There’s sooooo many ways you could approach this question, starting with “what counts as ‘proper’ anyway?” Did your standout vocal performance at the primary school nativity show count? Maybe the time your parents made you strum through the first guitar tune you learned? Or perhaps a ‘proper gig’ has to involve an official venue with the crowd made up of strangers, and (most importantly) payment for your hard work? We’re going to guess that the nativity show didn’t include a fee, and the shaky rendition of “Wonderwall” that moved your mother to tears took place at home. Cute? Yes. ‘Proper gig’? We’ll let you decide…
But ‘proper’ or not, both these gigs might have felt a little scary. This is natural, since any specially staged show invokes a certain level of expectation for the audience, who then generally give the performer their fully focused and undivided attention. And that situation can feel pretty unnerving (sometimes terrifying) for rookie performers. It would just be so much easier to use your guitar skills to entertain an enormous crowd without the burden of any expectation. And even better if that crowd was willing to show their appreciation by paying you.
Yes, it’s definitely an ancient art. Musicians (along with actors, dancers, acrobats, magicians, jugglers, snake charmers, fortune-tellers and basically every other kind of entertainer imaginable) have been carrying out unsolicited performances in public places, with the intention and hope of receiving public gratuities, throughout recorded history.
Student Snapshot: X Factor Latvia
Busking is therefore one of the oldest jobs in the world, and would certainly have been one of the earliest methods for musicians to sell their skills and make some kind of living out of music. And not much has really changed since the days of antiquity - George Michael, Rod Stewart, Tracy Chapman, Newton Faulkner and Ed Sheeran are just a handful of famous artists who cut their live performance teeth this way.
Very simply by following the boy scout motto; BE PREPARED! This is sensible advice even for planned gigs at established venues, and all the more important when venturing onto the streets with your guitar. Here’s five main points you want to consider;
Busking is generally legal throughout most of the world (and even constitutionally protected via the 1st and 14th Amendments in the USA) but always check the law before heading out of the door. Such nationwide policies that exist tend to be age-related – for example you need to be over 14 to busk in the UK, or have a consent letter signed by your guardian if you’re under 17 in Singapore.
Mexican Street Musicians Play Guitar Maracas Stock Photo 477896230
Buskers need to focus more on the local policies – what rules are there on street performing in your chosen city, town or province? These examples show that the situation varies wildly…
As with any gig, you’ll need some tunes ready to go. Although not as many as you might think – members of the moving street audience aren’t likely to be watching you for much more than 30 seconds, and some buskers scrape through with just a 2-song set-list. But the more polished you sound, the more likely you’ll be to see the coins dropping into your guitar case. So practise!
Guitar, picks and spare strings are obvious essentials, along with a fully-charged battery amplifier if you’re going electric. Snacks, drinks and any weather-appropriate clothing/kit are less obvious, but just as essential. And make sure you’re able to carry everything at once – the freedom to move at a moments notice is essential!
Royalty Free Photo: Man Playing Guitar On Street During Daytime
This is a fine balancing act between maximising your performance potential, respecting the local environment and staying comfortable. It’s a tricky element to get right, so here are some things to consider when choosing your pitch;
There are genuinely few better ways of learning about what it truly means to perform live than by taking to the streets. Busking can help you learn how to work an audience, fine-tune your set-list, perhaps get you booked for a ‘proper’ gig or possibly even greater opportunities - this might be a good time to mention Ed Sheeran again!
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Like It's Home': Music Space At Street Help Will Provide Safe Place To Play
This is a fine balancing act between maximising your performance potential, respecting the local environment and staying comfortable. It’s a tricky element to get right, so here are some things to consider when choosing your pitch;
There are genuinely few better ways of learning about what it truly means to perform live than by taking to the streets. Busking can help you learn how to work an audience, fine-tune your set-list, perhaps get you booked for a ‘proper’ gig or possibly even greater opportunities - this might be a good time to mention Ed Sheeran again!
Guitar Scales for Beginners: How to Solo Effortlessly and Create Your Own Music Even if You Don't Know What a Scale is
Learn To Play Guitar On The Weekends For Inr 1,500
Guitar Scales: 3 Book Bundle: How to Solo Effortlessly and Create Your Own Music Even If You Don't Know What A Scale Is
Rock Guitar Bible: Discover The Secrets Of Classic Rock, Learn Licks In The Style Of Rock Legends And Create Distorted-Explosive Rock Music Of Your Own: 70+ Exercises Included
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.
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