So, for me, busking (translation: playing music on the street for money) is a big mystery. You see a guy out on the street playing his guitar or squeezing his accordion and you don't know if he's (1) a professional musician out slumming, (2) a bum desperate for a buck or (3) the traveling type who's just out for a good time. I would fall somewhere between (2) and (3). But the biggest mystery is, how much money can that guy actually make busking? You see a few coins in his guitar case; has he put them there himself? Has he already culled out the big bills?
The mystery springs from the numerous unknowns involved. The busker thinks to himself, how good am I? Are people actually listening to me? If I were better at my instrument, would I necessarily make more money or is it basically arbitrary because people only give you their spare change anyway?
These questions arose from my two first busking attempts last week at a Munich subway stop. In roughly one and a half hours over two days, I made ca. €7.50. I was playing Irish tunes on my fiddle, at a spot where the acoustics were good and the foot traffic was considerable. Both times someone stopped to talk to me and give me their contact information, both musicians. Both times kids dropped some of their parents' money into my fiddle case and then waved at me when they moved on. At other times I felt like the pigeons were my best listeners and all they were contributing were droppings, and by that I don't mean money that you drop.
Rather than answering any queries or clearing up any mysteries, my own forays into busking only created more question marks, along with a desire to count the meager change in my fiddle case for the tenth time. Hopefully some insight will come my way: Can you make good money busking? Is there a wrong and a right way to busk? Is it too frustrating in the long run or will I be able to learn to enjoy it? I'll let you know tomorrow, right now I'm off to the subway stop...
4 comments:
Hi Gabe! I cannot offer busking tips from the standpoint of a busker, having never tried that (I've played my dulcimer quietly at recent renaissance faires, to accompany my wife's wool-spinning, but mostly to draw attention to the tent.) However, as an occasional-paying audience, I can suggest what makes me offer money or conversation with the performer... you should come up with a musical quirk that makes you stand out from the crowd, and you should smile and make eye contact with the audience such that you are approachable, and pick a place/time where people can linger a little and aren't in a hurry to run by. Those are my thoughts... I think that the contact information from other musicians may pay off (in friendship and concerts) much more than a few coins in your hat... encourage people to talk with you! Have fun stories in your pocket to entertain with.
ttfn,
Drakonis
I'd recommend farmer's markets, 'homespun' types of fairs, or any event where large crowds gather. Try to find a place where the foot traffic will pass by you.
When I first started busking in foot traffic, I found some comfort in that if I made any blunders, the folks who might have noticed were gone in a moment. :-) And, farmer's markets are often good for some free cherries or veggies on top of coins.
Some young lads ripped me off once, by dipping into my case acting like they were dropping in a coin. After that, I added a little jar that made it more difficult to swipe.
The advice above about making a connection is a good lesson. Eye contact, a funny hat, something in your case to catch people's eye... are good to increase the number of people who notice you. I think standing up is good, although sometimes it's good to sit at 'kid' level.
Short version: there are good and bad busking days, but the more people who pass you, the more money you'll get.
Hi Gabe. Although foot-traffic is crucial you also need to have a think about what these people are up to - if they are passing through on their way to or from work the chances are they are in a hurry and might enjoy the music but not be in the right frame of mind to listen and make a donation. Have a think about your own experiences of passing by where a busker is and what you were up to when you made a decision to give or go by. Then see if you can find a place and a time where people will mostly be likely to be in that frame of mind.
Things that help me:
1. Get your tone as sweet as you
can tolerate and still call yourself Old Time. A rough
tone only appeals to aficionados.
2. Make sure your intonation is
scrupulously good.
Remember you are in the middle
of a hotbed of violin knowledge and playing.
3. Vary the tempos with waltzes, slow tunes, and an occasional jig.
O'Carolan tunes are pretty easy,
and have a lot of appeal.
They are right on the border between Irish and Classical,
and might have some appeal with
people who are into either of those.
4. Throw in some recognizable tunes. This may be less effective in Munich than in the US,
but over here, Eighth of January, Arkansas Traveler, Buffalo Gals, Chicken Reel,
Golden Slippers, Old Joe Clark, Pop Goes the Weasel, Redwing, Sailor's Hornpipe, Tennessee Waltz, and Turkey in the Straw are all tunes
that have a lot of recognition value with American audiences.
If it were me playing in Munich,
I would add a few old German tunes
I like, like "Muss i denn", "Du, Du, Liegst Mir Im Herzen" "Unterlander's Heimweh",
etc. Preferably stuff that resembles Old Time, but has local recognition value- especially if
you see grey hair in the audience.
Young people are more adventurous,
and might be attracted to something foreign.
Whatever you play, play it with
emotion- make the fiddle sing, talk, laugh!
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