a test tube full of 151.
Could have done without the naked old dudes though. And their genital costumes.
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by _Steph_
Re: Busking/street performing
Genital costumes? Sounds like FantasyFest. Biggest freak show in North America, or at least outside of San Francisco. Bloody hot and humid, too, during the summer.
I've always wanted to give busking a go, but I've never found the right fiddler (I'm way too shy to give it a go on my own). Perhaps in my next life. I've always kept an eye and ear out for good buskers, but they're rare, even in those places where you'd expect to hear some good busking. Lots of crappy acts out there, even in Key West. Who wants to see acrobatic cats? Give me some decent music!
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by Audeamus
Re: Busking/street performing
I've done Hard Core busking in the past, and have a residue of stories which I may assemble someday.
Here in Vancouver, though, there are a number of sanctioned opportunities through Parks Departments, outdoor markets, and some public transportation stations. Pretty good fun, and usually well appreciated by local merchants. Always enough profits for fish and chips and beer afterwards; sometimes more. Sometimes leads to other gigs.
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by oldstrings
Re: Busking/street performing
I used to go busking regularly with a friend. He needed the money and I needed the practise! Besides the cold in the winter, the thing I didn't like was that it was usually the people who looked like they had the least who gave the most generously.
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by Tarrantella
Re: Busking/street performing
I spent a whole summer busking due to miner's strike - you find out the extent of your repertoire when you are playing 6 hours a day 6 days a week.I ended up with long arms from carrying the PA and tennis-elbow from the RSI of playing it all day.
There were some teenagers who played brass but were only learners. They used to play on the best spot and keep it for me untill 10am, when I used to slip them £5 to move on, which was more than they would normally get so everyone was happy.
Probably the most rewarding thing was seeing people dancing in the street at 10 in the morning. If you can get people to do that, you must be playing something right.
When there are tourists there, you need more of an broad repertoire of national stereotype tunes they will recognise - thats the best way to milk them. Playing just for local trade can be somewhat unrewarding, unless you are very good or it is coming up Christmas, when you can milk the jazzed-up carols.
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by geoffwright
Re: Busking/street performing
I was twelve when i've busked for the first(and only) time. As a birthday present from my father. And it was in summer in the middle of the market place. We played from morning til noon, and we got enough money so i could buy my presents.
What i remember is that i was frghtened. It seemed to me very unusual to play outside our home, or outside a pub, at least outside a "proper" place to play. So i thought it was strange and i was a bit ill at ease. But it was so funny to see the facesof the other people who were not used at all to meet 2 musicians playing across their way to the market. And they really enjoyed it.
as far as i'm concerned, i'm not lookinf forward doing it again(too much stress), and anyway, in France, it's been forbidden...
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by lucie
Re: Busking/street performing
HI Lucie - do you mean "forbidden" temporarily, because of the troubles there, or actually, it's not allowed at all?
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by Mark Harmer
Re: Busking/street performing
I've done busking in the past and I found it to be relatively lucrative I was making any where from 60-100$ an hour depending on location, time and day of the week. I enjoyed my busking so much I did my final presentation in university on how to be a successful busker. (B. Comm Marketing) Since I've been playing for several years and find that practicing can become boring quite quickly busking was a great way to be able to perform and practice all at the same time. It also got me some different type of gigs.
Bonita
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by luv2fiddlearound
Re: Busking/street performing
As I mentioned on the other thread, I used to spend one to two hours busking in underpasses and tube stations in the north end of Central London, Edgeware Road Baker Street, Euston, King's X and so on. I got between 4 -12 pounds per hour, probably averaging 6 pounds, so maybe an extra 50+ quid in a week (way back in the early 80's), and that I guess helped pay for my mountaineering trips to N.Wales and other rocky places. I don't and didn't think it's worth it unless you really need to do it and/or don't want to take on an extra part time job. I suspect it may have to do with what instrument you play. I don't think a flute will attract as much dosh as a box, for example. I think I could make more money (inflation taken into account) *now* playing box, than flute, yet I'm much much worse a box player than a flute player...but I'm too old and "respectable" to test that theory now.
# Posted on November 23rd 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: Busking/street performing
don't keep putting your box playing down DANNY, it's grand so face up to it . . .
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by lisaniska
Re: Busking/street performing
Thanks lisaniska. I suppose my repertoire needs expanding though. BTW, would you and any of "The Lads" be up for the Crown and Cushion next Wed?
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/8422
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: Busking/street performing
It's because they're giving you money *not* to play it.
Only kidding, smile Danny.
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Dr. Dow
Re: Busking/street performing
Ah, you've found out my secret, Dow.
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: Busking/street performing
What, that you are physically capable of smiling?
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Dr. Dow
Re: Busking/street performing
Steady on - let's not get carried away, here. I wouldn't go that far.
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: Busking/street performing
yes i'll be there and see who i can rustle up _i'm looking forward to it . . .
thanks for letting me know DANNY as i overlooked (and probabily wouldn't of checked) that entry four pages in on 'discussions'
i'll bring down a few friends (few) CD's for anyone interested in a copy of Brendan Ring (2001), Sean Casey (2002), Aidan Burke (2004) and 'hungry grass' (2005)
# Posted on November 25th 2005 by lisaniska