[krissovo]

Not sure if this right forum but has anyone done this before?

The main reason I started with my guitar is because I made a list of things to do before I am 40 a few years ago and busking was on it. Anyway I have set a date and I am going to spend a day or two and a couple of evenings creating some noise pollution in Cork City in a few weeks and I need a bit of advice.

1. My Play list - Do certain songs make more money and what should I play?
2. What to wear - I was going to dress a chicken but is there a better costume to wear that will make maximum money?
3. Best time of day?
4. Best locations?
5. Any general advice or tips from personal experience?

Anything I make (or if I make anything) will go charity so there is no real pressure but I told work and they are going to do a article on the "experience" for the company magazine as its not the sort of activity that the rest of the managers get up to at the weekends.

So has anyone?

[toryst]

That is something I would love to do too!! And I have always wondered what
city statutes are on this. I have no info on it but will try to find out for ya.
Good luck and keep us posted how it progresses.

[Jean]

From what I can figure from this -

Time- Just before the school comes out, in the afternoon, just make sure there are alot of people...
Place- citys, malls, supermarkets, any popular places, etc….
Weather- Make sure the weather will hold out, at least if your in NZ ...
Play list-varies, from old folks to young... I wouldn't know!

Ok, hope that helped a bit, I've never done it and I probably never will...
Good luck!!
Jean

[BENharperROX]

Learn Ocean by John Butler Trio. He played that while he busked in Australia. Easier said then done I might add actually damn near impossible but hey its a suggestion!! Good luck though. Let us know how it goes. What else was on that list?

[allthumbs]

Some towns require a licence. Make sure you get one if needed. You need a place with high volume traffic but, also has a space that you can setup in without interfering with the flow of movement. Old standards work well. It captures their attention when they hear a song they know. Baby boomers have the most disposable income so gear a lot of your tunes for that age bracket.

[CStanton]

Krissovo,

I am in the magic community and there are many magicians who make a living busking. You could always look over their threads in www.themagiccafe.com. If you need any more help, I could send you some pdf's of busking texts for street performers.

Never taken the guitar on the streets, though. But remember, the louder it is, the more people it will attract. And you've got to decide if you want to be a player or an attraction. You could just stand and play, or have the audience help and sing along and request songs, etc.


Best luck.

-Casey

[bluesguy]

The last time I saw someone Busking it was outside a major league baseball stadium after a game. In fact I think I saw about 4 of them up and down a street that was between the stadium & affordable parking was at. Lots of people (thousands walking by) and many were willing to stop for a song & toss in a $1.

You might also check with craft shows, small county fairs, farmers markets, etc. You might have to rent a 'booth'. But if you start to draw a crowd then other people at the market might want to have you 'near them' for the spill over effect. I have seen this done at craft shows & farmer's markets here in the USA.

I suspect you need about 1 hours worth of music. Whatever you play you have to be able to nail it and draw folks in. If you can record yourself & make some CDs. You could sell them for $5 - $10. A friend of mine does this. Check out his 'extensive' library of songs at http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=157137

He gets regular gigs at little bars & eateries to play from 5-8pm. He packs them in with his own style of blues & boggie.

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by CStanton

Krissovo,

I am in the magic community

For a second there I thought you meant the real thing, instead of illusionists.

[krissovo]

Thanks Lads

I spent a lot of the weekend spying on buskers around the city and I think I have hit a bit of a formula for where I live.

During the day dress like a idiot and play simple catchy things, so here would be some Irish tunes and pop songs like take that and Westlife. The slow songs seam to do better, maybe they bring back memories of their lovers or something and really strike a cord. I will then have a break and appear at about 10:30 in the evening to locate the crowds coming out of pubs and going to clubs and play faster songs. So that is my business plan so to speak I will let you know how it goes.

The rest of my list......well here is a couple of things:

Streak a major sporting event - I have targeted the Ireland v England rugby match at Croke park next year (88,000 people) but will not be naked I will wear a joke naked suit.

Sky dive - Finished this last year, what fun!

Drive East coast to West coast (USA) on a Harley - Next summer that one

Visit every continent - Completed a few years ago, even antartica!

Then there is lots of smaller things like go to the top sporting events from the world like the Superbowl, Stanley Cup (Done), FA CUP, World Cup (Rugby), Monaco GP,Ryder Cup (Will be there this year)

Shoot a gun, rocket launcher and M60 rambo style

[krissovo]

I've done it!

I had a great day and evening and made a few euro's as well for charity. I ended up putting my Munster rugby shirt on and took advantage of the team winning the Heineken Cup last weekend. I also took advantage of the Teams home comming in Cork when 30,000 people turned up to congratulate them. I played mostly Irish songs Fields of Athenry, Stand Up and Fight (Munster rugby song), Botney Bay and a few Oasis, Coldplay etc.

I made over 200 Euro's for a Landmine charity, increased my confidence at playing in front of a crowd as well as ticking off another of my things to do before I am 40. I actually enjoyed the experience and I will do it again before to long as it does wonders for confidence.

Everyone should give it a go!

[si16]

Good on you. Congrats on giving the money to charity too. 200 euro is an impressive amount. I think I'd be petrified if I tried busking, perhaps that's all the more reason to do it.

[allthumbs]

Congrats on your success.

[BENharperROX]

what a cool story. i hope i get enough songs to be able to do that one day...!

[krissovo]

Originally Posted by BENharperROX

what a cool story. i hope i get enough songs to be able to do that one day...!

I didnt think I knew that much but if you play what you know back to back it amazed me what I actually could play. What I did was put all my tabs that I could play into a folder in those water proof covers. I then picked songs that I thought would appeal to people as they gathered, it worked at least 30% of the time. My play list ended up as follows:

Oasis - Wonderwall
Coldplay - Yellow
Neil Young - My my hey hey
Elton John - Your Song
Beetles - Help
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams
The Fields of Athenry - Irish Folk
Nivarna - Polly
REM - Losing my religion
Spancil Hill - Irish Folk
Aslan - Crazy World
American Pie
James Blunt - Your Beautiful
Wild Rover - Irish Folk
Botney Bay - Irish Folk
Gnarls Berkley - Crazy (sounds great acustic)

All of them are easy to play and a lot of the strums are similar for a lot of them. Mostly strummed with the odd small riff and all played with a pick. My best money earners that were not rugby songs were REM and Oasis.

[Misty2u]

Way to go Krissovo