Busking? Worth the effort?

sawyer

Out of work at moment:(. Got enougth cash saved up to keep me ticking over for awhile, but just wondering if anyone done any busking for beer money etc? Is it worth the effort? Thinking lightly amped acoustic stuff to not be one of those overbearing tw4t5. I live near Durham city so this would probably where I would inflict myself on people. Probably just a mad pie in the sky idea but thought I'd ask your experiences.

viz

Only one way to find out!

Wonky

You may well need a license for that.

tony99

Wonky said:

You may well need a license for that.

otherwise it's the coppers chasing ya as you try to run away with your cymbals crashing between your knees

CMW335

I’m doing it this summer not for cash but for the fun, walk past buskers every day in glasgow and want to get involved. Plan on giving any cash made to charity or homeless person or even another of the younger buskers who are doing coz they need the cash.

sawyer

Ah yes the one man band! There used to be one in Durham. 

hotpickups

tony99 said:

Wonky said:

You may well need a license for that.

otherwise it's the coppers chasing ya as you try to run away with your cymbals crashing between your knees

Lol I had to chuckle at that image you conjured up for me lol

LastMantra

I've been thinking about this too. 
I was told that I should check with the police to make sure that where I'm planning to do it is suitable and make sure I'm not going to get into trouble or get in anyones way or anything. 

JAYJO

Many moons ago my friends older brother who gigged quite regularly would busk in the afternoon and play the gig in the evening usually when  palying out of town. Made Money.

SteveRobinson

One of my customers reckons he can make £1000 on a good day.

robgilmo

I busked in Barcelona once, got a lunch out of it.

thegummy

Just want to say that a lot of people hate amplified buskers and having their sound forced on them when they're just trying to go about town.

Whether that affects your decision or not is up to you, I won't say any more about it.

Just in case you might be the type who would want to avoid upsetting a lot of people but just weren't aware of the disdain.

LastMantra

I was just thinking about a small acoustic for simplicity. 

axisus

thegummy said:

Just want to say that a lot of people hate amplified buskers and having their sound forced on them when they're just trying to go about town.

Whether that affects your decision or not is up to you, I won't say any more about it.

Just in case you might be the type who would want to avoid upsetting a lot of people but just weren't aware of the disdain.

Miserable fekrz! I love to hear live music, even if it's not my kind of stuff. 

sawyer

No not wishing to be an annoyance. Like I said just an acoustic lightly amped. There's a guy plays slap bass in Newcastle Northumberland Street who's proper loud and annoying.

SouthpawMark

Bloody love buskers when they’re decent. When they’re not I’d gladly pay them to stop. There’s a guy who busks in Bond St station, and all he does for hour on end is whistle tunelessly. He’s blind so you can’t even give him a hint by walking past with your fingers in your earholes. 

Last summer by Victoria station a 4 piece band decided to give an impromptu performance. They were ridiculously good, and must have made a tidy sum, before the cops told them to do one. 

robgilmo

I love to hear Buskers in town, however, in my local town the buskers just play slow, sad songs, hello darkness, I could have told you Vincent, the streets of London, I mean , WTF? They are good but FFS pick it up a little.

thegummy

axisus said:

thegummy said:

Just want to say that a lot of people hate amplified buskers and having their sound forced on them when they're just trying to go about town.

Whether that affects your decision or not is up to you, I won't say any more about it.

Just in case you might be the type who would want to avoid upsetting a lot of people but just weren't aware of the disdain.

Miserable fekrz! I love to hear live music, even if it's not my kind of stuff. 

There are probably things you don't like that others love. You probably wouldn't want those things forced on you, doesn't make you miserable.

Shrews

Don't think you can just go and busk without a licence? I've even heard that in these parts you also have to be 'vetted' by shop owners to see whether you're good enough and that you'll play the music they find suitable. No rough old version of Anarchy In The UK round here, but a nice, gentle Katy Melua would probably be ok.

Kittyfrisk

sawyer said:

Out of work at moment:(. Got enougth cash saved up to keep me ticking over for awhile, but just wondering if anyone done any busking for beer money etc? Is it worth the effort? Thinking lightly amped acoustic stuff to not be one of those overbearing tw4t5. I live near Durham city so this would probably where I would inflict myself on people. Probably just a mad pie in the sky idea but thought I'd ask your experiences.

Not sure what the situation is in Durham at the moment.
They did have some kind of random licensing 'Durham's got talent ' type event 
Hopefully it died an ignominious death.
Just rock up in the Market Place or similar spot, do your thing & wait to see what happens.
You can only get moved on at worst.
Thankfully busking is not yet illegal, just don't fall foul of any local byelaws relating to 'begging' by having signs asking for cash 
Fair playing to you 

fastonebaz

I went busking once with a mate whilst at uni. After a couple of hours we'd made £4.28.  Fuck that nonsense.  Mind you it was 1996 and cider was a pound a pint so it wasn't all that bad.