This is a mini-series by guest blogger, singer-songwriter Kirk Douglass. Previously we discussed where to go and what to bring for a good busking session. Today let’s consider some things you can do to make your vibe a little more polished and also discuss a couple things that most experienced buskers will tell you are no-no's on the street. As with anything pertaining to the arts, many rules can be broken, but it's much better to learn them first in order to determine which ones should be followed. Most buskers will recommend standing. People like to know that you're really working it out there so standing helps A LOT. You'll also have more air if you're singing and mobility to move around which will really help your presence. Jam out and let them know you're working it. The more you do to excite what they're hearing the more enthusiastic they will become. These things should lend an air of professionalism to your vibe which is certainly something you want. People respect you when they know you're working hard. Busking takes time. Don't overdo it but don't be afraid to take breaks either. Often times you won't see your first tip inside of the first hour. You'll almost NEVER see twenty bucks inside of two. Take a sip or two of water between songs. Set your instrument down and check your text messages every hour and a half. Play something instrumental or something that has a long intro every twenty minutes or so if you're singing. Three to five hours is a good busking session so it's important not to burn yourself out. Interacting with passersby can be critical to your end-of-day earnings, so it's important to think about. Eye-contact, smiling, nodding, waving, saying hello, and dancing with those who dance by are all great ways to boost the likelihood of receiving a tip. Shouting out things such as crude jokes and phrases like “Gimme a dollar” or jumping into a private conversation will ruin some people's perception of you. Avoid these as it is important to maintain a good rapport with the entire community if you wish to have long-term success. Most of what we've discussed so far is subjective. In most cases these are great rules to follow but depending on who you are and what you play some will make less sense than others. There is however one rule that, no matter who you are, you should follow at all times: Respect your environment. To quote Egon Spengler (Ghostbusters): “Don't cross the streams... It would be bad.” In good areas there will be bars or storefronts playing music as well as other buskers. If you can hear them, move down. I cannot stress this enough. If two pieces of music can be heard simultaneously, they both sound bad. If there is a panhandler standing give him/her some berth. Twenty to thirty feet should suffice. This just comes down to a matter of respect and community. Entrapment is another thing to avoid. Pay mind to restaurants with patios and sidewalk seating. Some diners may appreciate your entertainment but there will always be the possibility of those who do not. If they're having a meal, unfortunately, your vibe could ruin it for them no matter how talented you may be. We don't want to do that so it is important to give a wide berth. Once you feel ready to venture forth and conquer the street music scene, finding your own approach is the next step, so get out there and start playing! You'll find there are tons of little things you can do to affect how people perceive you. Everything from how you're dressed to what's on the ground around you contributes in some way to you as a whole busker. We'll talk about that more soon enough. ♫ Kirk Douglass Stay tuned for Part 3 of this blog mini-series!
For more information about Kirk Douglass, visit kirkdouglass.bandcamp.com by clicking here.
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This is a mini-series by guest blogger, singer-songwriter Kirk Douglass. Let's talk money. One of the first things people say when we begin to find ourselves in our instrument is “Open up the case and make a couple bucks!” Many of us are familiar with the proverbial subway singer but how does one go about becoming a troubadour? If you think it sounds easy, you're mostly right. First things first: "Location, location, location." Finding a good spot is nearly as important as knowing how to play your instrument, perhaps even more so when it comes to busking. Many people will toss you a buck simply because you're doing something productive. They won't, however, go out of their way to do so in most instances, so knowing how to spot a good place will go a long way in helping you to come home with a nice, jingling pocket. Foot traffic is key. You want to set yourself up where people are walking. The best places are leisure locations. Restaurant rows, movie theaters, venues, and shopping plazas generally have a steady flow of pedestrians, most of whom have expendable income which they are already intending to spend that day, so they may think "What's another dollar or two?" Business districts and transit stations generate plenty of foot traffic but these locations are often noisy and the people are just trying to get to work. They're looking to make money, not give it away. Also, the excess noise will make it difficult for you to be heard. Your dynamics matter, and if you intend on doing this often, blasting your sound as loudly as possible could cause your technique to decline, or worse: if you're singing as well, you could damage your vocal chords. A nice portable system is perfect for this scenario but that's a topic for another time. Once you've found a good location it's time to pick out a good spot. Try to get there fifteen or twenty minutes early. Walk around the area and see which side of the street people tend to be walking on more. You want to be where they are. Listen for noise, some stretches will be noisier than others. Finding a nice quiet spot will ensure that people hear you clearly and can appreciate your sound. The better they can hear you, the more likely they are to tip. Finding a wall to set up in front of will help with a little resonance giving you a little more "sonic" bang for your buck. Now that you know what you're looking for in a spot, you should do a quick check to make sure you have everything you need. Obviously you need your instrument and everything that you need to play it. A tuner, extra strings, a strap, and multiple picks if you use them. Try to find a nook or place on your guitar to stash an extra one while you're playing, in case it flies out of your hand. This way you can grab the spare and land your next chord in rhythm, skipping a beat or two if need be. Have faith that no one will notice. If you're already beginning to work as an artist, you should absolutely have a sign with you as well. Your name, your website, and your contact information should all be included in the design. Even if you're not really developing as an artist just yet or don't intend to, a simple thank you is a nice touch for your receptacle. You will need a receptacle. Different buskers use different things for receptacles. Anything from a hat to your instrument case to a little cup are all great receptacles, although most buskers would recommend using your instrument case. It's one less thing to carry and it just has that vibe to it. Tossing a couple of bucks of your own into the receptacle before you start helps people to realize what you're doing out there so don't be afraid to try doing that. Armed with the knowledge of where to go and what to bring it's time to get out there and start making money in one of the funnest ways possible. Busking is pretty straight forward. You stand on the street. You play music. However, there are some do's and don'ts to busking. ♫ Kirk Douglass Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog mini-series!
For more information about Kirk Douglass, visit kirkdouglass.bandcamp.com by clicking here. |
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