Top Buskers is a blog about improving the way you busk. Here are our top 5 tips to better busking.
1. The most important thing about learning to play music on the street is picking the right spot.
2. It’s good to know what is expected of you as a street musician because every city has different rules and regulations for busking in public places.
3. If you’re playing in an area that allows amplified sound, you need to be considerate of your neighbors when choosing how loud to play.
4. Playing music on the street can be a great way to supplement your income and make new fans, but it’s important to make sure you have proper documentation and a permit before soliciting tips from passersby or setting up shop in any public space.
5. Every street musician has their own style, but here are some general tips on what makes for good busking:
I’ve been busking in San Francisco for over 6 years, and have made a decent living at it. It’s not always easy, but if you take the time to learn how to be good at it, it can be rewarding in many different ways. I hope that this blog will serve as a help to people who are interested in getting involved with busking, or just curious about what goes into being a professional street performer.
See my main website at www.buskologist.com for more info on me, as well as other links and contact information.
Busking is a fantastic way to make money and perform in front of an audience. I’ve been busking for over 10 years and have performed thousands of shows for people all over the world. It’s a great way to make money playing music.
In order to be successful at it, you need to know a few simple tips. I’ve learned them through trial and error and I want to share them with you so that you can make more money doing what you love.
1. Have a good attitude.
People can tell if you’re having fun or not, even if they’re not watching your show. So make sure that you’re in a good mood before starting your performance. Remember that busking is supposed to be fun!
2. Dress appropriately for the weather and location where you’ll be performing.
I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt when I’m playing on the street, but it depends on where I’m playing. If it’s cold outside, wear something warm like a jacket or hat; if it’s hot out, wear something cool like shorts or sandals; if there’s rain in the forecast, bring an umbrella with you to keep from getting wet when you play (and don’t forget your rain gear!).
3.
Busking is a great way to earn extra cash, to hone your skills, and get some exposure performing live. It can be a really fun experience, but it’s not always as easy as it looks. There are a few tips and tricks that will help you make more money, play better shows, and have more fun doing it.
1. Take a buskers class or workshop
There are many workshops available to learn how to busk, even online. Some cities even offer classes on busking at the local community center. Some of these classes may even provide you with a license for free or for reduced price when you take the class. Taking a workshop will teach you how to pick the best locations, draw crowds, keep those crowds entertained and most importantly how to make money from them!
2. Do Your Research
Not all cities allow street performing without a permit or license. If your city does require one, be sure to get one before heading out to perform. Failure to do so can result in a hefty fine or even jail time! Even if you don’t need a license check the local regulations about where you can busk and what times are acceptable for performing in certain areas. Not knowing these rules could earn you a citation or worse and that would
A lot of us think that if we play some great music and entertain people, they’ll throw money at us. It’s a little more involved than that. There are a lot of things that can happen when you’re playing on the street, but learning how to get over these hurdles will make you a better busker – and that means more money in your pocket.
1. You need to be entertaining
2. You need to keep it interesting
3. People aren’t going to pay to be ignored
4. Location, location, location
5. Learn from what works
The five tips are:
1. Do a good show, not just a good song.
2. Set up your hat so that people can see it and hear you at the same time.
3. Don’t start playing too early or stop playing too late.
4. Make sure you have someone to watch over your stuff while you’re not there (if applicable).
5. Make sure you have at least one backup plan in case your first plan doesn’t work out (which might work better than your first plan).
1. Location, location, location