My fifth trial. No, actually the very first go in the train station. Pipeline. Mainly to overcome the fear for people, if not to become an extrovert, but to face my introvert chicken.
Man, the reverb effect!!
I realised how important it was to consider the place where one is busking and the choice of the tunes I wish to play. People who stomped their feet sort of confused my rhythm in playing a jig; I really had to concentrate on keeping my own pace, on not being affected by audeinceâ hand-clapping etc. I just noticed I had to replace âlâ for ârâ there. Anyway, in a session musicians could help me: but when Iâm on my own Iâm suposed to be the player, conductor and engineer, all at the same time. Also I scorned myself for a sheer lack of repetoire. I wish I knew more jigs and hornpipesâŚmust keep on picking up.
What I did find relatively easier to play, though, were airs. The structure of the underway helpmed me a lot, but I had to move around when I wanted to play some dance tunes without being bothered by excess of echosâŚbut then again in playing airs and songs I went back to the end of Die Tunnel. Ah, which whistle did I use? Drainpipe, of course (Daumendrueck!)
SoâŚplease give me some comments on busking! Which kind of tunes do you tend to play most? Did you ever conduct a hornpipes-only busking? Where was the most annoying / comfortable place for you?
Busking tip: when you âseed the potâ (e.g., put a little money in your case or jar to attract more money,) add a piece of unusual, obviously foreign currency. It makes the pot more likely to occupy the thoughts of passers-by who glance at it; and thus people are more likely to donate.
Thatâs the theory anyway. I guess that would imply that any unusual item in the pot would bring you luck, especially one that makes people wonder who donated it, or which evokes an emotional response, towit: âwhat kind of weirdo/jerk decided to give this poor man an individually wrapped slice of American cheese?!â
And when you âseed your potâ (I love that expression) I have found that if you put in a couple of penniesâŚyou will get pennies. Stick in something bigger, a bit of the folding stuff, and you will do much better. Many people look in your box to see what other people have given before they make the drop.
Yeah, and if your repetiore is limited avoid busking near shops/stalls where some poor bugger has to listen to the same tune over again for four hours!
I also find âseeding the potâ works quite well. I do it with ciggarrettes too.
But when i busk solo i tap my foot loudly so passers-by can hear it. Makes more of a smile on peoples faces for me. Sometimes i play and smoke a ciggarrette at the same time. Now THAT takes practice. As for tunes i play, I play the rocky road to dublin lots because alot of people recognize it. But i mostly play a jig followed by 2 reels. I find i make more when i play reels rather than hornpipes or jigs or airs. Danny boy and fields of athenny are good airs to busk, I find anyways. When i go out with my gf on bodhran it makes it much much better! If only sheâd learn the mandolin she hasâŚ
I was thinking that ITM is good for busking, too, for legislative reasons. Whatâs the situatation of copy rights and busking in, say, Canada / Ireland? In Japan weâre not allowed to play anything (on the streets) thatâs younger than 100 years old. Some brown-noser, scribes and d*** Pharisees would take notes, report to the authorities, and then if Iâm unlucky I get busted for playing, say, a tune composed by a famous ocarina player of the year. This is so stupid. But suppose if I memorise the enter Waterman tune from the Fused album, and play it before BMG or Virgin, I guess they wonât notice.
Tak, no-one gives a ratâs ass if youâre just busking in Canada. If you made a commercial recording, or published the music in printed form, that would be different. If youâre really worried about copyright, just make sure you source all your repertoire back to books like CRE that are all listed as public domain.
What about all the guitar-toting high school kids singing the latest hits from SMAP, Rip Slyme, Ayumi Hamasaki, Kick The Can Crew, Chemistry, etc., etc. out in front of my local train station? Nobody ever tries to stop them (although I wouldnât really mind if someone did ). Do you need a permit to busk in Japan. I remember hearing about this group in Tokyo that used to go out on the streets and play fantastic New Orleans-style ragtime and traditional jazz but the police made them stop a while back because they didnât have a permit or something.
At any rate, if a cop ever busts you for playing copyrighted material from an Irish trad. CD, then that cop really needs to get a life. I think youâre probably safeâŚ
I think one gets caught when the cozzers see him using music as a part of guerilla liveâŚlike associating himself with politics etc.. ..but placing a jar before him is not even a private concert, making money off of another manâs tunesâŚanyway, ITM is safe in my area, I believe
Pipeline. Mainly to overcome the fear for people, if not to become an extrovert, but to face my introvert chicken.
Thanks!
