BuskerBus

Subject: BuskerBus
From: GUEST,Scintilla
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 03:35 PM

Hi

Has anyone had any experience of BuskerBus? It's a thing set up by the Polish Arts Council and is basically 80 buskers (musos, magicians, clowns etc) doing a tour of Poland for two weeks, funded by the Polish Arts Council with bed, board and travel provided. Sounds kosher, but too good to be true and I can't spot the catch (call me a cynic!)

Be useful to hear if people know of this or any other similar schemes, and point out any pitfalls.

Thanks! :)

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: GUEST,Mappa Mundi
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 04:55 AM

Sounds like an excellent idea, however, when ideas sound too good to be true ...








































They usually are!

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: oombanjo
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 04:55 PM

About 10 years ago one of the local buskers in Brighton "WOODY" did it, he got the trip, good food ,and payed, he is still around the Brighton area, he said it was great.

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: RichM
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 05:00 PM

What a wonderful bright idea!

Spreading joy, and having some yourself, what could be better?

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: GUEST,Scintillla
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 06:23 AM

S'wot I thought! I've been busking for over a month now pretty much full time and was not prepared for how much I'd enjoy it and how many intriguing characters I'd meet. The money's just a bonus. So I am 99% sure I'm just gonna go for it... I will report back!

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: alanabit
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 07:21 AM

Go for it. Poland is not the richest country in Europe, so you will not be expecting four star hotels and Ego Ronay reccommended restaurants. You will meet some interesting people though and have the chance to learn a great deal. Good luck. I wish I was going to be there too.

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: Pied Piper
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 08:16 AM

Hi Scintilla, I've did BuskerBus twice about 6 years ago and had a great time.
The first time it was based just in Wrocùaw and some near small towns, the next year we went to Szczecin and Zieolona Gora.
The deal is (or was) that they get you a return bus ticket to Poland (from London though it actually came from Bradford), provide you with accommodation (small hotel in Wroclaw and student accommodation other places) and give you good basic food in local community centres and sometimes tickets for restaurants.
You don't get paid as such but you are allocated a Busking spot several times a day and anything you make is yours.
I went with £100 and came back with £200.

Do it you'll have a great time, broaden your horizons and meet some great people.

The only downside for me was the Bus travel to Poland (at least 24 hours from London, 31 hours back to Manchester last time)
If I did it again I would Fly, but if your tough and into acquiring a profound understanding of the North European Plain It's not all that bad.

Good luck


PP

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: GUEST,Scintilla
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 09:10 AM

Thanks PP that's really helpful! It sounds wonderful and the journey seems a small price to pay for all that fun, although I may even be able to find a cheap flight instead. Because I would be going on my own it's nice to have other people's experiences to show to my folks to put their minds at rest.

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: Pied Piper
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 06:35 AM

If you use the Bus you probably won't be on your own as usually other performers travel from the UK.

TTFN

PP

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: GUEST,Accordionista ( http://www.myspace.com/52443
Date: 30 Jun 06 - 09:06 AM

Yes, I've been three times, and it's great fun. Don't expect lots of money, or precision organisation, but if you go with the intention of meeting lots of street artists, and getting drunk on cheap beer and vodka you won't be disappointed...
Say hello to Romauld from me...

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 06:36 AM

Sounds GREAT - wish I have time and all the rest, to go too

(can I be a fly on your shoulder?)

Have Fun - PLEASE report back ...

Hello Alanabit, why dont you reply to my e-mails? do you like the jokes?

Jo-Jo
([e-mail])

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: open mike
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 11:07 AM

our mudcatter Marion did this on her own in the U.S.
there is a bus pass available fro unlimited travel
and she visited a lot of different places in the U.S.
while busking her way around the country. The bus
pass is not available to U.S. citizens or residents.

This Polish busking...is it for local artists from
Poland, or for artists from other countries? I should
think the local artists would get first choice. I
hope the gov't there is able to support their artists.

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 02:26 PM

I just got back from Poland in the wee hours of yesterday morning. We had a final dinner on the market square in Krakow, and I heard a wonderful accordion busker playing Bach's "Great" Toccata and Fugue. I came across far fewer buskers in Krakow this year, than I saw there last year. Maybe there's a busker shortage there, huh? Prices are up a bit from last year, but you can still get a pretty good pint of beer for about 3 zloty, equivalent of a US dollar.

The best traditional music I encountered was in Zakopane in the Tatra mountains - not many non-local buskers there, though. The local music has interesting harmonies - they almost sound like the Bulgarian harmonies popularized by La Voix Bulgare.

Poland's a wonderful place to visit, and I really enjoyed taking my Polish-American wife there to explore her roots.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: GUEST,Romuald "BuskerBoss" Poplonyk - Poland
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 05:29 PM

Hi, Buskers from the World! My name is Romuald Poplonyk, organiser of the International Festival of Steet Art "BuskerBus". This year (2006) will be 10th Festival from 01 till 10 of September, in Wroclaw, Olesnica and Warszawa. I invite you. If you are interested - write me a message:
Hope to see you - Romuald

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: alanabit
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 07:47 AM

Welcome Romuald. Any chance of telling us how to contact you?

Subject: RE: BuskerBus
From: GUEST,jo
Date: 15 Jul 06 - 06:02 AM

www.buskerbus.com :)