Etiquette and tips for busking!

Here are some suggestions that I have accumulated in my street experiences. Welcome additions and contradictions. For what it’s worth, my act is to be there playing violin tunes – I don’t bottle (directly solicit tips) or joke around, and someone with a more “showbiz” type of acting might need to do a few things differently.

CHOOSE A PLACE

1. Choose a location where it is visible from as many directions as possible. People need time to recognize what you’re doing, decide to tip you, and find it in their pockets. If they can see you for a minute before they’re in front of you, they’re much more likely to give you a clue than if they suddenly find you hiding in a doorway and only have a few seconds to react.

2. Be very considerate of the place where it is installed, to avoid confrontation and avoid disturbing passers-by. Make sure you don’t block the flow of smooth traffic to any stores, and make sure you don’t make it difficult for wheelchairs or baby strollers to pass or get on the sidewalk. Also, avoid captive audiences (ie playing right next to a restaurant with outdoor seating).

3. One exception to what I just said about captive audiences is traffic lights: choosing intersections that have traffic lights is good, because being a short captive audience gives them the time they need to decide to give you a hint.

4. Stores that are out of business or closed for the weekend are often a good place to play in front of. There is no one there to oppose you and there is often an entrance where you can leave your backpack behind you, or an awning to protect you from the sun and rain. However, don’t stay too far back at her gate; or you won’t be visible enough.

5. When choosing a part of town to busk, don’t necessarily rule out areas with less traffic, because you can often still make a lot of money there, because finding yourself there is a pleasant surprise and you’re not competing with others. beggars and other buskers from the next block or who were there yesterday. In a place in my hometown where I constantly make a lot of money, it’s not unusual for me to play a series of songs without anyone passing by. But when they come, they give me something. But on busier city streets, or in a market where busking is more common, a much lower percentage of passers-by gives me something.

6. Many cities will have a downtown area and several smaller alternative hubs, perhaps a district known for being artsy, hip, and university. I’ve found that smaller city centers are generally better than major city centers: people are happier, it’s easier to get to a corner.

7. Keep a respectful distance from other buskers, especially other musicians, but don’t necessarily let a bit of ambient music push you around. Several times I tried places that seemed perfect except for an audible radio from a nearby business, but found that I could still master the sound waves in the immediate area and still did well with tips. Obviously, if the background music is too loud or you’re too quiet, this won’t work.

8. I would choose a less than perfect spot in the shade over a perfect spot in the sun. The real secret to making money busking is patience and stamina, and you’ll have more patience and stamina if you’re comfortable with it.

9. Keeping in mind that you shouldn’t get your legal advice from Mudcat: don’t ask for permission to busk, don’t ask if it’s legal, just go ahead and do it. If someone confuses you, your line is a polite “Sorry, I didn’t know, I’ll leave now.” The guerrilla approach (not to be confused with the gorilla approach – let’s leave that to the rent cops) is simple and effective and I’ve never gotten into any real trouble with it, even in places where I knew it was illegal. (I’ve been kicked out of many places, but that’s not a real problem; a real problem is getting fined, arrested, or beaten up.)

The cliché that forgiveness is easier to get than permission is true. Besides, the only laws that matter are the ones anyone cares about enforcing. If you’re considerate of where you play, so you’re not likely to bother anyone, and you look good and sound good, chances are nobody cares enough to enforce the law.

If you are busking somewhere you suspect or know is illegal, remember the principle that “running makes you look guilty.” So if there’s a cop around, he just keeps playing like there’s no problem, don’t close your case or try to pack up fast. If he does, saying “I didn’t know it wasn’t allowed” will be much less believable.

WHILE SEARCHING

10. Noting that you shouldn’t get your medical advice from Mudcat: Mild dehydration is your friend. Available public toilets aren’t always easy to find, and it sucks to have to interrupt a good busking session, possibly losing your good spot with another busker, because you have to pee. You will need to bring a bottle of water with you, but do not overdo it.

11. Coins dropped into your box from a height sometimes bounce back. So take a quick look on the ground for any stray coins when you leave, and don’t leave your case next to a sewer grate (yes, I learned that the hard way). And while you’re at it, don’t leave your case anywhere you’ll see a lot of pigeon droppings (no, you didn’t learn that the hard way).

>12. People will ask about the lessons, so if you don’t teach, consider bringing the phone number of your friend who does.

13. Be an opportunistic bastard. If Johnny Cash dies, he goes out and plays his hits. If the Blue Jays are in the Stanley Cup Final, wear something that implies you care.

14. Exploit children. If someone with a baby or toddler stops near you, play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” If he’s a little boy, ask him if he has a favorite song; It will probably say “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” If it’s a middle child accompanied by an adult and seems interested, consider offering to try out your instrument (personally, I always keep one hand on the violin while letting a child try it out, and look at the cleanliness of their hands first).

Being kid-friendly has three advantages. One, it makes it more interesting for kids and their parents, and kids and parents are often your best customers. Two, you’ll attract the attention of unrelated passersby who want to see the cute little boy dance or try his hand at playing the violin. Three, it makes you feel like a popular missionary, giving kids the chance to hear and sample live acoustic music.

15. It’s all too common for someone to pass you once and then give you a tip on the way back, once they’ve had more time to think or gotten change at the store. What this means to you is that every time you start playing in the street, you start with a slow stretch when everyone passes by for the first time. And every time you stop busking, you lose tips from people who would have given you something on the way back. So try to start and stop less often: ie if you’re going to play for three hours in a day, you’ll probably do better in two 90-minute turns and three 60-minute turns. Also, don’t be in a hurry to leave the place when you are tired of playing. Have your rest close. It’s happened to me many times that people have approached me with advice in the fifteen minutes after I stopped playing, saying, “I heard you before.” On the other hand, sometimes people will say, “I’ll take you on the way back,” and sometimes they do, but don’t make any decisions based on these promises.

16. If there are people who stop when you finish a tune, ask them if they have a request. Even if you only know the chorus or listen to the song with some trial and error, people appreciate that you try to fulfill their requests.

17. Get out of your case (put in some of your own money) with the type of currency you want to attract. Peer pressure is a powerful force; people will look at the example of others to see if they should tip you, and if so, how much. I’ve also noticed that tips often come in groups: I go ten minutes without a tip, then four people give me something in the space of 30 seconds. I suspect this is peer pressure; seeing the first person lets others know what to do.

18. If there’s an alternative to money you’d like to receive, consider using that as well (subway tokens, Canadian Tire money, even food if you’re at a market). Some people enjoy giving a specific gift in lieu of money, and some people may suspect that you will only buy drugs if they give you money. Often people will offer a cigarette but if you smoke I don’t recommend putting cigarettes in the case to give people an idea as it will likely scare off other customers.

OTHER

19. Sometimes people steal from street musicians. There really isn’t much you can do about it, except minimize your losses by limiting the amount of money you’re allowed to collect on your case. Don’t chase a thief: to do so is to turn a nonviolent encounter into a potentially violent one, and what are you going to do anyway, with a fragile and valuable instrument in your hands? Also, keep in mind that criminals sometimes work as a team: someone getting some money may be trying to distract you so his friend can steal your entire briefcase, backpack, or spare instrument.

20. This is more of a long-term strategy, but remember that busking relies on a public, pedestrian-oriented scene. So shop at downtown storefront businesses instead of malls or retail stores where there is no public space or pedestrians, and help keep downtowns alive! Also, I think it’s good manners and good public relations to give your business to the stores you play in front of, if that’s practical.

21. Maybe this should have been advice number one: keep the faith. I know a lot of people have a lot of stage fright related to busking (sometimes more than doing concerts), and you will have good days and bad days and occasionally some not-so-nice encounters. follow him!