Busking is awesome, isn’t it? The world would be a duller place without it. But who are the people that put themselves on the line and try to entertain us in the streets? What makes them do it? Well, I’ve been busking myself for many years and have tried to get into the heads of my fellow buskers and now I can categorise them into 5 different types. The great thing is that they all mix together and sometimes you’ll find one type behaving like another. So, here they are:

The Amateur

This type really doesn’t know what they are doing but tries anyway. They will often be playing in the street with a friend or two and usually be just strumming chords with no real idea about their music theory. They might be playing together or each taking turns singing songs that everyone knows. They usually attract a crowd not because of their quality but because of their enthusiasm. If you give them a few coins, you are encouraging them to keep trying and one day they might end up as…

The Semi-Pro

This is someone who has done away with being an amateur and is now taking their busking seriously but not quite as seriously as…

The Professional

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Busking is awesome, isn’t it? It’s a way for people to express themselves, share their passion and make some money.

People busk for all kinds of reasons. Some are talented musicians who want to build a reputation before they start approaching venues to play at. Others aren’t necessarily looking to become famous, but just see busking as a fun way to meet new people and make a bit of money while they do it.

There are all kinds of different types of buskers – the ones that stand on street corners serenading passers by, the ones that squat down on the train tracks and play their guitar with their hat in front of them for coins and then there are the really talented ones that can do things we didn’t know were possible.

So if you’ve ever wondered why your favorite busker is doing what they do, or wanted to know more about how they started busking, or even if you want to start busking yourself because you think it looks like fun, this is the blog post for you!

Busking is awesome, isn’t it?

I’ve been busking for years now and I love it. It’s not always easy, but it’s a great way to spend your time if you enjoy making music and performing for people. It makes them smile, it makes me smile, and that’s what life is all about!

A lot of people ask me why I do it. They think that I must be really talented or something. In fact, they often say: “Wow! You’re so good! How come you don’t have a record deal or play in a band?” Well…the truth is I am good (ha ha), but that’s not why I do it.

In a previous post, I discussed how to become a busker. Now that you know what to do in order to start busking, I want to explain the different types of buskers out there as well as why they do it. Of course, there are many reasons people decide to busk. But one big reason is the hope of making money.

As I sit with my coffee, (yes I do love coffee, who doesn’t?) at this little cafe in the middle of the city, I can’t help but notice the talented busker on the street corner.

To think that this guy is out here everyday playing his guitar and singing for the people walking by. Sure, he may get a few coins tossed his way but what he is doing is so much more than earning some extra cash.

Busking is an art form, it doesn’t matter if you are a talented musician or even a good one for that matter. Busking is about entertaining and engaging with people passing by. It’s about getting lost in your own world and creating something unique for all to enjoy.

Buskers come from all walks of life and have different reasons for why they choose to do it. Whether it be to earn some extra cash, entertain people or sharpen their skills as a performer; everyone has their own motives.

I am a street performer in downtown LA. I play the trumpet and the guitar. And when I’m not playing music, I’m writing it.

I started busking to make some extra money, but really, it’s just a way for me to get my music out there. That’s what I love about it: being able to play my own songs, and seeing how people react to them. It’s hard to describe how satisfying that is. There are so many talented musicians out there who never get the chance to share their music with others because they don’t have the right connections, or they can’t afford to go on tour.**