Street Musician Pros/Cons

Subject: Street Muscian Pros/Cons
From: GUEST,duuuude
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 12:47 PM

Have never performed in public to any degree, but was considering being a part-time street musician this summer just for grins when the urge strikes me. Not for money or anything, I have a full-time job, just to entertain the tourists, locals, and myself. Anything I should be aware of first? Anybody out there done this before?

Subject: RE: Street Muscian Pros/Cons
From: MMario
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 12:48 PM

where are you located? in many areas it *could* get you hassled - whether you are taking money or not

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: alanabit
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 04:29 PM

There are plenty of busking threads here. Put either "street music" or "Busking" into the search box and you should come up with a whole lot of stuff. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: Uncle Steve
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 05:32 PM

Quick note... many years ago, I started to do just this (in the U.S.), and was totally surprised to learn how much of what we consider "public space" is actually private property. Let alone getting moved along by the cops, I was kicked out of several open plazas in downtown areas by private security guys. It actually became fun sport. I even tried to busk in a couple of large shopping malls and would always relish the moment when I could spot a couple of rent-a-cops hovering in the perifery trying to decide what to do with me. I was relatively harmless, compared to some of the rough company they were used to moving along, so they were almost always pretty decent about the whole thing.

And, if you are in a sanctioned area (I'm sure the other threads cover this in great detail), you want to be aware/careful about the etiquette of claiming a space and territorial issues. Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, the Boston Common, many of the really popular touristy areas... all have well established pecking order and commonly accepted ground rules for their activities.

Good luck, have fun. And have at least a few bucks in your pocket when you start out, or you'll get busted for vagrancy. If you get whisked away in handcuffs, just keep proclaiming loudly "I am NOT resisting arrest. I am NOT resisiting arrest," and then start singing "We Shall Overcome." Great way to spend an afternoon.

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 10:16 AM

"Busking" is a new term to me, shows how ignorant I am of the whole scene, I'll definitely check that area out.I figured I would clear any legal issues with the cops up front, but since we have no local street musicians there may be a reason. There are alot of plaza and park type areas around here that I don't think playing in public will be an issue if it's sanctioned by the city, but then I'll need to find that out. And if I'm not doing it for money, that may help the legal side, I could just call it free speech I figured. Just looking to have a good time & maybe even entertain some folks along the way.

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: mack/misophist
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 10:25 AM

I can remember the first regular street musician to appear on San Francisco streets. He played Bach on the violin, I was charmed. A newspaper mention noted that he made enough money to go to Italy to study during the summer. Them days is long gone, mores the pity.

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: InOBU
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 10:28 AM

Uncle Steve began to say much of what I was about to say. Many of us busk for serrious, not just grins. Your welcome as anyone else, but if you are in earshot of another busker, find another place and if you are louder, go farther. Smile at anyone puting ANY money in your case, even insulting amounts - like the Italian tourest who video taped me playing the pipes in a broiling subway station for some 15 minutes, then droped ten cents in the case, smile because if some jerk complaines about you, we all get run off. Play like your life depends on it, as if there is a lot of bad music out there, neighbors complain, and we all get run off, not to say there is not a place for new musicians on the street, many folks learn to play better by the incentive of the more cash that comes in when you do things well, but try very hard to do your best.
Good luck
Stay well
Larry

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 11:10 AM

You can always pass any money people put in your case on to people who need it more, either a charity or another busker.

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 01:40 PM

I was thinkng along the same line about giving any money to the local homeless shelter, since their's not really anybody else out there busking that I've seen. I'm pretty much convinced to give it a go, now we'll just have to see what the law has to say about it in these parts.

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 01:45 PM

"These Parts"???

Where's "these parts"?   It would be interesting to know.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: MMario
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 01:46 PM

I suspect he's a "furriner"

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: Les from Hull
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 02:12 PM

Everybody is a foreigner to somebody. But from his use of English I think that GUEST is not from the UK, and more likely from one of them big countries to the west of there.

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: Marion
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 03:56 PM

Hi Duude. If I were you I wouldn't check with the cops first; easier to get forgiveness than permission. If anything, you could check with store owners near to where you want to stand to see if they mind.

Since you intend to busk for pleasure instead of money, you might consider playing in a park rather than a street corner - a more pleasant environment, probably easier to chat with listeners, and less likely that anyone will object to you. Also, since parks are generally not prime real estate for buskers (not as much traffic flow as street corners) you won't be taking business from any buskers who depend on it for their living.

Of course, if you have too much fun you might end up quitting the day job, and have to become more strategic about your busking... :)

Cheers, Marion

PS Are you new to Mudcat? If so, did you understand Alanbit's suggestion on finding related threads? If not, we can make some links for you.

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 04:26 PM

There is an active streetsinging scene in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 2003. I'm not a participant these days, and I have heard conflicting stories about what limits, if any, law enforcement has placed on this activity.

What I have observed: performers are able to operate without interference in different areas depending upon the time of day. Also, *groups8 are much better able to attract attention and maintian an audience than soloists. In fact, single individuals are very rarely seen, and almost always work with the aid of some kind of battery-powered amplification.

I spent about two and a half years (1970-72) singing on the streets of two cities: New Orleans in the winter months, San Francisco in the summer. Then, as now, it was difficult for an acoustic soloist to make himself heard in New Orleans. Also, tourists in NO, in general, were (and are) primed for ensemble music ("Dixieland," or whatever). In SF, on the other hand, I fared much better financially since, as a sort of Johnny-come-lately hippie, I apparently fit an image that the public were ready and willing to enjoy.

Whatever the legal and financial contraints, I would certainly recommend the experience of singing out there in front of God and everybody. I found it difficult to break the ice and get started, but once I worked up enough nerve and just went for it, singing on the street was great. Feedback is almost unanimously positive, because those who enjoy what you're doing give you a smile or a little money or (best of all) hang around for a while, while those who aren't interested generally just move right along. There's no pressure to please a captive audience, but there's always the possibility that you might captivate someone who wants to stay and listen.

It's a great way to learn to become a performer, which is not entirely the same as being a musician. It's also an opportunity to improve as a musician, since you have the incentive to put in increasing amounts of time working your instrument(s). And, needless to say, you are bound to discover new depths and abilities in using your voice out there in the noisy street.

Have fun!

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 03 - 06:08 PM

"These parts" are the Reno/Sparks area of Nevada, we are blessed with many open park-like areas along the river through Reno as well as a huge plaza in Sparks that is used for many special events throughout the summer. I've never seen anybody else, other that the odd balloon twister, out there doing any music or anything so I wouldn't be stepping on any toes. And since the money isn't that important to me I don't need to be concerned with high foot traffic flows.

Thanks for all of the great input, something just tells me that "singing out there in front of God and everybody", as PoppaGator put it so well, would be a real kick in the ass. I don't really consider myself a musician, I leave that to the professionals, even after 35 years of playing, but can't resist the urge to find out if my music will entertain anybody other than myself. Family & friends always seem to enjoy it, but then they're somewhat biased. Guess I'll just have to work up the nerve & take the plunge!

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: Marion
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 04:56 PM

Let us know how it goes, Dude. By the way, what instrument do you play?

Subject: RE: Street Musician Pros/Cons
From: smokeyjoe
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 10:34 PM

Decide whether you want to lean more towards the 'entertainer' side of things, or if you would prefer to let the music speak for itself. Generally, the 'entertainers' make more dough. Unless you are a phenomenal talent, (and if you really were, you wouldn't be makig your living on the street) you'll probably lean a little towards the former anyway. I have played in many cities across Canada, and have managed to do quite well at it when *between jobs*
Something a lot of street musicians fail to realize is that they are being run off because they are either annoying, or just flat out awful. I'm sure you've all heard someone who really made you cringe. By trying to be considerate, and semi-professional, I have managed to play in places that wouldn't normally let buskers play.

Cheers!