Everyone is used to the sight of buskers on high streets looking to make a little extra cash, but busking is also a great way to get more gigs and promote a band’s talent.
Whilst there are undeniable costs such as travelling to the town/city you’re playing in, busking is usually worth it. Most musicians can earn between £10-£15 per hour (find out more about how much you can earn busking) over a busy weekend and it’s not unheard of for musicians to be offered gigs by people on the street off the back of their performance.
It’s not uncommon for promoters, venue owners, brides & grooms-to-be and others to offer buskers gigs based on street performance – especially if you manage to draw a crowd!
Choosing the right busking songs
It’s considered to be a basic fact of busking that everybody likes (and often pays for) the songs they know.
However, whether you’re a solo performer or playing as part of a band, you may find that improvising an upbeat groove will also attract a crowd.
This is often the case with jazz ensembles that can improvise with different musicians taking solos.
When choosing the right songs to busk, musicians should consider where they will be performing.
For example, a quiet and slow ballad is unlikely to work on a busy street but it may perfectly suit a busy subway through which people walk on the way home from work.
Similarly, the general public does not tend to enjoy music played at an excessive volume – the end goal should not to be intrusive.
In terms of artists to cover, a wide selection from the past 4 decades will cater for all ages of passersby.
Playing standards of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and The Beatles as well as contemporary chart pop songs is likely to earn money rather quickly.
However, people may be more interested if you can play a unique version of a popular song rather than a straightforward cover.
Nowadays, any passerby with a phone has the potential to be your new personal PR machine by posting videos online.
Some classic examples are the likes of Kiddo Kat & Heidi Joubert’s cover of “Kiss” by Prince (Featuring a random stranger!) or Mr Reed (who drums and sings on the NYC subway) whose videos have resonated so much with people that they ended up viral, racking up over 1 million views!
The need for a license
In most areas of the UK, you do not require a licence to busk. However, there may be bylaws and council guidelines around where and when it is permitted (especially if using amplified equipment) and how long you can stay in one place.
You also need to be mindful of volume levels.
The best way to look up the guidelines in the area you intend to busk in is by checking with the local authority. You can search for the local authority using this section of the Gov.UK website, or you can look up the busking policy on google.
Guidelines for some popular busking cities:
Some boroughs of London may have different advice to other parts of the country. For example, in Westminster, you may have to apply for a licence to busk. The Musicians’ Union offers advice and other sources of information.
It’s also important to draw a line between busking and street trading, as the latter requires a licence. If you are promoting CDs, then it’s seriously advisable to make them subject to a ‘suggested donation’ rather than a price.
You can also find out more on the Gov.Uk website here as well as the Keep Streets Live campaign site.
Get a friend to collect money for you
A well-known trick amongst regular buskers is to have a friend holding a bucket or hat, giving out business cards and encouraging members of the public to throw in a few coins.
Whilst this may seem a little too pushy to some, it is almost guaranteed to increase hourly takings.
It’s even better if the person holding the bucket can sing or play another instrument!
Not only is having a friend with you likely to increase the amount of money taken, but it’s also beneficial from a security point of view if busking at night.
Do your research on the best places to busk
Naturally, some places are going to be better for busking than others. Whilst it isn’t an exact science, the best way to research busking spots is to go out and do it and try a few different spots to see which earns you the most.
Great busking spots often include outside closed-down shops or on the corner of a busy street.
It’s also important to consider which days of the week can be lucrative and which are competitive.
Obviously, on a Saturday there is likely to be the most amount of people milling around shops, but this is also likely to attract a lot of other busking competition.
Often weekday afternoons can be great times to busk, especially on Fridays.
Another good technique is to utilise your own network of musicians. Ask your friends and bandmates where they have busked or seen people playing.
Remember – always be courteous and respectful when dealing with other buskers!
Acknowledge your supporters
Any professional musician will tell you that being courteous is crucial when performing to the public.
When someone drops some money into your tin, look at them and say thank you. Not only is it rude not to thank your benefactors, but it’s also unlikely to entice others to part with their hard-earned cash.
A big part of busking is creating a positive, fun atmosphere in the street. Don’t ruin it by not smiling and saying thanks!
Be unique
Whether it’s in the way you dress, the instrument you’re playing or the style in which you’re performing a song, a unique busker is much more likely to win over a crowd and make money than another acoustic guitarist singing pop songs.
Like it or not, if you’re wearing something wacky, weird or just plain mad, then the public may pay more attention and potentially give you more money.
This gives bands and ensembles a chance to get rather creative and wear coordinated clothing but even if you’re just playing solo, wearing clothes which embody the style and genre of music you’re playing will give you an edge over other ‘jeans and t-shirt’ buskers.
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Do you have any useful advice for buskers? Let us know in the comments below!
