| I am a busker. | | | | from my set and play "Danny Boy" for an older |
| Busking is the art of performing live music, dance, | | | | couple or a fun kiddy tune for a group of youngsters. |
| magic, or other entertaining acts in public places to | | | | Many buskers use the venue as a place to practice |
| solicit tips. | | | | new material on a neutral audience. Sure, Old Granny |
| Though the term "busker" is widespread in most | | | | loves your songs, but what will the general public |
| English-speaking countries, in the USA such artists are | | | | think? Learn what works for the average person and |
| referred to as "street performers" or "street | | | | don't keep the repertoire too fancy. |
| musicians." Buskers are usually musicians but can also | | | | I have to be careful to preach music selection to a |
| be actors, clowns, gypsy tarot card readers, mimes | | | | master such as Bell, but as an experienced busker I |
| or dancers. | | | | am convinced he was not playing the right music for |
| There is a definite societal split in favour or against | | | | the venue or the audience. Most of those people |
| buskers, especially in North America. Some people | | | | were not concertgoers who pay $200 to see him |
| support buskers and find it adds cultural flavour and | | | | from the back of a theatre. They were average |
| art to our streets, making it more European and | | | | people who watch American Idol and have a Britney |
| artsy. Sadly, some view busking as a lowly, hungry | | | | Spears ring tone. |
| practice reserved for the homeless, beggars and | | | | A handful of people did recognize his mastery in the |
| unsuccessful performers. These are the people who | | | | pieces he played and two people even recognized |
| push to have busking forbidden and occasionally have | | | | Bell, one having seen him earlier in concert. These |
| their way. | | | | were obviously classical music lovers. The other 1,050 |
| A few years back in Vancouver, Canada the local | | | | people may have found the music too dry or lofty to |
| government was looking to forbid "busking and | | | | appreciate. If he'd played a rousing Irish jig set or |
| panhandling." I was one angry young busker in | | | | upbeat Mozart concerto I am sure he would have |
| relatively near-by Nelson, British Columbia who found | | | | received better reception and tips. Save Bach's dark |
| the use of "busker" and "panhandler" in the same | | | | and moody "Chaconne" for the concert hall. |
| sentence appalling. These politicians obviously | | | | When selecting your pieces also consider that |
| overlooked that panhandling is doing nothing for | | | | subtleties in the music will not be heard. Busking is |
| money, whereas busking is hard work! With enough | | | | "trial by backfire;" a test for musicians literally |
| pressure from many outraged artists and supportive | | | | competing against cars backfiring and other loud, city |
| audience members the ban was reversed. | | | | noises. The challenge of struggling being heard helps |
| I'm not saying all buskers are worth defending. The | | | | us learn to produce big tone, volume and power in |
| talentless vagrant tooting one note on a beer bottle | | | | our playing. |
| flute for hours on end does not inspire one to fork | | | | As a successful busker you must produce heartfelt, |
| over an entire money clip, nor does the scabby drunk | | | | inspired music on a loud street corner with delivery |
| abusing his ramshackle guitar on the pavement | | | | trucks coming and going, horns honking, car stereos |
| outside the liquor store. | | | | blaring and noxious bus fumes. You have to play |
| But, strangely, even these people manage to find an | | | | above these distractions and put on a concert, even |
| audience. Some passers by will throw a few nickels | | | | when you're playing a moving nocturne while a |
| there way in pity and others will even pay them to | | | | whooping car alarm competes for the airwaves. |
| stop, as a high school friend of mine once | | | | If you can, select a location in front of a large building |
| experienced. A woman had placed $20 in her violin | | | | with nice acoustic properties facing another large |
| case and pleaded the young player to seek lessons | | | | building across the street. If positioned in the right |
| pronto. Ouch. | | | | place your sound will echo against the other building |
| On the flipside, many buskers are highly talented and | | | | and you'll project several blocks away and attract an |
| respected artists who add ambience and flavour to a | | | | audience. Open spaces are harder to project sound |
| community street scene or park. I was in Europe one | | | | and require more energy to be heard. |
| summer and experienced musicians on street corners | | | | This is where guitar players boast how their amp will |
| in Germany, Italy and France who easily rivaled some | | | | do all the work for them. Unfortunately many cities |
| of Canada's top classical artists. | | | | and towns have bylaws against amplified busking. |
| My favourite busking group on the trip was Munich, | | | | This isn't to say it can't be done. In 1998 I was hired |
| Germany's violin, flute, oboe and bass ensemble "Tal | | | | to play electric violin in a summer street festival. I |
| Consort." The group consisted of the most talented | | | | had to write a letter to city council to receive |
| classical musicians I've seen in ages playing their | | | | permission to use an amplifier and was granted |
| unique arrangements of Rossini overtures. It was | | | | permission only for the duration of the festival and |
| amazing watching virtuosos in concert outside a bank! | | | | with the understanding that I limit the decibel level. |
| If the buskers in Europe were that good, I thought, | | | | I saw several performers in Europe who played along |
| then how good are their concert musicians? Well, it | | | | with tiny radios or amps small as a lunch box as their |
| turned out many of these players were concert | | | | accompaniment. They had preprogrammed back-up |
| professionals out for the afternoon to make some | | | | parts to their music to make their solo performance |
| extra cash or just to play for the fun of it. The Tal | | | | more like a group. A guitarist in Florence played to a |
| Consort has a few CDs out (I picked one up) and | | | | bossa beat and a cellist in Rome was serenading with |
| was out to entertain the tourists for extra practice. | | | | a synth orchestra. And the players didn't have to split |
| Other musicians are playing for exposure and waiting | | | | their earnings with a band! |
| for their big break. | | | | Even without an amp, you may need a cart to carry |
| Many famous groups and superstars started their | | | | your instrument and other gear. A small grocery cart |
| careers as buskers and moved on to further | | | | will fit all the things you need in one trip since leaving |
| greatness. Examples include the music and acrobatics | | | | your Strad on the curb while you go back to your |
| group Cirque Du Soleil, percussion sensation Stomp, | | | | car for your music is a bad idea. |
| comedians Bob Hope, George Burns and Robin | | | | In fact, leave the music behind and don't use a music |
| Williams, actor Pierce Brosnan and musicians Rod | | | | stand if you can help it. Not only does it block the |
| Stewart, Dolly Parton, Eric Clapton, Simon and | | | | audience's view of you and your instrument, but |
| Garfunkel, Beck and Joni Mitchell. | | | | sadly it implies to the general public that you are not |
| Heck, even world-famous American violin virtuoso | | | | as accomplished a musician since you "need the |
| Joshua Bell has busked. He was part of a scientific | | | | notes" to play. Memorizing your music allows you to |
| stunt by the Washington Post to prove their idea | | | | make eye contact with your audience. When you |
| that the general public is too busy to stop and "smell | | | | look them in the eye you have engaged them and |
| the roses" or appreciate fine music in disguise. Bell, | | | | they are more likely to appreciate you and your |
| clad in a loose long sleeved t-shirt, jeans and a | | | | music and leave a tip. It also makes a connection |
| baseball cap, played for under an hour in a busy | | | | which your audience enjoys; engage them and they |
| metro plaza station during early morning rush hour to | | | | will see you as more than just another street |
| 1,097 commuters hurrying to get to work on time. | | | | musician. |
| In the end Bell made a paltry, insulting sum of money | | | | If you must use a music stand I suggest you use a |
| and only a few people had stopped to listen to his | | | | sturdy Manhasset or similar style orchestra stand |
| music. Bell found "the awkward times," after ending a | | | | with a solid-backed desk. These are more robust |
| piece to silence very humbling. No recognition or | | | | than the small folding stands, are capable of holding |
| applause from anyone. The concert musician also | | | | large binders of sheet music and are far more |
| gained a whole new appreciation for the craft of | | | | wind-proof. Always bring clips for the music to keep |
| busking and discovered it's not as easy as it looks. | | | | pages from flapping and spontaneously turning with |
| I'm a seasoned busker, having busked since age 16. I | | | | the slightest breeze. The best clips for holding music, |
| had played with my case open one day after school | | | | which also look better than clothes clips, and work |
| and watched the coins pour in from fellow students. | | | | very well are 4-inch enormous brass paper clips you |
| My best friend and I played many locations and | | | | can find at most office supply stores. I keep four or |
| pieces of music and learned which combinations | | | | five spares in my case at all times "just in case." |
| worked. When other kids were flipping burgers and | | | | Unless you have bad breath or green teeth, smile at |
| babysitting for $4.25 an hour, we were bringing in up | | | | your audience. This makes all the difference. If you |
| to $50 per hour. Our location at El Cajon, California's | | | | ignore your audience they will ignore you. Nod or say |
| Save-On-Drugs paid for Christmas gifts, violin strings | | | | "thanks" when they leave a tip and display a tasteful |
| and fast food burgers for the next three years. | | | | sign by your tip jar or case that thanks them for |
| Busking became my regular after school "job," but | | | | their patronage. Your cart should carry a short folding |
| also came in handy during times of a financial pinch. | | | | table to place your jar or case on so it's not on the |
| During a college road trip very far from home I found | | | | ground. Anything you can do to show you are not |
| both my gas tank and wallet empty and made up | | | | playing down on the street is helpful. |
| the gas money in only 30 minutes of fiddling. Many | | | | My high school friend and I tried fundraising and |
| airports on the way to visit family paid for travel | | | | busking at the same time, hoping to double our |
| snacks and six week's busking in Balboa Park funded | | | | income! The plan backfired! Many listeners, as they |
| my immigration to Canada! | | | | were placing a dollar bill in the case, saw our |
| The days of busking taught me about performing | | | | handwritten sign advertising the $1 chocolates, |
| and marketing and gave me a firm grounding in | | | | reached over to the chocolate box and took one. |
| entrepreneurship. It was also great fun and valuable | | | | We were serenading our chocolate customers for |
| time with my instrument. Now, as a teacher, I | | | | free and made less money. |
| continually encourage my students of all ages and skill | | | | The lesson learned was "Don't sell something at the |
| levels to try busking. But learn the tricks to the trade | | | | same time." If you have CDs to sell, place a sign in |
| and busk well. | | | | your case saying "CDs Available separately for $20." |
| Kids are born with dollar signs in their eyes and love | | | | Keep a felt-tipped pen in your case so you can |
| the idea of making extra money, but their parents | | | | autograph or personalise messages on the liner notes |
| are usually more wary. I explain that busking is not | | | | or disc if requested. You will be asked to sign your |
| earning money "on the streets," rather the player is | | | | CDs, that is if you are good! |
| simply sharing their music with others and paid to | | | | Business cards are a good idea as well. Just keep |
| practice. At these words the parent is instantly | | | | them away from the money so people can't pretend |
| on-board. Anything to make a kid practice is a good | | | | to be taking a card or tip you when they are really |
| thing. | | | | skimming your cash! Don't let too many bills pile up in |
| I also maintain that busking is not just a means of | | | | your case. They can blow away and may be further |
| generating income, though it is a great perk. Many | | | | invitation for theft. As George Burns, veteran busker, |
| performers use busking as a means to conquer | | | | said, "Sometimes the customers threw something in |
| "stage fright." Get out in the public and play. Even if | | | | the hats. Sometimes they took something out of the |
| you are just a beginner, adults included, you need to | | | | hats. Sometimes they took the hats." |
| face your fear of playing music in front of people | | | | Children should never busk alone. A parent or older |
| and do it. | | | | sibling should be close by. Female buskers of all ages |
| Unlike a stage, where the spotlight is literally on the | | | | should take extra caution in where they play, what |
| player, a busker is just off to the side and, as in Bell's | | | | they wear and whom they are with. As a young |
| case, ignored. This is great for players who aren't out | | | | busker I wore the occasional low-cut top or short |
| to get a lot of attention and just get used to playing | | | | skirt. A fellow and older busker (incidentally, a |
| around other people. Beginners can remain low profile | | | | psychic) once warned me not to expose too much |
| and unnoticed. But if you're looking to get more | | | | skin and to play near shops or groups of people. |
| exposure and money you need a good location with | | | | Thankfully, nothing has ever happened to me over |
| lots of people. | | | | the years, but I caution my young female students |
| Start by researching if your town or city has a bylaw | | | | especially when they are going out busking. |
| or regulations regarding busking. Many places now | | | | Instrumentalists, especially string players, should also |
| require buskers purchase a license as quality control, | | | | bring an umbrella to can fasten to the cart to protect |
| believing that vagrants and lousy musicians won't | | | | their instruments from the elements. Not all locations |
| want to fork out the eighty bucks. The park I played | | | | have awnings and you shouldn't count on the |
| had a system to allow only so many buskers in the | | | | weatherman. Don't bother busking in the rain. It |
| park at once. We drew numbers from a hat. If you | | | | doesn't matter how good you are since who wants |
| didn't get the right number you couldn't busk that | | | | to watch a performance in the rain? |
| day. Cutthroatbusiness. | | | | The best way to keep the tips flowing is to keep on |
| Choose your location wisely. Corners are great since | | | | playing. Don't pause between songs. You stop and |
| many people will pass from all directions, but not at a | | | | you lose your audience. Try to keep conversations |
| corner with a bus stop. Busses are very noisy and | | | | with passers-by short, even if they loved your music |
| block the view for potential listeners across the | | | | and want to know your life story. No one will pay |
| street. Parks, plazas and tourist traps are also | | | | you just to stand there and do nothing, unless you |
| excellent, though you may face competition from | | | | are a "living statue" whose act is to dress up and |
| other buskers. Despite all the musicians you see in | | | | remain motionless for hours at a time. Thank your |
| front of the liquor store, it's a bad place to play. Half | | | | chatty customer and encourage her to stay and |
| the clientele is drunk or needs the cash to get drunk | | | | listen. Having several people gathered around listening |
| and it's just not a safe place for someone with an | | | | will attract further listeners, and more tips. |
| expensive instrument to be hanging out. | | | | Be tough! Take breaks and eat only when the |
| An entrance to a shopping mall or toy store on | | | | crowds die down. I learned to pack a lunch, snack |
| Christmas Eve, though ideal locations, may not be | | | | and water (bring a liter of water to remain hydrated) |
| permitted. Remember to check with the managers of | | | | so I didn't blow my earnings on food. Eat fast. Then |
| the businesses you are near will allow your music. I've | | | | get back to the music. You should stick around a |
| never been asked to leave or arrested owing to my | | | | couple hours at a time so if you prefer to sit pack a |
| asking permission beforehand. Yes, my record is | | | | folding chair or stool rather than sitting on the ground |
| clean! I've even been hired a few times by towns | | | | or standing for hours. Yes, it may be hours before |
| seeking to have high-class buskers in their towns. | | | | you make decent money. |
| They pay on top of tips and no laws are being bent | | | | But hang in there; some days are better than others. |
| or broken. | | | | Holidays tend to pay well. Two hours playing earned |
| Bell had a great location, an entrance to a plaza with | | | | me $200 on Christmas Eve, 1994 and $400 on |
| loads of people. But he was there at the entirely | | | | Father's Day, 1997. |
| wrong time of day. His audience didn't have time to | | | | Even after I'd been busking solo and was getting |
| stop and listen; their jobs were at stake! Those who | | | | good at it there were some slow days. I made a |
| could watch a few minutes were eyeing their | | | | personal pact to play until I earned at least $50, |
| watches, their minds on their schedules and day | | | | which was usually after an hour or so, and always |
| ahead and not fully enjoying the concert. | | | | stayed playing when the tips were pouring in, even if |
| Lunchtime, from 11am to 2pm, is ideal for busking. | | | | my arms and feet were aching. I found it a great |
| Moms and tots are out for errands before naptime, | | | | learning experience. Heck, I was still getting paid to |
| tourists are exploring and looking for things to spend | | | | practice! And I became a far more confident |
| money on and retired people are out for a midday | | | | performer as a result of it. |
| stroll. | | | | I admit, with some embarrassment, that I never |
| Those with regular jobs still have the time constraint | | | | made a practice of tipping buskers until I had done it |
| of a lunch break, but it is far more time than they | | | | myself. I now make an effort to keep spare change |
| allow themselves to get to work in the morning! | | | | in my pocket so I can contribute when I am |
| After all, who wants to get to work early! Lunch | | | | impressed with what I see and hear, especially when |
| crowds have spare change from their purchases | | | | I am travelling. |
| jingling in their pockets, are feeling happy and dozy | | | | After all, it wouldn't be Paris without romantic |
| from their meals and eager to enjoy a bit of | | | | accordion music on the Seine, or Venice without |
| distraction before returning to the job. | | | | tenors singing arias in gondolas by moonlight, or the |
| These people want to be entertained. So don't bore | | | | liquor store without the shoeless old wacko and his |
| them with tunes they don't know and keep your | | | | wrecked guitar! |
| repertoire simple. I realize this will come across as if | | | | The next time you see a decent busker, throw a |
| I've sold out, but the popular songs and pieces are | | | | buck or a euro or a pound their way. You never |
| popular for a reason. If the listener can hum along it's | | | | know; it could be you busking sometime so practice |
| a winner. Fast fiddle music and Mozart have been my | | | | some good busking karma! |
| winning selections for years. Occasionally I break | | | | |
