Bill is right. I remember mafia coming to me in the tub in London, offering protection "I should accept or else"!!
Meanwhile, I also know that there is no good or bad spots. If you play well and people like your style, they will give you money. If they do not find you at your usual place, they will keep an eye open for you and then, give you the coins (or notes).
Few tips are: smile, but not to people. I far as I know, never look directely at people, unless you start to chat them up. You'd better fix your "imaginary friend" who is walking in the street while you're busking.
Don't look at pretty women unless they're alone, and don't be insistant.
You may meet people who come in front of you and start to play loud. Do not get cross. Just move 50 yards away and play again.
A nice thing is to play in front of a store: you can ask the permission of that store: two advantages: you've got good relation with the store and you can play on the store street area where Johnnies can not charge you with heavy fine because you're busking.
Never sart with an empty basket. Put inside few of your coins.
Don't let your basket fill up. It is better that you take the money off, just let 2 or 3 bucks. I know that some people will tell you that people give you money if they see your basket is going to be full, but that also incitates some other people to empty your basket while you're busy looking somewhere else.
Don't blow to hard into your harmonica: you will not hear you well, but audience will without problems. So, do not play to loud. If you do not manage to hear yourself, wear a hat, it will help you to have a kindda feedback and you will hear yourself better.
Work on the tone, not on the volume.
You can also hire a foxy girl to handle your basket around while you're playing. It works pretty well. And if it does not work well, hey, you still have the pretty girl... (sorry! I'm french ya know! ;-D
Froggy
Bill Hines <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I'd hate to think I was taking money from some other street performer who was doing it to really survive, just for the challenge. So I'd look for an environment where there are no such persons, or maybe if I was doing this "for the challenge", at the end of the day I'd turn over my take (or some portion) to them if I felt comfortable they weren't going to just blow it on booze or junk.
PS I know, I've seen the "60 Minutes" spot about how some of these "street performers" are pulling in six figures! But some are really doing it as a means to live/survive.
You're going to have to check with the local police I would say. Some spots that come to mind are New Orleans, Key West, the Wharf in San Fran, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, etc. You are also going to have to be able to deal with the inevitable "turf" issues as a newcomer on any scene. These folks have well defined and well-staked out spots. Often, they pay for them and "protection" from illicit sources. Sounds like fun, but be careful out there.
-----Original Message----- From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David R. Fertig Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 3:27 PM To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx Subject: [Harp-L] BUSKING
Around 1970-76, while I was mostly on - or nearly on - the street, I would often make money on the street by playing some pretty poor harp, I guess it was a step up from panhandling. I would also at times do simple street theater, again, a step up from panhandling. Okay, I'll admit I did some panhandling too. Hey, I was 14, what were my choices?
Now, 30 years later, I am contemplating taking a hat and some harps to the street, mostly for the challenge (certainly not for the money, thank goodness!) and to maybe learn something about me, my playing, and what the "street" is like, thirty years later.
Many of you know about busking in today's climate, it's been so long for
me, but I am becoming tempted to go try my hand at it. I sure play better now, anyway.
So, what about it, anybody got advice, warnings, location ideas, legal info (for Pasadena California, Paris France, and anywhere else?), styling hints and spare hats? OK, forget the styling hints, I'm beyond saving. . .
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