Busking .

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Has anybody ever busked ?
I guess it's more of a tradition outside of the USA , tho there's some of it here in SF !
I suppose the performing , " on "-ness demanded by busking would be , at least one would think , the polar opposite of Aspie withdrawness ! !! !! !! !!

I've seen a lot of it on the streets and in the subways here in Boston too. I've never tried it since I don't play any musical instrument or sing, but it does seem like a nice living -- no boss, no coworkers unless a group of you play music together, no set schedule (again, unless you're in a group), out in the fresh air, etc. As long as you can afford to go to a better climate for the winter, or take the winters off, it seems very appealing.

what the heck is busking?

Hi, ShadesOfMe. Busking, I believe, is playing music and possibly singing along while sitting on the sidewalk or in a bus/subway station, with the case for the instrument left open for donations. It's a way to try to make a living without the hassle of having a boss, coworkers or a rigid schedule, although you probably need to hit the commuter rush hours to make enough to live on. I think it's a British word...I learned it when Brian Jones, now deceased guitar player for the Rolling Stones, claimed the best time of his life was when he was a Busker. If I'm wrong, hopefully someone will correct me.

You are correct.
The street musicians you see playing for the public and receiving donations from that audience are indeed busking.
It seems to be fairly common in California although more common in certain areas of course like San Francisco in places where the population gathers in large numbers.

The subways of both New York City and Helsinki are full of it. There are even acrobatic kids who do their act in the aisles of moving subway trains in New York. Years ago there was a very tall character on the New York streets who draped himself in a garment made from an army blanket. He played a wind instrument and called himself Moondog.

Busking can be any talent, not just being a musician.

I could never do this. I am confident and competent onstage but this is a whole other level.

.em

Busking... yip

you can do anything... lol.. usually you want to get money..

you could be a comedian... a ranter... a anythinger..


yip many things you can do... usually with a container to catch money... And on the streets / corners are good

I havent tried yet... LOL...

but thought about doing it with signs like "IM a student" on cardboard lol sitting etc.. should get some money lol
funny huh... People will relive etc... hmmm

Some cities are more buskie tolerant lol accepting / giving

I think cities with a lot of commuters who walk into town is best Cities like wellington in new zealand
Its very built up and has a lot of art and cafes etc more than new york per capita hehe New Zealand the place to be haha....

well here in my home town we hold an international busking festival....

check it out :

opps got distracted writing the subject for last post

heres the link : www.worldbuskersfestival.com/


heres the videos etc http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/0a26535.html

There are lots of them in London - although I believe you do have to ask the council before you get going. I like them as long as people do something original and don't just play 'Wonderwall' on their acoustic guitars over and over. The thing of painting yourself silver and standing very still for a long time has also been over-done.

RAGGED MAGIC

He appeared
Tall and thin
Tall and thin with a grin.
An ironic smile, with guile
To permit an opening. Friendly enough
So that approach might coach
In anticipation a reciprocal
Appreciation.

I saw him in the subway station.
No one else about.
In this city late at night he might,
Considering his dress
Evoke panic, shouts, distress.
But no.
He seemed harmless enough
Made of funny friendly stuff.

"Hello," he said. Shook his head.
"Sorry about those." Indicated ragged clothes.
"I am, in this moment, at these dates,
In dire financial straits".
"I am", one eyebrow rose, "a magic man."
He pinched his nose. "I can produce wonders."

He curled his thumb, touched his chin
To indicate he would begin.
I heard distant thunders.

"Watch!", he said, and a red
Balloon popped out from his palm.
Without a qualm he twitched his nose.
The balloon arose.
But on his toes he poked the thing.
It sprouted, first, one wing, then another.
Tweeted. Then flew down the tunnel.
"Look!", he cried, produced a funnel, out from which
Poured golden streams. He grinned and from his eyes
Sprang glowing gleams. I leaped back.
With a "crack!" he shook his beard
And disappeared!

I peered behind a nearby post.
There he stood, most delighted
At my surprise.
He winked his eyes.
I wished him luck.
Gave him a buck.

My cousin and I have busked together.
This is when we were only 11 years old [yes, we are the same age] and I played the keyboard and he played the guitar...and we did a duet on the keyboard. We didn't get very much money but actually managed to get an auidience which was kind of cool.
Originally I didn't want to do it but my cousin wanted to buy a video game, so I decided to do it for the experience while he for the money haha.

I busk!

It is so much fun! I play viola (therefore my username). I live in a pretty small quasi-hippie college town, and we have a farmer's market when the weather is warm. I play Bach cello suites, and random pieces from the Suzuki viola rep, and fiddle tunes on occasion.

There are two important things to do when you are busking. First, smile and try to make eye contact with everyone. Small children count under this. I cannot count the number of times that I have gotten money because someone's kid was interested in my playing. The other, if you are a musician, is don't play too many slow pieces. Most people don't stop and listen, although if you are really lucky you can get a small crowd of maybe five or so, so you are trying to grab people's attention as they are walking by. Think about what would sound good if you could only hear five seconds of it. Also it can be useful to play really over played songs. For me these are Humoresque by Dvorak, Hungarian dance no 5 by Brahms, and the Prelude to the Bach cello suite no 1.

Viva la Bratsche!

wise words viola

haha...


yea what do peolpe like listening to for 5 minutes/secs and agree children can be a real gold digger



lol

for the busker giving yea...

maybe go as a funny clown ??????????????????

or hmmm.... costume.... sounds funny noises etc..... hand actions.....

hmm... "go tell your mummy u should give this guy some money "...?

lol.

In London, busking isn't allowed in the underground. There is also a fine too. The signs are everywhere. My mother didn't know what the word was but I figured it meant people playing instruments and getting money. Busking must be a British term?

Americans use it too, althouh the origin may be brit.