archetype
Fiend of Leo's
What city bit you? Did you live there, or visit?
So you want to do some busking.
- Thread starter Knows3Chords
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
What city bit you? Did you live there, or visit?
archetype
Fiend of Leo's
NYC buskers are accepted. I always carry a pocket full of ones and fives for when I hear earnestly played music, even if it isn't good. The MTA is holding auditions, right now, for subway buskers.
Seriously broken too.
Kandinskyesque
Poster Extraordinaire
The last time I busked was in 2010, I was still drinking back then.
It was an unplanned event; I'd met a young Polish couple in a pub who were heading out to busk in Ashton Lane in Glasgow and I ended up joining them for a few hours.
Despite the clientele in that area being relatively well heeled, I still had a young thug offering to slash me unless I gave him a slug of my wine.
I doubt that I could do it now sans John Barleycorn.
It was an unplanned event; I'd met a young Polish couple in a pub who were heading out to busk in Ashton Lane in Glasgow and I ended up joining them for a few hours.
Despite the clientele in that area being relatively well heeled, I still had a young thug offering to slash me unless I gave him a slug of my wine.
I doubt that I could do it now sans John Barleycorn.
billy logan
Tele-Afflicted
Sierra Ferrell on her way (8 years later) to Grammy awards
Betcha it could get discouraging out there sometimes
She made $300 busking at Pike Place Market on her 1st day in Seattle
God bless the perseverance and the spirit and the talent of Sierra Ferrell!
Last edited:
burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
I think busking is prohibited in Jacksonville. It seems to me that’s the sign of community with a stick up its collective derrière, lacking vibrancy or “joie de vivre”. Street performers add some spice and color to an area.
It seems to me that busking is a specific talent and requires a certain personality and temperament plus the ability to engage onlookers/audience.
I look at some YouTube buskers and it brings a smile to my face and a desire to be in attendance.
It seems to me that busking is a specific talent and requires a certain personality and temperament plus the ability to engage onlookers/audience.
I look at some YouTube buskers and it brings a smile to my face and a desire to be in attendance.
billy logan
Tele-Afflicted
July 2025 update. At the her Capitol Theatre, Davenport, Iowa, show, after 14 or 15 songs sung for the adoring crowd, the fire alarm sounded! The building was evacuated! Power (at least to the stage, idk, went out) No power, no problem 
Did you ever hear the story of Bre'r Rabbit???
<<<this video best shows the crowd
savingcountrymusic.com
Did you ever hear the story of Bre'r Rabbit???<<<this video best shows the crowd
Sierra Ferrell Takes Show to the Street After Fire Scare - Saving...
Sierra Ferrell's career started on the streets as a busker, singing for ragged dollars and spare change. The street is also where she ended up to conclude her performance Monday night.
savingcountrymusic.com 
Did it several years ago here in Colo Springs one Sat morning. I was curious how it’d go.
Mostly played, but sang a little.
No one made requests.
Lots of people smiled.
No one was mean or rude.
Made a little over 10 bucks in less than an hour—not terrible, especially considering this was 15ish years ago.
Mostly played, but sang a little.
No one made requests.
Lots of people smiled.
No one was mean or rude.
Made a little over 10 bucks in less than an hour—not terrible, especially considering this was 15ish years ago.
First time hearing about Sierra but listening that girl singing is very pleasant, no wonder she was doing well busking !
On the other hand, the topic video guy is anoying and as I can hear, he's very loud, people really don't like hearing guitar wanking on the street !
On the other hand, the topic video guy is anoying and as I can hear, he's very loud, people really don't like hearing guitar wanking on the street !
black_doug
Poster Extraordinaire
I’ve tried busking just once in Toronto. It was over thirty years ago, in a laneway in the Yorkville district. Me and my Yamaha acoustic. Someone came out of a nearby shop when she saw me setting up to ask me to set up somewhere else. When I asked to just give me a listen, she agreed. I got a smile from after a couple of songs and kept going.
Nowadays you need a permit. And no amplifiers allowed.
Last time I was there, a guy was out there just wailing away on his superstrat through an amp, just playing all the common rock riffs. I guess no one enforces the bylaw. And nobody was encouraging him by giving.
Nowadays you need a permit. And no amplifiers allowed.
Last time I was there, a guy was out there just wailing away on his superstrat through an amp, just playing all the common rock riffs. I guess no one enforces the bylaw. And nobody was encouraging him by giving.
39martind18
Poster Extraordinaire
I hope you-or I- ever have to!
Broken lines, broken strings
Broken threads, broken springs
Broken idols, broken heads
People sleeping in broken beds
Ain't no use jiving, ain't no use joking
Everything is broken
Everything is broken
ISmellSmoke
Tele-Holic
I busked a few times in the '90's on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco with my band - snare drum, acoustic bass and me banging away on acoustic guitar and singing. Odd how many tourists would crouch in front of us, get a picture and not put money in the case...
We usually made enough money to cover the parking ticket we'd get. Then we discovered the tie-a-plastic-bag-over-the-parking-meter trick, and it was tacos and beers all around !
We usually made enough money to cover the parking ticket we'd get. Then we discovered the tie-a-plastic-bag-over-the-parking-meter trick, and it was tacos and beers all around !
I never had any problems busking, but then being around 230 lbs might have had some influence on that.
wulfenganck
Friend of Leo's
Wow, this is depressing. The little girl gives some hope, 'though.
I did occasional busking with our duo, but we never experienced harrassment like that.
Sometimes we had to leave, because each city has different regulations - some don't allow any sort of amplification, some require a permission beforehand.
It's a bit of a drag, because if it's not the right spot and time, people keep walking without noticing.
It can be fun, but you don't make a lot of money, the best we ever achieved (after nearly 3 hours in 5 different places), was around 150,- Euro. Mostly it was a lot less, something between 30 to 60 Euro.
I did occasional busking with our duo, but we never experienced harrassment like that.
Sometimes we had to leave, because each city has different regulations - some don't allow any sort of amplification, some require a permission beforehand.
It's a bit of a drag, because if it's not the right spot and time, people keep walking without noticing.
It can be fun, but you don't make a lot of money, the best we ever achieved (after nearly 3 hours in 5 different places), was around 150,- Euro. Mostly it was a lot less, something between 30 to 60 Euro.
Silent Otto
Tele-Afflicted
Curiously, here in Slowtown, where poverty is criminalised and pan-handling is illegal, where should you feel the need to give a fiver to someone in destitution - well that's discouraged, rather they have installed parking meters for charity; here busking is not permitted.
Yet they just held a three day buskers festival. Next week the show will be down the road. A couple of local acts, but the majority are not. Spectators are encouraged through signage to tip the performers, since that is "how buskers make their living."
The "headliners" here are being "sponsored" by the giant environmental destruction conglomerate. I'm sure all the performers were being paid - everything was slick and well-managed, the local pro sound guys were there, as well as the usual suspects of food trucks and trinket sellers.
So is a professional, paid tour still "Busking"?
What should be an organic, and sometimes tragic, street performance is now commodified, sanitized for your protection ("Think of the children!") and delivered at a convenient time and place.
Yet they just held a three day buskers festival. Next week the show will be down the road. A couple of local acts, but the majority are not. Spectators are encouraged through signage to tip the performers, since that is "how buskers make their living."
The "headliners" here are being "sponsored" by the giant environmental destruction conglomerate. I'm sure all the performers were being paid - everything was slick and well-managed, the local pro sound guys were there, as well as the usual suspects of food trucks and trinket sellers.
So is a professional, paid tour still "Busking"?
What should be an organic, and sometimes tragic, street performance is now commodified, sanitized for your protection ("Think of the children!") and delivered at a convenient time and place.
Haven't done it on my own. Maybe ten (? years ago, got asked several times to help support friends who played at Farmer's Markets and the like. I didn't mind doing that, people seemed accommodating at least, polite.
One of the guys I played with was really good at it. He gigs around Georgetown (TX) these days as "Steve the Brit". Engaged well with passerbys (thanked people on the fly for tips). Talented guy, plays keys, guitar, harmonica, bass. He'd want me to sing a few songs, just so he could get a break and play sideman type stuff for him. Not my cup of tea, but don't mind helping out friends.
One of the guys I played with was really good at it. He gigs around Georgetown (TX) these days as "Steve the Brit". Engaged well with passerbys (thanked people on the fly for tips). Talented guy, plays keys, guitar, harmonica, bass. He'd want me to sing a few songs, just so he could get a break and play sideman type stuff for him. Not my cup of tea, but don't mind helping out friends.
Harmonic
Tele-Meister
Some places are better for busking than others. It's not allowed everywhere. Just get out of there before the police show up.
