how to busk

How do you go about playing music on the street? I asked Matt from Too Many Zooz, and went busking with Mary Spender and Ian Barnett.

MARY's channel:

TOO MANY ZOOZ:

IAN BARNETT:

Joshua Bell Stuff:

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Peace,
Adam

[AdamNeely]

by popular demand, you can now buy "PLAY THE RIGHT NOTES, MATE, " t-shirts.

[soulrenvods]

My strategy is to play horribly, with a sign saying "need money for lessons"

[lamp]

"Play the right notes, mate"

[RudyAyoub]

I went busking once for 10 mins and some dude dropped me $20 so I went home I never busked since

[Ragamauffin]

"I've been replaced by a trombone player.

Fate worse than death."


Sorry I cackled.

[mariosuena]

This doesnt really count as busking but my first time “busking” was in Seoul on a cute little yellow public piano where i played some Latin rock songs and random improv and a nice Korean lady gave me three pieces of gum and to this day i have kept the wrappers as a motivation to keep going as a musician especially because it was during a time where i was in a dark place and was considering giving up in music

Those sticks of gum meant more to me than the amount of money I made that day... which was zero LOL

[MarySpender]

Hard work in the NYC heat but so much fun. Thanks for busking with me! x

[AdamNeely]

shout out to the cops for being super polite!

[LukeBeadles]

I got replaced with a trombone player... A fate worse than death.

[YouOriginal]

If you want to busk to make money then you need to play money songs. Old people and you know beegees etc. Pick the crowd go outside a metal concert and play metal. Once you have then money songs sussed and can pull a crowd then consider slowly introducing originals. I have watched more street musicians than you have had hot dinners even made a few global viral sensations! :) More tips: involve the crowd, the most money I ever have seen made was a white girl who could speak Chinese. She would say hello and a quirk like "your dress is nice" in their language. They would drop big notes because they were out of their country visiting and a local had welcomed them with arms open. So learn every language you can to just say hello. Most excellent video and thanks for making it!

[monorchide]

i'm a full time busker. i loved this. thanks Adam.

you nailed the skills required: pick up your location wisely, learn to react to the audience reactions and demographics, play the right thing at the right time of the day.

I'd like to add that all walk-by buskers (as musicians, but really it extends to anyone who wants to entertain) have lots to learn from circle acts buskers (jugglers, magicians) in terms of crowd control, how to incorporate comedy and theatrical routines into a different act, and how to convince people your show is worth a donation.

everybody should really do it once in their life, at least for a few weeks, and/or stop watching professional buskers to understand how hard actually is their job.

[bobsmith-ovkn]

amplification not allowed, but a drum kit is OK... makes sense

[apanapandottir]

"Play the right notes mate."

Stone cold.

[RoeShamBoe]

6:38 The whole sequence of events is amazing and takes about 2 seconds in real-time... Adam plays the wrong note and immediately looks at his fingering with betrayal in his eyes like his left hand just banged his girl behind his back. The next millisecond, he realizes he's gonna catch ish from Mary and he literally has to force his gaze towards her direction; slowly... like a child forcing himself to look up at his mom after getting caught steeling cookies. However, you can see he still carries a smirk like that smarmy little cookie-steeler who knows his punishment won't be that severe. Meanwhile, Mary has been out on this precipice vocalizing away when suddenly she feels the bus driver jerk the wheel to the left at the exact moment she expected to go right. Next thing you know, she bangs her nose on the bus window and dude that hurts. She looks over at the bus driver and sees Adam shyly smirking away like "oopsie!" and then time speeds back up, the audio 'squirbles' back to life and the first thing you hear after the ever-so-slightest pregnant pause is.... 'play the right notes mate.'

[D_Le]

Firstly, that drummer is so good! I average 40-60 dollars an hour when I busk. I make sure foot traffic is literally slow moving, or sitting/standing still. A good example is farmers market. Everyone there moves slowly because they are shopping, have kids with them, or just taking time to smell the flowers. Also, I try and match the energy of the crowd with the music I play. Also, pre tip your tip jar. Do not leave it empty. I make sure to put large bills in the tip jar as well. In addition, I offer small little toy instruments for people to play. A box with triangles and plastic castanets among other various cheap instruments. When kids play with them, I offer it to them as a gift to take home. Once the crowd see's that, people literally start dropping $5-$20 bills.

[accoladesmusic]

Heres a bit more busking advice. Be entertaining, don't just stand there, or sit on your amp, its like when you do a regular gig. its more than just the music, add some Choreo, do something outlandish, wear something bright. Entertain, demand the attention by calling them over. Also a horn always helps. Im surprised the trumpet player of too many zoos didn't mention this, their bari player goes insane with the dancing and playing. People listen with their eyes, not just their ears. I've had days where I've made $200 and days where I've made $50. The days I've made 200 is cause I've had tons of energy. Also the ideal number of people to busk with is 3(drums/bass(or guitar)/horn). keep it up beat and funky. Try it again with all this in mind and it'll be a lot better. dance and play, break a sweat make it look like you are having fun. Entertain!!

[kevindevenport]

Adam, can we please get a "Play the right notes, mate, " Shirt? Cheers.

[lohphat]

I do stop and listen to great buskers.

I have a vivid 20yo memory of an accordion player playing Bach's Toccata and Fugue in Dm (BWV 565) -- BRILLIANTLY -- in the Paris metro and the pedestrian tunnels added the perfect reverb to make it sound like a pipe organ.

People were transfixed and time stopped. It was delicious.

[morgoth]

You had me at "we live in a society".

[KamiDisturbed]

try having a sign that says: "gonna play "the lick" for every donation" and see what happens xP