Busking is a time-honored way to get your playing out there. There are several folks here on SOTW that busk. Just do a search, and you'll find some great stories/advice.
Trying to get a "gig" playing on the street...
Hello Folks,
Just to let you know that I've turned in an application to play on the sidewalk of the Brea Promenade (that's in Brea, CA for you non-locals). I've seen people perform there who are just okay (a lot of folksy, yuppie Bob Dylan types), I'm hoping that after they evaluate my video clips (check out www.myspace.com/chrissantossax if you haven't seen it) that I'd get the permit. I'm planning on playing some mellow tunes with a guitarist. It's unpaid, mind you, but I feel like I'm gonna get so hurt if I don't get this.
Just to let you know that I've turned in an application to play on the sidewalk of the Brea Promenade (that's in Brea, CA for you non-locals). I've seen people perform there who are just okay (a lot of folksy, yuppie Bob Dylan types), I'm hoping that after they evaluate my video clips (check out www.myspace.com/chrissantossax if you haven't seen it) that I'd get the permit. I'm planning on playing some mellow tunes with a guitarist. It's unpaid, mind you, but I feel like I'm gonna get so hurt if I don't get this.
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Good luck with that. Are you allowed to play for tips?
I have considered busking on Kirkwood ave. (where all the bars are) in Bloomington, but it is a long way from my dorm to carry a sax...
I have considered busking on Kirkwood ave. (where all the bars are) in Bloomington, but it is a long way from my dorm to carry a sax...
Busking can really surprise you sometimes. I did a warm weekend around Christmastime in the park last year and nabbed about $100.
Yeah you can have a tip jar and even sell your CD's. It's a popular place for street performers, nice decent crowd at a safe, almost family-oriented environment.Martinman said:Good luck with that. Are you allowed to play for tips?
I have considered busking on Kirkwood ave. (where all the bars are) in Bloomington, but it is a long way from my dorm to carry a sax...
And they say students are LAZY!!! :twisted:Martinman said:but it is a long way from my dorm to carry a sax...
Don't worry, Martinman, i'm pretty flippin lazy and i don't even have the excuse that i'm a student..
It's about a 15-20 minute walk, and I walk fast. I may try it this Friday if I have nothing going. I'm thinking head out at about 8:00 to catch the first part of the crowd...RootyTootoot said:And they say students are LAZY!!! :twisted:
Don't worry, Martinman, i'm pretty flippin lazy and i don't even have the excuse that i'm a student..
Wow, you're fast--which dorm?Martinman said:It's about a 15-20 minute walk, and I walk fast. I may try it this Friday if I have nothing going. I'm thinking head out at about 8:00 to catch the first part of the crowd...
Back when I was barely a teenager, a friend and I went out one saturday just before Christmas and busked in front of the Eaton Center in Toronto, playing simple Christmas tunes from an ancient book... We EACH got well over a hundred bucks in about three hours of playing! I don't know whether it was the fact we were kids, or it was the holidays, or that it was fridgid cold and people were sympathetic, or what, but was awesome.
Pete
Pete
Forest. No, it is not an all girls dorm any more.hakukani said:Wow, you're fast--which dorm?
Geez, I ain't THAT old. Yeah, Forest is a ways from the top of Kirkwood. I lived even furthur in the what used to be the 'married student' housing directly across the street from Mama Bears.Martinman said:Forest. No, it is not an all girls dorm any more.
Back in the late 80's I played the streets of San Francisco. I mostly remember the bums and wackos that gave me a hard time. The other musicians were also brutal defending their territory and other sax players would get catty, "You sound great ! Can you pull out a little?" It was interesting to say the least.
Lots of heart in your playing,good all around sound,hang on to it,good luck with whatever gig you do,tony
I only ever tried busking once. It was one Christmas in the early 1980s at Tooting Bec Tube Station (South London)
I was there for less than 15 minutes when an official came up the escalator and told me to "Clear off!".
I collected about £5 in tips which was a pretty good hourly rate at that time.
I'd love to try busking again, once I get my chops back.
I was there for less than 15 minutes when an official came up the escalator and told me to "Clear off!".
I collected about £5 in tips which was a pretty good hourly rate at that time.
I'd love to try busking again, once I get my chops back.
My old band used to busk every Saturday in London or the surrounding towns. We had a sign in the double bass case saying- "take a business card" and used to get virtually all our gigs this way. Very low hassle way of getting some pretty well paid gigs- plus busking iwth a full band, if you're selling CDs, is a good payer in itself. A full day was hard work but well worth it...
Tooting Bec was my manor in the early 80's - had I known you could earn £5 in 15 minutes I probably would have gone and busked in the opposite exit to you..........we could have then gone down to the King's Head to spend the proceeds!Vince said:I only ever tried busking once. It was one Christmas in the early 1980s at Tooting Bec Tube Station (South London)
I was there for less than 15 minutes when an official came up the escalator and told me to "Clear off!".
I collected about £5 in tips which was a pretty good hourly rate at that time.
I'd love to try busking again, once I get my chops back.
The double bass player, guitarist and singer/harmonica player in a band I used to play with used to spend Saturday afternoons in Covent Garden (London) in the 80's - they would often take what at that time were very large amounts, often way better than any official gig would pay. The downside was being moved on by the police and dealing with drunks, although sometimes they added to the entertainment............nachoman said:My old band used to busk every Saturday in London or the surrounding towns. We had a sign in the double bass case saying- "take a business card" and used to get virtually all our gigs this way. Very low hassle way of getting some pretty well paid gigs- plus busking iwth a full band, if you're selling CDs, is a good payer in itself. A full day was hard work but well worth it...
One year me and some friends did a really cool Christmas set. We had Trumpet/Alto sax/Baritone/Clarinet. We walked around Naples in so calif and made like 300 bucks!!!!!!!!! It was cold though. I remember we had these little Salvation Army books that were really cool. I wish I still had those.
is it just me or is that the Non-sequitur of the day? I guess it's all relative, or maybe he meant cold as in cold hard cash? :lol:playitfunky said:. We walked around Naples in so calif ... It was cold though.
One of my professors was in the all-girls Forest when she was here, and she is only 35. You know what dorm I am talking about right - not Foster, Forest? Mother Bears is between Forest and Kirkwood. Forest is on 3rd street, behind Reed.hakukani said:Geez, I ain't THAT old. Yeah, Forest is a ways from the top of Kirkwood. I lived even furthur in the what used to be the 'married student' housing directly across the street from Mama Bears.
I think they call your place West End apartments now.
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