How to Busk | Salvation Is A Pop Song

How to Busk
22nd
December

Posted by Tom Senkus on Dec 22, 2008 in

1) You're gonna need an instrument. If you've got chutzpah, you can sing a capella. Bless your black heart.

2) You're gonna need some songs. Go with covers that "cover" the gamut: Led Zeppelin for the frat boys, Simon & Garfunkel for the old hippies, Mountain Goats for indie hipsters, and "Freebird" to satiate the hecklers. The Bob's usually work--Dylan and Marley. Originals tend to get one of two responses--"Who wrote that?" or "Play something I know". Usually, the latter.

Now, if you play this genre know as, uh, jazz (I never heard of it either), you can noodle around, quote a melody of popular songs, and just play sssssssslllloooowwwwww... Know your standards because everyone knows "My Bloody Valentine". Brass players who need to save their lip's stamina should go the Miles Davis method--you're gonna be out there for hours, so save those high-notes!

Don't be afraid to play extended sections, change keys for dramatic effect (if you're in G, go to A!). Improvise by combining different sections from your musical vocabulary. For example, I've used The Venture's "Pipeline" as a segue to Dick Dale's version of "Miserlou", which dovetails nicely into The Misfit's "Hollywood Babylon". With an ensemble, this gets a bit trickier, but this isn't live performance--messing up in good humor with an apt crowd tends to go over well. Its good to know some jokes--"I'm like an amputee when it comes to holding a note!"

ADDED NOTE: Also, the odder the instrument, the less you have to play! Washtub bass? Just thump! Musical saw? Narrate your own avant-garde live-action film. Be prepared for someone to stop and say, "woooowwwwww, what is that?" Then you stop, act friendly. If they don't offer you a gig with their hippy jam band, then you should get a buck or two.

3) Drink something alcoholic. Pregaming is essential. Not only is it liquid stage-fright reducer, but it keeps you warm and gregarious. No one likes Mr. Emo-boy's ballads of The One That Got Away and wrist-cutting. Think New Order, not Joy Division!

Marijuana tends to ratchet up the difficulty factor. Not only does paranoia tend to cut short your efforts, but forgetting lyrics tends to really put a damper on playing a song.

4) Pick a time and a location. Business districts tend to be good, but late-night uninhibited revelers have deeper pockets. Lunchtime spots for office workers tend to bad, the psychology being that a sense of entitlement mixed with your oh-so-liberated occupation causes resentment.

More kid-friendly spots tend to work wonders. Parents like to expose their children to The Arts and do so by patronizing your aural vicinity. Be sure to make eye-contact, wave, throw in a "thanks for listening" between verses. However, be prepared at the end of the song for the little rug-rat to want to play your instrument. There's no good way to get around this one--if you want to get paid, let 'em at it. If not, claim that you have a contagious cold. For brass and woodwinds, you can have them finger the instrument's keys/valves while you play aimlessly.

Summertime on the first day of good weather is a bankable day. Think sunny--Beach Boys, major keys, and songs that describe "walking down the street." Christmas is good--just learn ten of the standard tunes, repeat ad nauseum. "Feliz Navidad" for our Hispanic friend, "Hava Nagilah" for the Jews, and "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" for everyone!

5) Clothing is not optional. Why do you think that gutter punks, caked in mud and sweat and bad dreadlocks, tend not to be "making bank"? Besides a drug habit, you need to distinguish yourself as a BUSKER. This isn't your lunchbreak, so don't wear a button-up shirt. Attract attention! Look clean! Look kitschy! Fedoras work, costumes work better. Dig out that Halloween costume!

6) For your tip jar, go with something large. A guitar case works wonders. Shallow buckets work well, too, but it adds to the bulk that you have to carry.

Do keep an eye on it, though. I've had teenagers who crept up and made off with a few bucks when I thought they were making a donation. How can you run with a euphonium in your hands?

You'll also need seed money. Seed money is pre-existing money in your tip jar that looks as though you've attained public approval and have been compensated as such. Imagine a greasy performer playing next to a bucket overflowing with bills--even if he is terrible, the amount of money creates a mystique! And, remember: most people only see and hear you for a minute tops--fifteen seconds is nominal, especially in city traffic.

7) Do it. Busking takes chutzpah. Creating sound in a spot not designated for it elicits many reactions. Be prepared for chaos. I've had store employees shoo me away to as far as legally allowed, 7-11 cashiers to sing back-up vocals, teenage girls to request Armor for Sleep, gig offers, or people to yell in my ear "is this as annoying as you are!?". That's right; they might just be angry for no apparent reason. And, if you're in a large city, like New York or London, be prepared to avoid the police; they have things called "busking licenses" for you types of people!

Public places are your best option. Location, Location, and yes, location. The Woody Guthrie method also works--go to a bar with a guitar on your back and someone is bound to ask "can you play that thing?" Libraries tend to frown on impromptu Raffi imitations, airports are a no-go,

Be smart. St. Patrick's Day? Irish tunes. Crime-infested area? Not a good idea. In Minneapolis? You better know Prince, the Replacements, and Husker Du. Death metal tunes outside of a church? C'mon.

Busking is a highly enjoyable activity that can fetch some hefty dollars if you do it right. Use common sense and you may just have better musical experiences than just about any gig. Bring the music to the people!