Responses

Comments

From Royce Faina
Posted from 72.175.240.22 on May 16, 2008 at 6:42 PM (GMT)

Buskers make me think of the traveling mentrals, and bards of long gone days.

From Carolyn Berger
Posted from 207.63.107.68 on May 16, 2008 at 6:58 PM (GMT)

I had the opportunity to busk with some friends in Galway the May after my junior year. The 5 of us made enough for two rounds of Guinnesses each. We were a little worried about getting caught and fined, as we didn't have a permit, so as soon as we saw authority looking people, we up and left. It turns out they were only changing the trash liner. :)

Perhaps the best part were the American tourists taking pictures of us (if only they knew we're true Chicagoans...)!

After a very difficult semester of undergrad, this is what is took to help me love playing the violin again. It was redeeming to play what I wanted to play, rather than what I was required to play. I experienced a new freedom of learning music by ear.

From Eitan Silkoff
Posted from 71.58.82.216 on May 16, 2008 at 7:09 PM (GMT)

i once busked with my sister on south bank in london. We earnt about 150 dollars in an hour. Pretty good eh? I recently just saw one of my old viola friends and she was busking in the train station. I quickly joined her, and then played some Bach. Interestingly enough, for the 2 minutes that i was there, i already got like 2 dollars. (which i gave to her after) :)

From Ruth Kuefler
Posted from 24.255.238.188 on May 16, 2008 at 7:27 PM (GMT)

I've only been busking a couple times, but now that summer is here, I plan on trying it more often.

From Bernadette Hawes
Posted from 83.7.241.71 on May 16, 2008 at 7:48 PM (GMT)

I'd think about it, once I can play some decent music ha ha!

From Cecily Ward
Posted from 71.146.22.243 on May 16, 2008 at 7:53 PM (GMT)

I used to play violin duets on the street in Aspen almost every night. We made very good money - and I spent most of mine on sushi or white water rafting. In school in San Francisco we played quartets in the Civic Center BART station a few times, but you had to go during the morning commute to make any money and I was too lazy :)

From Laurie Trlak
Posted from 98.223.24.165 on May 16, 2008 at 8:09 PM (GMT)

I've never done it, but I've thought about it. I don't know that I have the nerve to try it! But I wish I did!

From Annette Brower
Posted from 71.138.115.3 on May 16, 2008 at 8:32 PM (GMT)

I haven't, but my students have at the farmer's markets and the beach here in So. Cal. They rake in $75-$100 per HOUR!

From Laurie Niles
Posted from 75.16.87.209 on May 16, 2008 at 9:44 PM (GMT)

So Cecily, did I see YOU? ;)

From Jonathan Law
Posted from 92.233.172.140 on May 16, 2008 at 9:44 PM (GMT)

I always busk during the Edinburgh Festival, fantastic money and great banter. Lots of beer money!

From Patricia Baser
Posted from 72.195.178.42 on May 16, 2008 at 10:12 PM (GMT)

I think it would be fun in a safe environment. Macon has a rather high crime rate, so I certainly wouldn't try it here.

From Lucy Henley
Posted from 67.177.232.179 on May 16, 2008 at 11:23 PM (GMT)

I've never tried but I know a frind who made $80 an hour in New york city!

From Joe Fischer
Posted from 66.211.216.110 on May 17, 2008 at 12:09 AM (GMT)

Hey,people appreciate a violin tune.
People like us !
Yes,its important-very important !

You know--music is truth and others appreciate.
How could they not ?
Tradition counts and attempts thereof will NOT go unnoticed by the public.
Your heart and soul are bared to the bone.

Busking is the oldest of musical professions and will,hopefully,continue in future and this is very good !!!

Give others a chance to release themselves from daily drudgery of their
attempts at living.

Be humble in your gifts,play your very best..Make your violin sing as a voice sings--that is WHY we are here !!!

From Bonny Buckley
Posted from 218.79.236.28 on May 17, 2008 at 12:49 AM (GMT)

Busking...it depends. A few nights ago I heard a guy on an outdoor stage in an open-air mall, so I guess this wasn't busking exactly, but playing to a pre-recorded soundtrack as his back up. What he was playing was not technically difficult nor musically that challenging, but he was totally out of synch with the backup and he finished like 8 seconds ahead of the back up. Actually I don't think I've ever heard any busker perform that badly. It just proves a really poor musician can get a gig, but busking is a lot harder because you are your own boss.

From William Wolcott
Posted from 68.226.58.125 on May 17, 2008 at 3:32 AM (GMT)

I busked in Santa Monica (3rd street Promenade) while I was studying with Eugene Fodor.

True story- One night Eugene came to visit me, took my violin (actually one of his being loaned to me) and played through the Tchaikovsky and several other pieces. It was a lot of fun.

Another night, Steven Tyler came up to me (from Aerosmith) and talked to me for a while.

And another day Israel Baker came up to me, listened for awhile, and invited me to his house. I took a few lessons from him as a result. What a great player, Israel Baker.

I don't busk much anymore, but I still miss it. I felt very alive, very free, very at home on the street playing. More comfortable than the stage for me. Unfortunate perhaps, but true.

From Hannah Wright
Posted from 75.170.165.71 on May 17, 2008 at 3:54 AM (GMT)

That'd be an easy gig...just lay an open case on the ground.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted from 72.93.107.185 on May 17, 2008 at 10:48 AM (GMT)

I played last summer at a local farmers' market for the first time, and From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted from 72.93.107.185 on May 17, 2008 at 10:52 AM (GMT)

Now, I live in a different city, and there are plenty of really good buskers all over the city! I think it's great!

Just a few weeks ago my niece and her friend busked on a holiday in Hilversum, the Netherlands. (I think it was the queen's birthday or something.) They got a big kick out of making about 80 Euros...which was significantly more than Josh Bell got at the train station! :-D

English is not my mother tongue, so, of course, from time to time, there are words or expressions that I don't understand. "Busking" was such a word. I took a look at what Laurie Niles had written, and soon I understood that this is exactly what I'm doing.

I live in Strasbourg, France and a Friday afternoon, July 27, 2007, after much hesitation and investigation, where to play, I finally took my violin with the hope that I will perform well and earn some money. I had found a relatively long street without cars in the very center, where I guessed the acoustic would be reasonable. But, most importantly, where people could listen while slowly walking and shopping without stopping. The idea that a group of people might stop for listening didn't attract me at all. It just made me terrified.
When I came to my chosen spot, I was deeply concentrated and said to myself that I will be very disappointed, if I don't go through with this now. I did, and it didn't pass many bars of playing, before I felt well, and after some pieces very well.

Today, ten months later, I'm happy that I began the beginning. It gives sense to my violinplaying after restarting in September 2006. I communicate better with people while playing music than in my French, but that doesn't say very much. Nevertheless, I meet friendliness, generosity and enjoy compliments for my performing. I get questions about my mainly classical repertoire, popular melodies and some Jewish songs.
And all the children. My youngest listeners, at least in age. They are my greatest joy! They never stop to look like being hypnotized. Hardly able to walk yet, in the presence of their parents, I keep telling the small children that playing the violin is very good. Don't wait! But, other instruments will do, as well.

There is much more to tell about busking. Perhaps, I'll write a blog about it.
It's cold and rain hanging in the air, so I devote some time for writing this. No subway in Strasbourg, and none to expect, even if the demand from an outdoor violinist like me is high.