I feel that attractive ladies do have the advantage as buskers. We all are what we are. I asked for advice about busking with an upmarket fiddle, and I guess that I fell into the trap of asking for advice, but only that advice that I wanted to hear. Apart from occasionally playing at folk music clubs, most of my playing in public is playing on the street. In public performances, one likes to sound as good as possible, so if I bought an upmarket fiddle, and didn`t play it on the streets, most of the time I would not play it at all. So in the end, if I do upgrade, I will busk with an upmarket fiddle. Having said that, my present fiddle has survived nearly 3 years of street life and survived unscathed. The weather here yesterday and today has been odd. Very windy, but with temperatures of about 65 to 70 degrees F. I struggled yesterday in the wind, but today I got on a warm shady pitch. I made fair money both days. Today I was playing "Harvest Home Horpipe" , and a guy from Scotland approached me and asked what the tune was called. He said he had just started to learn fiddle, and would like to learn the tune. He has only been playing a month or so, and I asked him if he would like to try my fiddle. He reluctantly agreed, and just played a couple of scales. It is not often I get to hear my fiddle played by someone else. It always sounds different when it is not stuck under your left ear. I am not kidding when I say that the tone he achieved was absolutely brilliant! Maybe I will not upgrade after all...

The wind!
Yes, I totally get that. Around here, the wind can easily blow your bow right off the strings!

I've had that happen,,,interesting, then annoying,,,

I've had my TIPS blow out of a basket, 20 feet into the air and 100 feet down a busy street.... !!

It is debatable, but if one wants to make money busking, one must have a "hook"..
My friend is a busker and is slowly learning that just to stand and perform is not always the best way to make money busking. Again it is debatable, but Something has to get the public's attention. I use humour, and a puppet. My fiddling skill is secondary to my 'act'...Even then, I only make 3-4 tips per hundred people..average.. 5 per hundred on a good day.....Today I made a 'small fortune', but the passersby were LARGE in numbers. Lucky me... "It is NOT all about the money, but the money is what it is all about."..Maybe only professional buskers will understand that comment...and maybe they'll refute it.. I don't know.. Just one more thing open for debate.

As a busker and grandfather, I see a LOT of kids who want to try to play a fiddle. None are denied the opportunity...Yesterday a 6 year old boy stood in front of me and I stood behind him, guiding the bow while he held it tightly.. We made some noise and then it was another kids turn.. The first boy came back Twice more for 20 second lessons.. I couldn't help but notice that during his third little lesson, that he actually was 'getting' it, and making clearer sounds and he had released his 'death grip' on the bow.
Another little boy of 2 1/2 years old has been coming to the farmers market for the past several months and always brings his 1/16 size fiddle..He doesn't take formal lessons but just tries to mimic what he sees me and other fiddlers do..Last year he held his fiddle down and sort of sawed away while trying to tap his foot.....Now, several months later I notice that he is trying to hold his bow in a 'proper' manner and has raised the fiddle to his shoulder and he is looking carefully at where he places his bow and is actually getting a sound out of his instrument... You can just see his mind churning..trying to fiddle.. He'll get it and I Hope I'm still around to see that day.

Interesting observations Tuneweaver. I like your "Hook" theory. I would say that the hook can take many forms, and that whilst desirable it is not essential. To some extent, my cute dog is my hook. I also have my sign, which is designed to look like a typically English Pub sign and reads "Dog and Fiddle" with illustrations of a dog and a fiddle. Between tunes I sometimes make remarks to passers by, maybe remarks about the weather, or if someone looks miserable, I might say "smile!" Conditions will vary from town to town, and especially in different countries. In my town, Boston, I would think that over 90% of people have never seen a fiddle being played except perhaps on TV. I suspect that more people play instruments in The USA than here in the UK. There
is very little recent tradition of people here playing there own music, at least in recent times, so to an extent, live acoustic music is a novelty. As I write this, it is constantly raining, and tomorrow is forecast top be the same. Looking forward to a fine day, and getting back out on the streets.

Neptune, I'd guess that your personality is your hook, along with your dog and sign...It IS true that a hook isn't required.. I began busking just with me and my fiddle...

But Wait.... There is more about today's events.. Some guy asked me if I could play the Snake River Reel.. of course I could....and did...By his request I assumed, correctly that the knew something about Old Time music.. Turns out he lives just over an hour away from me and he play claw-hammer style banjo. We exchanged contact info and I look forward to contacting him for a jam some day.
Also...and the main thing I wanted to mention, is that OFTEN I'll encounter a young person who plays violin in school and is interested in learning to play 'fiddle'...I don't ever exchange contact information in these cases. What I do is to say "The ball is in your court.. Here is My email address. YOU contact me when you are ready for FREE lessons." Maybe I've done that ten times, I don't count, but NEVER has a person contacted me for a lesson...So, now I still give the info, but don't get too excited about it...(However, I WILL track down that banjo player.. just got an email from him.)  

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

As a busker and grandfather, I see a LOT of kids who want to try to play a fiddle. None are denied the opportunity...Yesterday a 6 year old boy stood in front of me and I stood behind him, guiding the bow while he held it tightly.. We made some noise and then it was another kids turn.. The first boy came back Twice more for 20 second lessons.. I couldn't help but notice that during his third little lesson, that he actually was 'getting' it, and making clearer sounds and he had released his 'death grip' on the bow.
Another little boy of 2 1/2 years old has been coming to the farmers market for the past several months and always brings his 1/16 size fiddle..He doesn't take formal lessons but just tries to mimic what he sees me and other fiddlers do..Last year he held his fiddle down and sort of sawed away while trying to tap his foot.....Now, several months later I notice that he is trying to hold his bow in a 'proper' manner and has raised the fiddle to his shoulder and he is looking carefully at where he places his bow and is actually getting a sound out of his instrument... You can just see his mind churning..trying to fiddle.. He'll get it and I Hope I'm still around to see that day.

---

I had to laugh.  I posted this same story on my Facebook page..One particular FB friend seemed to be impressed with my 'humanity'' and praised me for encouraging so many children to be interested in music... I feigned flattery....but made an appropriate reply.  "Don't forget, I'm only doing this so their parents will give me a Buck.. "  I added.."It is hard to be perfect........for others......not for me!."

It is a sad fact that of the few children in the UK who learn violin, or any instrument, very few play after leaving school, or get to play anywhere except perhaps school concerts. There was apparently a school orchestra at my school. I never saw it, was never asked to play in it, and only became aware of it many years later. For the masses today, music is something that comes out of a plastic box if and when you press the button. I am always pleased to let anyone have a go on my fiddle when asked.
A thing I have been thinking about is the future of busking, if it has a future. We are constantly told that the society of the future is a cashless society. I am totally against this, as I see it as just another tool for big brother to track and control our lives. It has got to come sooner or later[probably sooner] as it means the end of the Black Economy. It takes maybe five seconds to drop some loose change in a fiddle case. Imagine having to stop playing and process a card every time someone wants to tip you? Talking of tipping, I understand that in the USA, tipping is virtually compulsory in restaurants, bars etc. That is certainly not the norm here. I believe that in some countries waitresses work for tips only. Personally, I feel that tipping should be at the discretion of the customer, but that is just my opinion. Your mileage may vary, so to speak.

Waitstaff are paid $4.35 an hour in my state (60% if minimum wage). I find it to be a pretty lame practice.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ChickenMan

Waitstaff are paid $4.35 an hour in my state (60% if minimum wage). I find it to be a pretty lame practice.

---

My response to people who think I'm begging when I busk it to say, then so are waitresses.. I make more hourly than they to...They Need tips to come out with a livable wage..We are both working hard  to make money.. Neither of us is begging...

I knew of a girl of about 18, a friend of the family. She was blonde, attractive, and worked as a waitress in a local fish and chip ,restaurant. { Fish and chips, aka fried battered fish with french fries, is one of our national dishes.} By law she was paid minimum wages, but on a good day, her tips virtually tripled her wages. Here, if people give tips, it is because they genuinely appreciate the service they get, not because they are obliged to tip. Oh well, different strokes for different folks...

Had a good day`s busking today. Reasonable temperature, lovely autumn sunshine, generous people. Made a few pounds/dollars as well. You know I have been thinking a lot lately about what drives a person to be a busker, and what personal attributes are necessary to busk. One day a guy stopped to talk to me. He told me that he had fought in Afghanistan, but he said that he would never have the courage to do what I do. That made me think. As a young man, I long since got over the "performing nerves" thing, playing guitar and singing in Rock Bands. So to me, it has never really been about courage. An old guy once gave me some advice that has been useful to me all my life. He told me to never waste my time worrying about what other people thought of me, because they had no time to think about me, as they were too busy worrying what people thought of them. Useful indeed, but for me there is something deeper. As a ten year old kid, I met a Gentleman of the Road, a tramp. I spent an hour talking to him. He told me about his life, the hardships he had suffered, but also about the freedom he enjoyed. I realised that I had, for the first time, met a free man. Since that day, I have had a sort of subconscious fear that one day, I myself could become homeless. So I have this sort of inner feeling that if the worst should happen, given a fiddle, I could survive. I suppose it is just some kind of fantasy. I have done my best to try to explain what makes me tick. I would very much like to hear your point of view.

Today was a record tipping day for me.. The sky was beautiful.. The air was WINDY, the temperature was perfect and the crowds were large...Some elderly man (probably younger than me, however) put a folding chair about 15 feet from me and said that he didn't like to shop but would just people watch while his wife spent his money.....He watched me and Harry perform for about an hour. When we were done busking for the day the man approached us and said that he had been a professional clown for 31 years .. He said that our act was very funny, good and professional.....Then he tipped $2... Made my day...

Ken (Neptune).. I've often thought of why homeless people who I see don't try to DO something for an income.. Of course I realize that some are addicts, mentally ill or otherwise disadvantaged.. However, many who I know are intelligent and probably could make money with something as simple as a sock puppet.. I've come to realize that people who tip the sign holding people often tip $10 or $20 at at time.. supposedly enough for a meal. With me it is usually $1 tips as a time.. While it looks like they don't get MANY tips.. they do come away pleased.....Recently a homeless guy told me, as I passed him on the sidewalk, "Go for it Lee.. I already made my $50 so I'm good for now" ..Can it take more nerve to hold up a "Hungry, anything helps" sign than it takes to operate a sock puppet? In reality, it seems that to me at least, it takes more guts to hold up one of those signs. I'm not them so I really don't know, but I do know that as they say "There, but for the grace of God, go I". I'm rambling.......BTW..I also love the feeling of freedom when I'm on the street. Being there makes me feel connected..

I have a repertoire of Hungarian gypsy tunes that I have been practicing for years with the intention of going out busking when I retire, and now that time will be early next year. Not only will I earn a few dollars to supplement the age pension, I will also be living my fantasy of the roving gypsy playing my tunes for the people. Recently I teamed up with a few chaps who do private gigs paying between $300 and $400 per gig; one chap is and Irish man who sings entirely Irish songs, and the other has an ''Aussie Bush (dance) Band'', but I am sure there will be plenty of time between gigs to go out busking.

buchhenry...Sounds like a PLAN!!!

A busker friend and I were chatting yesterday and he was wondering why I did so well financially, busking.. Today, we drove together to a great busking town and on the way I counted the number of times that I went out busking since the spring of this year.....220.......THAT is why I do so well...not talent, not good looks (OK, I DO have good looks )... not Harry Hare.. It just takes GETTING OUT THERE....

Busking is like any other way to raise money, If you want to make the dime, you have to put in the time. I busk every day, weather permitting. I am limited to an hour most days, as my partner has health problems, and I don`t like to leave her alone for too long. I too have encountered those days when the wind will lift the bow off the strings. I have a choice of four different pitches, and provided no other buskers are in town, I get to choose. Paper money tips are rare here in England, as the smallest not is £5, { about $5 ?]. On the rare occasions I do get a note, I pocket it before it can blow away, or before someone else is tempted to pocket it, although to my knowledge that has never happened to me. Incidentally, I hate to busk with an empty case, and usually drop a couple of coins in to get started. Anyone else do this? An empty case gives the appearance of being worthless, and a couple of coins show people where to drop their tips. Does anyone use something other than a fiddle case for tips? Today was nice, as I got a sunny pitch with little wind. The days are getting colder now. Ity will soon be time for the fingerless gloves.

I used to bait my tip basket but now find that that isn't necessary. People know I'm seeking tips and they know that I may have just 'set up' and are often happy to be the first to put in a coin/bill....Us buskers are always trying to predict the mood of passersby but frankly, it seems to be a waste of time. THose who I think will tip, don't and those who don't look like tippers ...do.. My focus is on being entertaining....and let the tips fall where they may..( I say as I try to size up the couple coming down the sidewalk..)

In my busking days, I would always salt the case - mainly because I thought the empty case - and the fiddler standing behind it - looked pathetic. I would always do it discreetly, trying to create the effect that the money had always been there; I didn't want to be seen putting money in my own case ... !

quote:

---

Originally posted by Old Scratch

In my busking days, I would always salt the case - mainly because I thought the empty case - and the fiddler standing behind it - looked pathetic. I would always do it discreetly, trying to create the effect that the money had always been there; I didn't want to be seen putting money in my own case ... !

---

I doubt that you ever looked pathetic., but then again, you have not posted any photos of you busking . but maybe I have looked that way.. Anyway, my issues has been taking OUT money from my tip basket.  The Wind can easily whip a bill down the street.  On windy days I grab bills often and stuff them into my back pocket..I always feel a little sheepish doing it because I don't want passersby to think that I'm trying to make it look like I'm getting rich and have to hide some of my Wealth..!!!  In reality.. I AM trying to not make it look like my tip basket is FULL...  I want people to see that I've had tips besides theirs, but don't want them to think that I'm getting so many tips that their tip will not matter.. Again.. just a mental game that I'm actually playing with MYSELF...!!!  Probably, nobody cares.    I try to not take myself to seriously..

Yes, I realize that it is MY issue, but people taking videos of us from BEHIND and then not leaving a tip ,,to me.. is 'cheezy'... SO... I've outsmarted them.. I've placed my stool and fiddle case in places that block video takers from getting a view from behind.. So far so good.. I know that they will outsmart me (pretty easy since I'm not too smart) in the end but I'm going to give it that old college try...