tengu01
Senior Member
- Messages
- 79
- Location
- London, UK
Hi all, thought I'd share a little of my new-to-busking experiences
After a lot of waiting, talking and wishing my saxophone arrived in Sydney, so it was finally time to put up or shut up. I was going out busking in town in Sydney.
I went to the Glebe Town hall, handed in my application form and ten minutes later, was rewarded with a card with my name, a picture of me and an official city of Sydney logo. I was the proud owner of a busking license.
I headed into the centre of town, walked down George Street and worked on steeling my nerves for the occasion. Feeling that I would need somewhere slightly less exposed to the general public, I turned away from the main street and headed for the leafy and less busy Hyde Park.
I set up shop and began to play. I was astonished by how many tunes I had forgotten and how the ones that I did remember were in awful shape. Still one or two people came by and dropped money in my case. A photographer was took some pictures, so I said hello and we sat and talked for a while. He took some pictures of me, we swapped email addresses, photo tips and he told me of a few places which would be good to take photographs. Sorry, mind wandering. Good places to busk.
Busking Observations
1. It is extremely difficult to concentrate on what you're playing while trying to say "thank you ' at the same time. I lost my place a number of times during the course of the first session.
2. Some people stop and stare, or set up camp for having lunch, enjoy the music and then leave. Some hear the music from far away, get their coins ready and drop them into the case when they arrive.
3. Some tourists seem to think that buskers are part of the Sydney public service infrastructure, appreciate the music, take pictures and then walk by.
4. It is amazing how quickly you forget your entire repertoire adn fall back on repetition to keep the music going.
5. You live in hope that your musical flubs are not as obvious to the outisde world as they are to you. In my mind, they are monsterous
6. I need a more interesting repertoire. Rodrigo y Gabriela need to make their way into the collection
7. In 2 hours, I'd made approximately $13.
8. It is very nerve wracking to have to set up shop, put the case out in front of you and get going, with people walking past.
9. Hyde Park is a runner's park. Runners rarely carry wallets. Or stop.
10. It's better to push the case a little further out in front of you so that people don't need to come too close in case they feel intimidaated into steering clear.
11. Playing along with Dexter Gordon makes the outside world disappear (and money magically appear in my case)
12. Assessment of location is key. Now need to check some other areas for money making potential adn ease of set up.
13. George St corner was too busy to attract people who will stop and listen. Everyone's in a hurry, either just passing or rushing towards the traffic lights.
14. A Gucci-clad Nigerian man walked by and droppped 5 dollars into my case. Not sure whether it was musical appreciation or pity, but I was grateful for the cash injection.
15. The sound of a velcro wallet being opened is sometimes very similar to that of a crisp packet/chocolate bar being unwrapped. Your ears strain for those sounds when you've been staring at the floor for a while.
After a lot of waiting, talking and wishing my saxophone arrived in Sydney, so it was finally time to put up or shut up. I was going out busking in town in Sydney.
I went to the Glebe Town hall, handed in my application form and ten minutes later, was rewarded with a card with my name, a picture of me and an official city of Sydney logo. I was the proud owner of a busking license.
I headed into the centre of town, walked down George Street and worked on steeling my nerves for the occasion. Feeling that I would need somewhere slightly less exposed to the general public, I turned away from the main street and headed for the leafy and less busy Hyde Park.
I set up shop and began to play. I was astonished by how many tunes I had forgotten and how the ones that I did remember were in awful shape. Still one or two people came by and dropped money in my case. A photographer was took some pictures, so I said hello and we sat and talked for a while. He took some pictures of me, we swapped email addresses, photo tips and he told me of a few places which would be good to take photographs. Sorry, mind wandering. Good places to busk.
Busking Observations
1. It is extremely difficult to concentrate on what you're playing while trying to say "thank you ' at the same time. I lost my place a number of times during the course of the first session.
2. Some people stop and stare, or set up camp for having lunch, enjoy the music and then leave. Some hear the music from far away, get their coins ready and drop them into the case when they arrive.
3. Some tourists seem to think that buskers are part of the Sydney public service infrastructure, appreciate the music, take pictures and then walk by.
4. It is amazing how quickly you forget your entire repertoire adn fall back on repetition to keep the music going.
5. You live in hope that your musical flubs are not as obvious to the outisde world as they are to you. In my mind, they are monsterous
6. I need a more interesting repertoire. Rodrigo y Gabriela need to make their way into the collection
7. In 2 hours, I'd made approximately $13.
8. It is very nerve wracking to have to set up shop, put the case out in front of you and get going, with people walking past.
9. Hyde Park is a runner's park. Runners rarely carry wallets. Or stop.
10. It's better to push the case a little further out in front of you so that people don't need to come too close in case they feel intimidaated into steering clear.
11. Playing along with Dexter Gordon makes the outside world disappear (and money magically appear in my case)
12. Assessment of location is key. Now need to check some other areas for money making potential adn ease of set up.
13. George St corner was too busy to attract people who will stop and listen. Everyone's in a hurry, either just passing or rushing towards the traffic lights.
14. A Gucci-clad Nigerian man walked by and droppped 5 dollars into my case. Not sure whether it was musical appreciation or pity, but I was grateful for the cash injection.
15. The sound of a velcro wallet being opened is sometimes very similar to that of a crisp packet/chocolate bar being unwrapped. Your ears strain for those sounds when you've been staring at the floor for a while.
(everything has a downside)
