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Photos & Video: If its worth a photo, its worth a tip. This is the number one pet peeve of almost every busker that I know. It is very draining to see a crowd of people taking photos and video of your performance, clearly enjoying it, and then watch them walk away without leaving anything in the tips.
- What Does ‘busking’ Mean?
- How to Busk and Not Be A Knob
- The Outfit – Prepare to Be Glamorous
- The Busking Station
- Busking Equipment
- Busking Ideas – What’s Your Party Trick?
- Busking Licences and Laws
- Who to Busk to…
- Where to Busk…
- My Personal Best Place to Busk
At its most basic form, the meaning of busking is the act of performing in public places for tips: money, food, drink, cigarettes, a joint… you get the idea. ‘Buskers’ come under a lot of names: buskers, street performers, artisti di strada (artist of the street in Italian). If we’re talking historically then they’ve been called skomorokh (Russian)...
All that said, not all buskers are saints; some can be right tossers. As a traveller (and doubly so as a busker) not being a knob is important. There are a few easy tips on how to busk and not be a knob: 1. DON’T ASK FOR MONEY:This is the big one. If you want to sell merch or CDs or write a sign explaining what you’re doing: that’s no problem. But ...
First, you have to look the part. It’s up to you what that part is but don’t be afraid to go big. If you’re a classy card shark, grab yourself a tux jacket and bowtie; if you’re a retro guitarist maybe some bellbottom jeans and frills. Ok, look, flamboyant extravagance might not be your jam but it’s important to find an outfit that projects the ima...
I’m calling this the busking station cause it sounds dope and I like it. Here’s a familiar image: a busker jamming on his guitar; his case is laid out in front of him with money and his CDs and there is a cardboard sign reading “CDs: $10?”. That’s his station. Your station is going to be a reflection of you as a performer. As my Japanese friend alw...
This is everything else – your gear. Your busking equipment is going to vary hugely depending on your act but here are a few pointers: 1. Your props, your toys, your instruments – you can’t be a street musician without a busker guitar! 2. Anything that could break or be lost: bring spares! This means guitar strings, balls for the jugglers, or cards...
“I can’t busk, I’m not good enough”. You shut your dirty mouth, swine! You’re amazing and don’t ever put yourself down like that! There’s only one way to get better at something. Here’s an anecdote: there’s a man that used to busk outside the Woolworths shopping centre opposite Town Hall in Sydney. His act? He put on really saucy music and danced a...
This is extremely subject to change. In most places in the world, laws for busking and street performances are handled at a local authority level. This means those rules change as frequently as from one town to the next. Your best option is simply to google the area. It is not uncommon, particularly in the West, to need to register to get a busking...
I have a story. When I was busking in Arambol (Goa), I experimented with multiple pitches around town. I quickly discovered who was paying out the most and it wasn’t the whiteys on the expensive side of town. Not only were Indians dropping the most rupees, but they were also taking the time to stop and enjoy the music and speak with me. Most of the...
Oh dear, there are so many factors that affect this. Not all pitches are created equal. 1. Foot Traffic – You can’t busk without an audience. Too few people and there’s no point. Too many people and something akin to ‘diffusion of responsibility’kicks in. 2. Money Availability– It used to be that busking in train stations was the supreme but now we...
Places will subvert expectations. Sometimes dumb pitches will work well and awesome pitches will suck; it’s about experimentation. But I have found one relatively consistent type of pitch: supermarkets! When you park yourself outside a supermarket people will see you on their way in, listen from the queue while they fumble with their wallets, and t...
Feb 20, 2024 · Busking, or street performance, is the act of performing in public spaces for voluntary donations. While buskers may have a hat or open instrument case to receive tips, the key element is that the audience sets the value. This differentiates busking from other public performances where the fee is set beforehand.
May 21, 2024 · Anyone who sets up in a public place and begins performing with the hope of earning a bite to eat or a few dollars is a busker. The practice dates back to antiquity, with artists performing their...
Apr 21, 2024 · Modern buskers are dubbed traveling musicians, street-corner performers, or troubadours. They come in many forms; some are dancers, some are mimes, and some are artists or musicians with years of experience. They can be balloonists, rope walkers, contortionists, puppeteers, fortune tellers, and much, much more.
Busking is one of my favourite ways to perform. I find it the most humbling kind of performance because each person who smiles or drops coins (or notes!) in your case is showing direct support for your art. Here are my top 10 tips for how to be a beast when busking and make sure your street performance goes smoothly. 1.
People also ask
Is busking worth it?
What is a busker?
Do buskers make money?
Are buskers based on street performance?
Everyone is used to the sight of buskers on high streets looking to make a little extra cash, but busking is also a great way to get more gigs and promote a band’s talent. Whilst there are undeniable costs such as travelling to the town/city you’re playing in, busking is usually worth it.
