For the last few years I’ve been traveling the world performing music on street corners, in subways, and in other public places. I’m also running a blog called Learn How to Make Fun, Profitable Music, where I share all of my experiences and discoveries to help you entertain people through music.
Some people have asked me what I think are the best busking locations in the world. It’s a tough question because there are so many different kinds of places that it’s hard to compare them. So instead of giving you a one-size fits all list, I’m going to give a rundown on what makes each place unique, and then list the top 5 cities by continent. Hopefully this will give you some idea of where to start looking when planning your next trip!
In this article I will be covering how to busk with a loop pedal. Busking is an art form that will always be around, yet there are many misconceptions about it. Most people think that it’s just street performing and you play songs for money. However, it is much more than that.
When you’re busking, you’re actually entertaining people and giving them a show they will remember. Many buskers don’t really know how to do this, which is why they are not as successful as they could be. If you learn how to entertain people through music, then you will have a lot of fun busking and make much more money doing so!
“Best Buskers in the World” is a series of videos that are incredibly well done. I recently watched one of them after a friend mentioned that this guy was “incredible”. I had to agree; he is incredible.
What I found most interesting about the video is how much of a performer he is. He didn’t just start playing his guitar and singing; he created an experience for the people who were walking by.
He starts with a build up, and then gets the crowd involved by having them sing along. He does this several times throughout his performance, which means more people are paying attention to him than if he were just playing and singing by himself.
It takes a lot of confidence to be able to pull off something like this, even when you have a crowd gathered around you. The fact that he can do this time after time shows that he really knows what he’s doing, but it also makes me think about how we can apply this type of thinking to our own lives.
The next time you find yourself in a situation where you want people to pay attention to what you’re saying or doing, take a lesson from “Best Buskers in the World”. Find ways
In August, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with the world’s best buskers. Not only was it one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had, but it was also a huge learning opportunity.
I will tell you this: when you’re on vacation and in a new city… or maybe even your own city… it’s easy to miss something really awesome right under your nose. So, whether you’re a tourist or a local, make sure to look out for street performances. You may get to see someone amazing!
In this post, I’m going to share with you some amazing things I learned from these musicians. And at the end of the post, I’ll tell you how you can get started as a busker too!
The best buskers in the world have a few common threads:
They are very, very good. Like, way better than you.
They are charismatic and fun to watch. They can connect with their audience.
They make people laugh or sing along, or do something else to interact with them.
They play something unique and interesting that stands out from every other busker in the area. No one wants to watch three guys with guitars, but everyone will stop for a guy playing a banjo while standing on top of a trash can AND singing well AND smiling at everyone who walks by AND making jokes about the current weather AND wearing silly clothes AND having a great sound system AND letting anyone who wants to sing into the mic for a song…you get the idea.
We love buskers – street performers that do their thing out in public. From playing music, to juggling and magic, it’s a great way to make money. You’ve probably seen the musicians on the subway or at the local shopping mall.
And we think you can do it!
But before you pick up your guitar, or jump into a flaming hoop, you should know what makes for a good busker (and how to become one).
Being a busker is more than just performing on the street. It’s about entertaining and connecting with people. You need to know how to market yourself while you’re performing. And most importantly, you need to learn how to read an audience so that you can adapt your performance to keep their attention.
That’s why we interviewed the world’s best buskers: Jimi McBride on the streets of New York City, Zach Mueller in Washington Square Park, and Sharon Katz at the Stellenbosch Slow Market in South Africa.
New York City is home to some of the best buskers in the world, so it’s no wonder that a new documentary on the subject has been released. The film, which was made by a former busker and features many of the city’s current performers, examines what life is like for those who make their living making music on the streets.
“The only reason I got into it was because I had run out of money,” New Yorker David Andrew says at one point in the film. “I had been traveling around the country a lot, and I didn’t have any other way to make money.”
Andrew is just one of many featured in “Busk: A Documentary About Street Musicians,” which was directed by Dave Dutton and will be screened at Union Hall on April 21st. The film follows several buskers as they practice their craft and discusses how each came to be a street performer.