I am a Busker.
busking is an art of performing live music, dancing, magic, or other entertainment activities in public places to seek advice.
Although the term "Busker" is widespread in most English-speaking countries, the United States, as artists are referred to as "street performers" or "street performers." Buskers are usually musicians, but can also be actors, clowns, gypsy tarot card readers, mimes and dancers.
There is definitely a social split in favor of or against the Buskers, especially in North America. Some people find support Buskers and adds flavor and cultural arts in our streets, which is more European and artsy. Unfortunately, some view busking as a humble, hungry practice reserved for the homeless, beggars and unsuccessful performers. These are people who push the banned busking and occasionally have their own way.
a few years back in Vancouver, Canada Local Government has sought to ban "busking and panhandling." I was one angry young Busker in the relatively near Nelson, British Columbia has found that the use of "Busker" and "beggar" in the same sentence terrible. These politicians obviously overlooked that panhandling does not do anything for money, while busking is hard work! With enough pressure from many outraged artists and audience members supported the ban reversed.
I'm not saying that all the Buskers is worth defending. Tooting talentless stray a note on the flute beer bottles for hours on end does not inspire one to fork over all the money clip, or scabby drunk abused his ramshackle guitar on the pavement outside the liquor store.
But, surprisingly, even these people manage to find an audience. Some passersby will throw a few nickels there a way to pity, and others, will actually pay them to stop, as a high school friend once experienced. The woman put $ 20 in her violin and begged the young players to look for lessons pronto. Ouch.
On the flipside, many Buskers are very talented and respected artists who add ambience and flavor to the scene of a street or community park. I was in Europe one summer and experienced musicians on street corners in Germany, Italy and France, who easily rivaled some of Canada's top classical artists.
My favorite busking group on a journey Munich, Germany is the violin, flute, oboe and bass ensemble Tal Consort. The group consisted of the most talented classical musicians I've seen in ages playing their unique arrangements of Rossini attempts. It was incredible to watch a virtuoso in a concert outside the bank!
If Buskers in Europe are that good, I thought, how good are their concert musicians? Well, it turns out many of these players are professionals for a concert in the afternoon to make some extra money, or just to play for the fun of it. Tal Consort has several CDs out (I once picked up) and was out to entertain the tourists for extra practice. Other musicians play for the display and waiting for their big break.
Many famous groups and superstars started their careers as Buskers and moved on to further greatness. Examples include music and acrobatics, Cirque du Soleil groups, percussion sensation Stomp, comedians Bob Hope, George Burns and Robin Williams, actor Pierce Brosnan and musician Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, Eric Clapton, Simon and Garfunkel, Beck and Joni Mitchell.
Heck, even the world-renowned American violin virtuoso Joshua Bell busked. He was part of a scientific stunt for the Washington Post to prove his idea that the public is too busy to stop and smell the roses "and appreciate the fine music in disguise. Bell, dressed in a loose long-sleeved shirt, jeans and baseball cap, played for under an hour in a busy plaza metro station during the early morning rush hour traffic in 1097 travelers who are hurrying to work on time.
Finally, Bell made a paltry, insulting sum of money, and only a few people stopped to listen to his music. Bell found "awkward time" after he finished a piece of silence is very humbling. No recognition or applause from anyone. Concert musicians also gained a whole new appreciation for the craft busking and discovered it's not as easy as it looks.
I'm an experienced Busker, having busked than 16 years. I had played with my case open one day after school and watched the money pour in from fellow students. My best friend and I played a lot of sites and works of music and learn what combinations worked. When other kids were flipping burgers or babysitting for $ 4.25 an hour, we were bringing in and up to $ 50 per hour. Our location in El Cajon, California, Save-On-Drugs paid for Christmas gifts, violin strings and fast food burgers for the next three years.
busking has become my regular after-school "job ", but also came in handy during the financial pinch. During a visit to a college road very far from home and I found my gas tank and an empty wallet, a make up gas money in just 30 minutes of fiddling. Many of the airport on his way to visit family pays for travel snacks and six weeks busking in Balboa Park fund my immigration to Canada!
days busking taught me about performing, and marketing and gave me a firm grounding in entrepreneurship. It is also good fun and valuable time with their instrument. Now, as a teacher, I always encourage my students of all ages and skill levels to try busking. But learn the tricks of the trade and collarbone well.
Children are born with dollar signs in their eyes and love the idea of making extra money, but their parents are usually careful. I explain that busking is not making money "on the streets, " a player is simply sharing his music with others and pay in practice. At these words the parent immediately on board. All in order to practice the child is a good thing.
and I argue that busking is not only a means of generating income, although it is a great perk. Many contractors use busking as a means of winning the "jitters". Come out and play in public. Even if you're just a beginner, they grew up, you have to face your fear of listening to music in front of people and do it.
In contrast to the stage where the spotlight is literally a player, Busker's just off to the side and, as in the case of Bell, to ignore. This is great for players who are out to get a lot of attention and just get used to playing around other people. Beginners can stay low profile and unnoticed. But if you're looking to get more exposure, and the money you need a good location with lots of people.
Start by researching if your city or town has a secondary or regulations regarding busking. Many places now require Buskers buy a license and quality control, believing that the tramps and poor musicians do not want to fork out eighty dollars. In the park I played the system to allow only so much Buskers in the park at once. We drew numbers from a hat. If you have not got the right number you could busk that day. Cutthroat
business.
Choose your location wisely. Corners are important, because many people will go from all directions, but not on the corner with a bus stop. Buses are very loud and block the view for potential listeners across the street. Parks, squares and tourist traps are also excellent, although you May Face Competition from other Buskers. Despite all the musicians you see in front of the liquor store, it's a bad place to play. Half the clientele is drunk or need money for booze and it's just not a safe place for someone with an expensive instrument to be hanging out.
the entrance to the mall or toy store on Christmas Eve, but an ideal location, it can not be allowed. Do not forget to check with the managers of companies that are nearby will allow its music. I've never been asked to leave or arrested for seeking my permission beforehand. Yes, my record is clean! Even I was engaged several times by the city seeks to have a high-class Buskers in their cities. They pay on top of the tips and no laws are bent or broken.
Bell had a great location, entrance to the beach with loads of people. But he was there in the totally wrong time of day. His audience did not have time to stop and listen, their jobs are at stake! Those who were able to watch several minutes are watching their watches, their minds on their schedule the day before, and not enjoying the concert.
lunch 11:00 to 2:00, is ideal for busking. Mum and kids are buying before Naptime, research and tourists looking for things to spend money on and pensioners are to a midday walk.
Those who have regular jobs still have a time limit break for lunch, but it is far more time than they allow themselves to be at work in the morning! After all, who wants to get to work early! Lunch crowds have spare change from their purchases jingling in their pockets, they feel happy and stupid from their meals and are eager to enjoy a little distraction before returning to work.
These people want to be entertained. So, do not bore them with the tunes they know and keep your repertoire of easy. I know it will come across like I sold out, but the popular songs and the works are popular with good reason. If the listener can hum along to the winner. Fast violin music and Mozart have been my choice for winning years. Occasionally I break from my set and play "Danny Boy" for older couple or a fun kiddy tune for a group of young people.
Many Buskers used as a place place to practice new material on a neutral audience. Of course, old grandma likes her songs, but what will the public think? Learn what works for the average person, rather than keep the repertoire too fancy.
must be careful to preach the music selection for masters like Bell, but as experienced Busker I am convinced that he was not playing the right music for the position or the audience. Most of these people were not concertgoers who pay $ 200 to see it from the back of the theater. They were average people who watch American Idol and Britney Spears have a ring tone.
handful of people recognize his mastery of the pieces, and he played two, even admits Bell, one that has seen him before in concert. These are obviously fans of classical music. May 1050 other people have found the music too dry or transcendent value. If he'd played a rousing Irish jig set or optimism Mozart Concerto I'm sure it would get better reception and advice. Save Bach's dark and moody "Chaconne" for the concert hall.
When selecting your pieces also believe that the subtleties of the music will be heard. Busking is a "trial for ignition," a test for musicians literally competing against cars backfiring and other loud city noise. The challenge of fighting to be heard helps us learn how to produce great tone, volume and power in our playing.
As a successful Busker must produce an honest, inspired by the music on a loud street corner with vans coming and going, horns honking, blaring car stereos and emissions buses. You have to play above these distractions and put on a concert, even when playing the moving nocturne, while whooping car alarm competing for airwaves.
If you can, choose a location in front of a large building with a nice acoustic properties facing another big building across the street. If you are in the right place, the sound will echo against other buildings, and you'll project a few blocks away and attract audiences. Open spaces are difficult to project sound and require more energy to be heard.
This is where guitar amplifiers boast that they will do all the work for them. Unfortunately, many cities and towns have laws against amplified busking. That does not mean it can not be done. In 1998 I was hired to play the electric violin in the summer street festival. I had to write a letter to the City Council to receive permission to use an amplifier to obtain a license only for the duration of the festival and with the understanding that I limit the decibel level.
I saw a few artists in Europe who played with tiny radio amplifiers or a small lunch box as his escort. They had pre-back-up parts of their music to their solo performances more as a group. Florence played guitar in the bossa beat and cellist in Rome was serenading a synth orchestra. And players do not have to share their earnings with the band!
Even without the amps, May you need a cart to carry your instrument and other equipment. small grocery cart will fit everything you need in one trip by leaving their killed on the curb, until you return to your car for your music is a bad idea.
In fact, leave music behind and do not use a music stand, if you can help. Not only does it block the audience view of you and your instrument, but unfortunately it implies that the general public that are not realized as a musician, because it "should note" to play. Memorizing your music allows you to make eye contact with the audience. When they look into your eyes as you deal with them and they are more likely to appreciate themselves and their music and leave a tip. It also makes the connection that the audience enjoys, to include them and they will see you as more than just another street musician
.
If you use a music stand I suggest you use a solid or a similar style of Manhasset orchestra stand with a solid base table. These are more robust than the small folding stands are capable of holding large binders of sheet music and much more wind-proof. Always bring the music snippets to page flapping and spontaneously turns with the slightest breeze. the best clips to hold music, which also looks better than clothing clips, and work very well as a huge 4-inch brass paper clips can be found in most office supply stores. I keep four or five parts in my case at all times "just in case ."
If you have bad breath and green teeth, smile at your audience. It makes all the difference. If you ignore your audience they will ignore you. Nod or say "thank you " when you leave the council and display tasteful sign your tip jar or a case to thank you for your patronage. Your shopping cart should wear a short folding table to put your jar or a case so it's not on the field. All you can do to show you do not play down the street is helpful.
My high school friend and I tried to raise funds and busking at the same time, hoping to double our income! Plan revenge! Many listeners, such as placing a dollar bill in this case, I saw our handwritten sign advertising $ 1 chocolate, chocolate box, reached over and took one. We have been serenading our chocolate customers free of charge and made less money.
lesson learned was "Do not sell something at the same time." If you have CDs to sell, place a sign in your case, saying: "CD can be purchased separately for $ 20." Keep the felt tip pens in your case so you can autograph or personal messages on the liner notes or disk if requested. You will be asked to sign a CD, that is, if you're good!
Business cards are a good idea as well. Just keep them away from the money so that people can not pretend to be taking a card or advice when they actually skimming your money! Do not let bills pile up too much in your case. They can blow away and can be further invitation for theft. As George Burns, a veteran Busker, said: "Sometimes the customers threw something in the hat. Sometimes they took something out of a hat. Sometimes they took caps ."
Children should not busk alone. parent or older brother or sister should be in close proximity. Women Buskers of all ages should take extra caution in where they play, what they wear and who s. As a young Busker I wore a casual low-cut top or short skirt. colleagues and senior Busker (By the way, psychic) once warned me not to expose too much skin and play in the nearby shops or groups of people. Fortunately, nothing has ever happened to me over the years, but I caution my young students especially when they are out busking.
instruments, especially string players should also bring an umbrella that can be strengthened in the cart to protect your instrument from the elements. Not all sites covers and you should not count on the weatherman. Do not bother to busking in the rain. It does not matter how good you are, because who wants to watch a performance in the rain?
the best way to keep the advice flowing to keep on playing. No pause between tracks. You can stop and you lose your audience. Try to keep conversations with passers-short, even if they like music and want to know your life story. Nobody will pay you just stand there and do nothing, unless you're "living statue" whose work is to dress up and remain motionless for hours at a time. Thank your chatty customer and encourage her to stay and listen. After several people gathered around to listen to further attract listeners, and more tips.
be tough! Take a rest and to eat only when the crowds die down. I learned to pack a lunch, snack and water (bring a liter of water to stay hydrated) so I did not blow the money on food. Eat fast. Then come back to the music. You should stick around a couple of hours at a time so if you prefer to sit package folding chair or a chair, not sitting on the ground or stand for hours. Yes, it could be hours before you make decent money.
But hang in there, some days are better than others. Holidays tend to pay well. A two-hour play has earned me $ 200 on Christmas Eve, 1994 and $ 400 for Father's Day, 1997.
Even after I'd been busking solo and was getting good at it was a slow day. I made a personal pact to play until I earned at least $ 50, which is usually after an hour or so, and always stayed to play when the tips were pouring in, even if my hands and feet were sore. I found it a great learning experience. Heck, I'm still getting paid to practice! And I became much more confident performer as a result.
I confess with some embarrassment, that I have not made a practice of tipping when Buskers've done it myself. I now make an effort to spare change in my pocket, so that they can contribute when I'm impressed with what I see and hear, especially when I travel.
Anyway, it would not be Paris without the romantic music of the accordion on the Seine, or Venice without singing tenor arias in a gondola by moonlight, or the liquor store without shoes old Wacko and his broken guitar!
next time you see a decent Busker, throw a buck or euro or pound his way. You never know, it could be you busking somewhere and practice some good karma busking
!
