r/Busking

I make electronic music with Ableton synths and plugins, sometimes incorporating my electronic violin, bass, pedal boards and other midi controllers

Any suggestions for a battery powered PA with good sound quality that I could use for busking with just my standalone push 3 for 2 hours at a time? First hand accounts would be great

I also plan on using my electronic instruments when I have more space or wired power or a battery for them with the standalone push 3 as the main audio interface and primary midi controllers for software synths.

Some downsides of busking purely acoustic with no amplification equipment are:

- need to sing louder, project more, stresses the voice
- less dynamics because of constantly more volume
- not hearing yourself well

What are your experiences with it?

Some recommend an earplug.
Playing near walls for more resonance.
Singing resonance.

I’ve noticed a split in the busking community and I’d love to know where people here fall on this.

I have always found that having more money in the hat/case means more people give. I seed my case, and I rarely take anything out while I’m busking (exceptions for particularly large bills or particularly dodgy areas). I’ve also never used a sign that appeals to “pity” or a sense of need, like “everything helps” or “need money for _____.” Personally, I think that people are more willing to engage with buskers if they see us as performers and not as panhandlers, given the stigma surrounding panhandling, and so I try to avoid anything that would make them make that connection. I don’t care as much about my looks, but I do try not to look too scrubby when I’m out and about.

But I know others who like to clear out their hat/case frequently, to appear like they “need it more.” I’ve also seen a lot of buskers with signs that emphasize need or how little money they have. A recent post here came from someone who clearly thought it would be a bad thing for people to think that buskers aren’t poor or needy.

So, what is your strategy? Do you want to look like you need the money? Do you try to hide just how much you’re making? Do you put a “help me”/“need money” sign up? Or are you hoping that your case fills up to entice even more giving, and trying to distance yourself from that “needy” look?

I don’t think there’s a wrong answer necessarily, although again I’ve got my own opinion on the matter. What’s yours?

As someone who earns pretty good money busking (as opposed to just lying about it on the Internet) please for the love of all that is sacred stop posting how much money you earn. Whether you're telling the truth or bullshitting when non-buskers read that this information can and will discourage them from tipping in the future. Simple self preservation, man.

Any real busker would know to keep their mouth shut.

Sincerely, Someone who relies on busking to eat.

I hate them, especially if you're literally just singing to a backing track, you need to keep that shit at karaoke.

The same goes for playing an instrument to a backing track, pack it in, if you can't hold my interest without an obnoxious backing track you shouldn't be busking, go home and practice until you're good enough to play solo.

EDIT: I decided to call them. Was relatively painless. Am told a request has been put in to authorise the repeat payment function. Will update again once it's working (or not). Can confirm that the guidance on their own website is incorrect though.

Hi - Hoping someone with experience can either offer a lifeline of useful advice or put me out of my misery here.

I bought this thing a few years ago. I sing in a little vocal trio and we have a small portable PA we've taken out busking before.

When I first bought the device I could not get it set-up to take repeat payments, i.e. a punter just taps the screen to give us a set payment (£2). We did a few busks where one of us would have to manually trigger the payment whilst performing. This was obviously crap.

Stuff I'm aware of/have tried:

• I know that the repeat payment function only works with iOS devices. I have attempted to set it up using an iPhone but the app seems to offer no different functionality to what it does on my Android device.
• The instructions for setting up repeat payments (found HERE) do not match what I see in the app when using an iPhone. The only option under settings > payment settings is to set up tipping.
• I have tried ensuring that the reader software is up to date. After a bunch of back and forth between the app and the reader, the app told me the device wasn't compatible with Bluetooth or something. It definitely is compatible, as I can set up normal payments with it.
• I've found a Youtube video from 5 years ago which claims you need to contact Paypal to setup the repeat payment function (Paypal's website says nothing of the sort, but I can clearly see in his video that the repeat payment function is available to him from the cart screen).
• I've used the chat function on the Paypal website which tells me it is unable to help with my query.

I am able to call them, but I thought I'd try here first, largely because I've zero confidence in them actually addressing the issue given what I've outlined above.

Do you use a Zettle 2 for repeat payments when busking? If so, how did you get it to work?

Or did you try to use a Zettle 2 only to give up as you were swallowed by a void of hopelessness and despondency?

Thanks

But if you wanted to be a job you have to treat it like a job. You do not show up to the street as your stage if you don't have something Stage ready to play. You do not show up with a drink or water or a cigarette or a vape if you're performing. You show up with a sign and a tip jar that is clearly showing what you're doing. You are dressed like a performer, whatever that means to you. And that doesn't mean you have to wear expensive clothes, but there's something in your demeanor that shows that you're not just chilling on the street you know.

You respect the other performances around you. You do not hog stage time. You respect the police officers in the street around you and do not skip over the rules they have made for you. You do not use curse words and your performances are kid-friendly, and if they are not there is a sign that says so.

I personally limit performances to 2 hours max. I find I do not get more tips after this time anyway. Helps me keep myself in check in terms of time and makes it feel like a concerted effort at making money instead of losing time on the street.

Hope this helps! Happy playing

I’ve played for many years, I thought it might be fun to try my hand at busking.
Was curious if any other Sax players did it and if you use backing tracks or not
Thanks in advance!

I’m thinking of doing some busking for charity in the future. I just want to have a rule of thumb/feel for how people divide their money, what charity(ies) they donate to, and other stuff. Rn I’d want to donate to different drum corps because A) it’s something I enjoy and B) they can use the money for tour costs. Do yall think I have a good pick for organizations and how much of your money do you give out?

This is my first busking session after spending two weeks out in the woods, and the difference is jarring. There are so many people carrying around Bluetooth speakers and blaring them. Someone sat near my pitch for over 30 minutes waiting for his boat and had YouTube videos of some kind of military content (lots of gunshots and explosions) as loud as he could make it.

I get it, you're bored and want to watch your videos, or use the speaker phone, or just want the music that you like. It makes it so difficult for everyone else, and people like me providing live entertainment. At least the yacht that sailed by every couple of hours blaring hiphop was a Decent distance away and passed by within a minute.

A while ago someone made a post complaining about all of the people wearing headphone. I much prefer the people wearing headphones because that means people can enjoy my performance without the extra noise.

what would be the result if a world-class music producer (rick Rubin, max martin,brina eno, flood, Lanois)

picked a busker off the street and honed their strong points an create a record harnessing their world-class production skills?

would any street busker be able to get a professional record made, thusly?

Would the hit-makers elevate- the- bar and turn the BUSKER into a "Commercially-viable" recording Musicians?

Covers have never been fun for me so I mostly play some form or rock or metal, but tied for second place is psycodelic stuff and some fingerstyle stuff I wrote.

My question is along the lines of do I have to play covers or more popular/accepted genres?

I don't use lyrics in like 99% of my music, so there's definitely no screaming or anything. I just typically enjoy higher energy stuff to play.

I'm working up the courage to go on my lonesome and play. -_-

Anyone else play mostly originals or similar genres while busking?