I use 12 volt batteries from smoke alarms that have to be changed each year for safety reasons and are sold off cheaply (for £2 ) instead of £40 at my electrical shop. They are the same as those for wheelchairs and quite light.
I have busked afor a long time (25 years while raising a family as a single parent). This was versatile enough to fit in with when the children were asleep or playing with friends.
Now they are grown up and I am trying to expand but am getting quite depressesd so this is why I am on this site.
I have spent a year acquiring a second hand semi acoustic, an old amplifier (for keyboard range---maybe I need a more specific one for voice and guitar),trolleys,chairs and learning electronics and making my own CD at home and doing voice work.I have done my voice in singing too long too high and too loud for too many years which is the only way for people to appreciate my /hear my voice and for me to make as much money as on a whisle.I also can modulate my singing better with a mike.
Last year both my home town and the ajacent one started making permits and rules and I have tried other venues and busking trips not with great success.
The prime pitch I used to use to bump up my take and also where I could shelter if wet and play gently to people heightened by the beauty of the nearby cathedral has been taken over. A group of very self possessed healers led by an ex top business woman who nearly died from cocain addiction but seems to have retained the cocain confidence have set up doing retreats next door at all times and days of the week including bank holidays.It would seem that the volunteer helpers have had nervous breakdowns so are extra sensitive and angry and ,of course, there is a definite conflict of interests in that they need complete silence whilst being in a busy through way. The healings cost a huge amount so are only for the wealthy. I have studied many healing arts and alternative techniques and consider my sound in a sound healing and earth aligning way. They are intent on and successfully changing the rulings I am not sure if this is entirely legal--I have yet to see any minutes of any meetings. By stopping begging a number of beggars have started to play instruments but actually after a while if you listen some of these actually sound really nice and meditative and tuned into the place. My letter last August was ignored and I hoped the rules would relax gradually which they had but now they intend more rules with a photo and 3/4 hour limit. It seems that only the trader's views are listened to. I realise even James Galway would get on people's nerves after a long time but elsewhere on occassions the police have been called to move me if a particular one objected.Of course none of the buskers needs or wishes of the customers have been considered (how many people give me money in an hour 10?20? even excluding those who do it out of charity.). I have hardly done any in the town for a while and will only be able to do straight whistle since it takes too long for me to set up and move the other trips.
As to pay --in the good pitch on a feast day it was possible to get £15. Now with all the bad will this has dropped. I am pleased if I get £6 or £7 and feel it is about OK when it is £4. Last bank holiday I averaged £2 in a spot that could have been good and this was including the sale of a CD at £3.50.
My Cd is not perfect but I have tried about 200 people and about 90% say they really like it. It is also of local traditional folk music (maybe I need to present ift differently for tyhose non folkies who also like it if they listen to it) I did think that when I got my singing trip together it would sell. However in spite of people really liking the singing it didn't sell so I need to think of how to make this better.
I also am aware that often I am selling energy so feeling lonely and depressed about it all is NOT a good thing.
Anyway I sent an email wth a request reply instuction and had a hurtful reply saying that that people did not have a right to earn a living in this way,they wanted to stop musical beggars and many people would like to see it banned. I am now researching on the internet to see if it IS banned in any towns. It is cedrtaintly bamnned in most private shopping malls. It does seem like there are laws against racism,etc but none against discrimination because of your class or social standing.