Busking

[Ludwig]

Any of you been busking on your bike tours. It is a good idea to take a harmonica or tin whistle because if you run out of money you can always raise some funds by doing some busking. The golden rules for busking are don't be too good or have a music stand or shiny new looking instruments. For tunes choose the old favourites and sing-a-long folk songs are the best rather than the pop classics. Last but not least is chose your location and times very carfefully. If you are doing it all have a good variety of tunes because you can bore the stallholders and shopkeepers if you play the same tunes over and over again.
If you are a good lively busker you could fund your bike touring entirely on the proceeds of your music. May your harmonica always be with you.

 

[TheDoctor]

Most buskers I've heard, being too good wasn't something they seemed unduly bothered with.
Buskers are only marginally less annoying than mime artists IMHO.
Don't even get me started on living statues.

 

[thistler]

If you are a good lively busker you could fund your bike touring entirely on the proceeds of your music.

If I had no kids/responsibilities I'd do this year round, touring the UK and the EU.

Most buskers I've heard, being too good wasn't something they seemed unduly bothered with.
Buskers are only marginally less annoying than mime artists IMHO.
Don't even get me started on living statues.

 

[Kleban]

......... If you are a good lively busker you could fund your bike touring entirely on the proceeds of your music. May your harmonica always be with you.

Not a bad idea .... will need to polish up my guitar playing and repertoire

 

[growingvegetables]

Not a bad idea .... will need to polish up my guitar playing and repertoire

+1

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Last night I went out for a little ''calm down'' ride along the Thames, coming back via the Greenwich foot tunnel. A flautist, presumably a student from Trinity College in the Old Naval College, was busking down there and there was an absolutely sublime acoustic where the low notes continued reverberating the length of the tunnel while the player moved on to the more melodic parts, creating harmonies from the overlapping notes. I regretted having no money on me because it was a simply beautiful experience well worth rewarding.

 

[BluesDave]

I play Harmonica but lost my mojo when my mood got good. Now that I have the blues again it's time to start playing and practising again. Scarcely has there been a more expressive instrument. Played properly it's a sublimely beautiful sound.
Couple this with a cycling tour and I could truly be in my own world out on the road.
You sir have had a wonderful idea. If I ever find myself in Wales I hope I meet you on the road.
Sadly my cycling tour will not be until next year now.
Are you perchance a member of the BBF also?

 

[DiddlyDodds]

How about get a job save money and then go on touring , that way you don't have to be sitting on cardboard prob with a dog next to you begging for money.

 

[Arch]

Most buskers I've heard, being too good wasn't something they seemed unduly bothered with.
Buskers are only marginally less annoying than mime artists IMHO.
Don't even get me started on living statues.

You must just have poor quality buskers round your way. I was in Winchester this week, and one day we were in town, and a guy was playing guitar, and as we passed he happened to break into the theme from The Third Man, and it was lovely.

He was one of three very good musicians along the High Street that day.

 

[TheDoctor]

The last busker I heard was on the Underground.
The echoey reverb wasn't adding much to his attempts to murder Wonderwall.
Actually, I have enjoyed some busking on the Paris Metro.
Jazz is hardly a traditional busking form, and I can only imagine a double bass is a bit of a bugger on escalators.
Or on a cycling tour, for that matter.
Living statues are still wrong though. That's just feckin' weird.
And...panpipes. Don't. Just don't.

 

[TheDoctor]

How about get a job save money and then go on touring , that way you don't have to be sitting on cardboard prob with a dog next to you begging for money.

Now that's just plain ridiculous, so I can only assume you're trolling.
Have you ever tried getting a dog into panniers???

 

[BluesDave]

How about get a job save money and then go on touring , that way you don't have to be sitting on cardboard prob with a dog next to you begging for money.

I have a job. I have my own business. My Missus is a teacher. Perhaps I am not touring now because I have responsibilities and am saving up for my families Christmas holiday. Music is a gift ifyou do not have that in your heart, mind and soul regardless of wether you play an instrument or not what do you have.
In times gone by travelling troubadours would entertain whole villages when they stopped off and would be rewarded with food, drink and stories which they would pass on at their next stop. It fostered a sense of wider community. I fail to see what was or is wrong with that.
To hear one has only to listen. I don't see every busker as a Tennants Super swilling junkie living off the backs of others for nothing.
If you do then thats very sad.
Who do I think I am? Someone who has lived and lost more than most and less than most.

 

[thistler]

To hear one has only to listen. I don't see every busker as a Tennants Super swilling junkie living off the backs of others for nothing.
If you do then thats very sad.

Aye, I wholeheartedly agree. I believe every musician has something to offer, but if you dismiss them as 'bad' you will never hear what it is.

Busking is a fantastic opportunity for musicians to gain confidence and experience while also getting immediate feedback from the public. If you don't like them, by all means walk on by. I have spent many a happy hour being entertained by street musicians, and have been more than pleased to contribute something for their efforts.

 

[Dayvo]

Living statues are still wrong though. That's just feckin' weird.

I bet you're still terrified of clowns, as well!

 

[srw]

Aye, I wholeheartedly agree. I believe every musician has something to offer, but if you dismiss them as 'bad' you will never hear what it is.

If you believe that you'll never develop as a critic of music - or as a musician (all the best musicians are very good critics). Some musicians are simply terrible. Many are seriously over-rated or inexplicably popular. A few aren't very good but are still worth listening to. Even fewer are seriously talented and actually have something meaningful to offer.

I believe we had a similar discussion after the death of Amy Winehouse.

[edit]
As for buskers - most are simply terrible.