Why busking rules

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: GUEST,josep
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 11:24 AM

I busk a lot but there is no way i can make more than my day job. If I could, I'd be a full-time busker. The other drawback is foul weather and winter. I can only busk through the warm season--maybe half the year. But otherwise it's nice to just do what you want for as long as you want. I do open mics too but I prefer to busk. No license or fee required and I doubt there will ever be one around here. Busking is too entrenched now. Fees are bullshit. I'd probably pay more than I'd ever make back. I don't make much doing it but, you know, it's an extra stout or a half-tank of gas I wouldn't have otherwise but mainly I just like playing for someone other than myself.

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: iancarterb
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 11:11 AM

Busking IS the best. Voluntary compensation meams that no one ever asks for their money back at the door in disappointment or political annoyance. Playing outdoors on a fine day is good, and getting paid to do it even better. Cold and wet is another matter, but that't voluntary too. I'm not saying it's a cushy living, but on the busker's own terms, it's a good gig.

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: Desi C
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 08:53 AM

I was sitting outside a bar in Kilkenny one Summer just tuning my guitar when a couple passing by dropped 2 euros in my gig bag. This July in KK again I popped into another bar on a hot afternoon for a quick drink, guy at the bar asked for a request,played one song and next thing the Landlord brought me over a free pint of Guinness and 8 Euros! Kilkenny is a great place for busking by the way and you'll usually get invited to an evening session, great town

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 04:09 AM

After all, if they wish to give a few pence to Her Majesty's Government, they are at perfect liberty to do so. And for all a busker knows, the punters may well be doing just that, and it would a mistake to pay tax twice.

The next time I hear a busker playing well but I don't have time to stop and appreciate it, I won't feel guilty at passing by without putting anything in the hat as I know that, day after day, my extra tax burden will be my contribution, deducted at source.

DC

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: PHJim
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 01:37 PM

I haven't busked for years, but here are some tips for buskers from my experience:
-Women buskers seem to make more than men (Not much we can do about that).
-No matter how good you are, if you're a guitar player, you're looked on as "just another guy with a guitar". I've had the most success with banjo or Autoharp, even though I'm a much better guitar player. Now if I could just juggle chain saws I'd be rich.
-Keep track of the songs/tunes that make you money. These may not be your favourites, but...
-Know some kids songs. They often ask their parents for money to feed your case and they actually stop and listen.
-Smile and nod at people.
-I still have a big yellow sign in my Autoharp case that says in red letters,"BROKEN STRING FUND! Visa or Mastercard cheerfully accepted".
I've never had anyone try to use a credit card, but they laugh as they throw a buck in my case.

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: greg stephens
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 10:30 AM

Doug Chadwick wrote: "5. No taxes ............................ - just put your pay in your pocket and go home.
I trust that you don't make use of any facilities that other people's taxes pay for."

Now, I think it is reasonable that people who make little contributions to a busker's hat know their own minds. After all, if they wish to give a few pence to Her Majesty's Government, they are at perfect liberty to do so. And for all a busker knows, the punters may well be doing just that, and it would a mistake to pay tax twice.

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 09:59 AM

I `ad a busker in my cab the other night. I could tell `e was a busker, `e `ad `is guitar under one arm and the case, full of money under the other.
`e said, "Evening Jim, time to go `ome"
I said, "Where to, Elvis?"
`e said, "Pimlico please Jim"
I said, "Good Gawd. Pimlico? You do alright then."
`e said, "Oh, that`s just me weekday crib. Weekends I`m down at Sandbanks!!"

Whaddam I Like??

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 01 Oct 10 - 02:23 AM

5. No taxes ............................ - just put your pay in your pocket and go home.

I trust that you don't make use of any facilities that other people's taxes pay for.

DC

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 08:56 PM

Just thinking of Don Partridge. Monday will be asad day !

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: GUEST,shaan
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 06:42 PM

two years ago when i was 9 i made sixty smakaroes in one hour in new zealand but i spouse that when you get older you get more money because last week i gained 20 smackaroes in 3 minutes (because we just stopped outside a store to get a new violin string. Somtimes i wish that i could stay just a bit longer. In the summer holidays i went busking everyday for 4 weeks and had enough to buy and IPHONE which was $900 (nz) But then recently i have sold it for 700 and went busking every day of theis holidays and only a week has past and i have 1400 dollars! STILL HAVE A WEEK TO GO

Signed,

I LOVE BUSKING

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: hesperis
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 09:33 PM

It was fun! Played flute for an hour, without practising first, and made $8! Not that great, but better than minumum. I'd do it again, but I'm not too friendly with the Great Outdoors this time of year, and I haven't been feeling well even indoors.

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: InOBU
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 08:38 AM

On the other hand... there was me, on the subway platform last night, in hopes it got cooler in the evening, at 8pm, it was still well over 100 degrees farinhiet, so hot that the Uilleann pipe reads kept going to hell - both literally and figuratively, folks were in a bad mood, and where I had made good bucks on the cooler days last week, I barely made the train fair, sweating like a cold beer, which I could have used, if I drank... which I don't - though last night would have been a good day for it, but I did meet a good Russian Roma/Jewish fiddler, played good Romani music, though having a bad day, having been chased by the blue meanies all day... with his also Russian guitarest, both young fellas having moved here from Montreal as the busking there was not as good anymore... damn, here in New York it used to ALWAYS lead to gigs inside, but frankly, in spite of what one or two NY mudcatters say, the Folk scene in this city went south, or north or to hell, but not here... made more in Quebec last Sunday in ten minutes than in an hour on the loud stinking hot subway... yup, nice work if you can get it... it is too stinking hot to be very happy in New York... Larry
Of all the trades going, sure begging is the best,
When the poor man gets tired he can sit down an rest...

The old ways are changing sure you cannot deny
There's not place to go and there's no place to bide...

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: alanabit
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 08:22 AM

I've not had that problem yet (the rain sure, but not the disintigrating guitar). The rain sure can kill a new set of strings though, can't it? I know what you mean Greg, although my girlfriend did mention that she's getting more sleep these days...

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: Hecate
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 08:03 AM

Always try to find out in advance if at any time your instrument has been repaired using water soluble glue, as it always rains on buskers (in the UK at any rate) and there's nothing quite so scary as watching your beloved instrument coming apart. (not that playing in the rain does them any good at all, but sometimes you don't get packed up fast enough.)

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 07:31 AM

"No"

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: JohnnyBGoode
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 07:24 AM

What are some good lines for those who want to play your guitar?

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: greg stephens
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 06:11 AM

Well I'm not as good a busker as I used to be, Alan, that's for sure. But then I'm not as good at anything as I used to be!

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: Pied Piper
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 05:58 AM

Hi alanabit. I've been busking in the UK for 15 years and I love it. I play Pipes and playing regularly keeps them stable, it also gets me lots of bookings. I've got a lot better over the years (hard not to if you play 12 hours a week).I'd add one more to Marion's list; oral history from older people. Because of the association of bagpipes with the army older guys who were in Scots regements in W.W.II have told me many stories about their experiences. One guy joined the army in the 30s depression (at least you got fed) as a piper. When the war broke out he became a non-combatant stretcher bearer. He was put in charge of a team 12 that went over on D-day. Only Him and one other came back alive. Fuck W*r. All the best PP

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 04:33 AM

I had a go at busking once...

We made £20 in one hour and an extra large can of Olde Original Cider...

It was a laugh, but freezing. Sticking to my day job (£20 and hour was good though I thought)

E

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: alanabit
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 04:23 AM

One of the things I liked best about busking, was that it enabled me to travel without money. I was also able to make friends quickly and to live like a local when I got somewhere. It can be a great way of life, but I would not recommend it as a long term career. One man banding, (singing with a drum on my back) did considerable damage to my back and my voice. Most of the full time buskers who were around when I started out have either moved on to something else or are dead. I recently heard of the death of my old friend the one man band and Green Party acitivist Miller Davidson. When a busker burns out, the temptation is to try and get that "something" back again. It rarely happens. They end up like a sad old boxer going back for one more hiding when they are not really part of the scene any more. You need determination to get you through the challenges and the wisdom to know when it's time to quit. I can count on the fingers of one hand those buskers I have known who have remained good buskers over a period of more than ten years. Good luck to you Marion. I hope you are on a roll. Alan.

Subject: RE: Why busking rules
From: Blackcatter
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 12:57 AM

Hi Marion,

In Orlando, at least, there is a fee for a license to be a street performer. And until I started hanging around here, to me busking was an Victorian term for kissing. Maybe I can get tips for that though...

pax yall

Subject: Why busking rules
From: Marion
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 12:53 AM

1. You don't have to convince someone to book you, or worry about being on time or how long you play. You just go make your own gigs.

2. 95% of the time, busking pays better per hour than my day job.

3. No messing around with sound equipment.

4. No smoke (although to be honest, exhaust and other smog can be an issue on major streets).

5. No taxes or contracts or agents' cuts - just put your pay in your pocket and go home.

6. Less stage fright and more freedom to experiment with material that you know marginally, because no matter how much you screw up, half a minute later no one who heard it will be around.

7. You don't have to talk, unless people talk to you.

8. It's a good way to learn to keep playing through distractions, to talk while playing without losing the groove (to say thanks), and to recover from your mistakes elegantly.

9. It can be a way to "get discovered"; people talk to you about gigs or jamming or lessons.

10. There's a mystique about busking that leads people to assume that I'm much cooler than I actually am.

It's totally a coincidence that there turned out to be 10 points on my list.

Marion