i used to play open mic nights (obviously not for money, just for fun) and i used to try to mix in a few anarcho tunes from time to time, ones i remeber playing at one time or another (of course on an accoustic) were Can't cheat karma by the Zounds, Just an Error By Dirt, Why Do They Cry by Detestation, Prison and Witch Hunt by The Mob, Head Chest or Foot by Propagandhi, and a few others i don't recall, but my set usually consisted of a mixture irish drinking songs, 80's new wave, bad mainstream pop, or silly punk songs. Maybe i should try busking :0
I was chilling in frankston when somebody asked a busker if he knew how to play About a girl by Nirvana. When he started playing three people walked past and dropped $5 in his hat each. After the song the busker took $5 out of the hat and handed it to the guy who made the request and asked him if he had any other good ideas for songs. I suppose it shows that you can make some good money for playing songs that peple know, also it probably indicates that there are a lot of people in frankston who like Nirvana and have money to throw around.... Hmmmm.
Play may be too generous of a term I delve Seriously though if anyone in the orange couunty or san diego area ever wants to get togethr and make some noise let me know, though i only have acoustic instruments these days (but i do have an electric accoustic and an acoustic pickup for just about anything) maybe i should upload my old band here from when i used to play drums competently...
Yeah here in Montreal that's a real bitch. (I noticed you are also from here) Also something else that sucks is you can't busk without having a permit which you have to audition for here.
you mean in a way in which they could control which bands they would allow in a way to control what music can be played?
I kinda wanna reject the evil bosses who control the work force and just start busking...I'd probably make more money too.
2011 will be my third year of busking I've found acoustic versions of Streetlight Manifesto songs are pretty good to do, as are the King Blues songs....
My band is an acoustic band, busking is the best practice time we can have. Then after, we feed our faces, drink and smoke with the cash.
It was a Springsteen song, he just ripped of off of the Woody Guthrie song The Ballad of Tom Joad In Waterloo, they have a city-sponsored Busker's Carnival every summer, where they basically hire in a bunch of professional buskers to perform several times a day for 3 days. Last year, one of my friends and I tried busking in an alley by where they were having the carnival, and got kicked out by people running the carnival. We tried arguing that we were just "adding to the atmosphere of the carnival", but they wouldn't hear it. Stupid city-sponsored events...
Had a run in with the cops while busking just now. We were near an airport, they said we needed permits and tried to ticket us, but as luck would have it, everyone listening had our side and asked the pigs to prove it....turns out you don't need a permit.....
I read poetry on the street, though I do not busk. See, you have to have a license to busk in all the tourist areas where I live, but there's no law against holding your hat out whilst you read poetry. Its not a performance, I just like to read out loud... very loud... I don't ask for money but if someone happens to put money in my hat then I simply accept it as a gift. My band, when we still used to do comedy music, did a little bit of busking here and there but our main preference was to crash parties then plug in and play. The great thing is, we didn't really need to plan it. You'd be surprised at how many people have practise amps and guitars just lying around. If they didn't, we'd just run home and get our gear.
At the height of my performing 'career' ['01-'04], I made a decent amount of money with an underground DIY circus/variety arts troupe. We had plenty of high-energy audiences that kept coming back and it was honestly one of the best times of my life. Things changed over the years, but I still perform and occasionally make money. It's more about keeping the art alive than being 'famous' or whatever, and these days I do in tribute to those I called Family that aren't around any more. From what I've been told, those who want to do serious performing need a permit and can only do so on one specific corner, but I see people playing instruments all over the place. Tho the majority of people ignore them. Drunk college kids are the best, because they gave me money without even having to be asked for it.
I tour performing grindcore violin, but I also busk. When I play on the street I play old-time fiddle music; it's a big hit. I never get a penny when I grind though. I find that you're better off in a high-traffic area of locals than the obvious touristy areas. Also, never take breaks and NEVER play "Devil Went Down to Georgia." Don't play any corny stuff at all. If nothing else just be a symbol of freedom for a few hours. Some people rarely see one.
Well put, I really like that. Me and some other kids are going to perform around Montreal this summer, and we'll use the money to go to shows and to publish our band's demos.
I'm moving to Basingstoke, Hampshire, England at the end of the month. It'll be interesting to see what the reaction to busking is like there... my dad lives there but he says he's never seen anyone busking before. I contacted the council and asked them what the laws were regarding busking and they said I don't need a permit, I've just got to make sure it doesn't conflict with these bylaws which basically said if somebody asks me to stop I have to. Then I can just move on and do it elsewhere I guess.
