Busking is not for every musician - but it does have a certain undeniable romance. Are you a musician who’s thinking about busking to grow your audience and make some tips? Whether you’ve always wanted to try it, or want to up your game, this article will help you make your magic when you hit the streets.
Why You Should, Or Shouldn’t, Busk
As with any time or money investment in your career, you should weigh the decision to put time and energy into busking against your goals. The number one reason to get out there and make some music on the street is because you’re EXCITED to. If you love the idea of getting out there and connecting with strangers and just seeing what happens, busking is going to be a good experience for you.
But it’s worth considering what your goals for yourself and your music are - and how (and if) busking is the right next move to help you accomplish them. Busking will help you grow an audience in the same way that gigging regularly does – and if you pop up your phone and start livestreaming, now you’ve got online visibility as well. Busking will probably make you some tip money, but if you’re going to want to rely on a certain amount of income each week or month, you’ll need to be willing to put in time and energy and experimentation to see what works for you (and there are no guarantees.)
Busking will absolutely improve you as a live performer and get you more comfortable with whatever skills you choose to focus on while you’re out there playing – improvisation, connecting with passers-by, building your vocal or instrumental chops. It’s a great low-pressure way to practice what you do, with considerably more visibility than your bedroom.
Let’s Talk Logistics
Busking is one of the most physically demanding things for a live musician to do. You’ve got to bring all your gear with you - often on foot - and set it up and break it down fairly quickly so you have time to do what you came here to do: perform.
The three things you want to think about carryability, functionality, and safety. Investing in a cart or wagon can be a great move - but if you’re busking somewhere like the NYC subway system, you’re going to want to make sure you can easily get all your stuff up and down stairs, because not all locations have elevators. Make a checklist so you don’t show up missing something critical – there will not be anyone to borrow a guitar cable from! Here’s what I recommend:
- Rechargeable combo amp or portable PA. You don’t need a ton of power – many places have volume restrictions anyway. Focus on getting something that sounds good, has a separate input for your mic and instrument, and is carryable. I’m currently using a Spark Edge, which has 4 inputs plus Bluetooth and wifi, lasts around 10 hours on battery power on medium volume, weighs less than 15 pounds, and has a handle on the top.
- The right instrument - one you enjoy playing but are not terrified to bring out on the street. For many of us, our primary instrument is our baby and a prized possession. But you’re one person carrying gear around in public and you don’t have eyes in the back of your head. I personally put a call on Facebook for a playable electric that was gathering dust in someone’s house - and ended up giving a friend of a friend $40 for a used Jay Turser guitar I have really come to love.
- Microphone plus any extras you will need – cables, capo, tuner, etc. Make the list and check it twice, because there’s not going to be anyone to borrow a cable from if you forget one! Don’t forget any stands you will need – and consider whether there’s a creative way to bungee-cord them to your instrument case or backpack so you can keep your hands free while traveling.
- Tip container. The ideal is something that will neither break, nor blow away easily. Many NYC performers use a foldable fabric storage cube of the sort you can buy at a dollar store - super carryable and holds a lot. There’s also the classic option of opening up your guitar case in front of you, if it’s the right kind of case.
- Sign. In a digital age, you want to make it easy for people to not just remember your name, but connect to you online then and there. Put a QR code on there – ideally to a Linktr.ee or similar page that lists your socials and also has a virtual tip jar. Consider a retractable banner sign (look them up) or a vinyl banner with lightweight stands that fold up into a case you can sling over your arm.
Legal logistics are a thing too. Check with your local municipalities and see if busking is legal and if there are restrictions – often, there are volume restrictions or restrictions about where you can and can’t set up. Some municipalities, like NYC, have an official program for buskers. Music Under NY holds auditions to join their ranks, and while it’s not the only legal way to busk in the city – being a part of the program does come with distinct advantages like guaranteed spots and timeslots, and special exposure opportunities. Do your research, find out what the deal is in your locality, and follow the rules.
How to Make Your Performance Count
Whether your desire is an overflowing tip jar or a growing audience of diehard fans, your goal when you’re busking is to grab someone’s attention in 2.5 seconds - and keep it. Master this, and every single gig you ever have will become more meaningful. Here are some ways to do it.
- Go for a double-take - be different than someone expects at first glance. I’m a female-presenting performer with long hair and a pretty casual sense of style. People look at me and seem to think: folk musician. When I open my mouth with a legit rock wail or dial in a ripped-up electric guitar sound, people pause and turn back around to listen more. I’ve challenged their assumptions in a musically exciting way, and now they’re curious. How can you deviate from whatever box people might put you in at first glance, and inspire that curiosity?
- Do more than people expect from a solo performer. This is where gear (paired with your own artistic vision) is your friend. I’m a live looper, and I find that nothing gets people on the street interested like building a loop from the ground up while they watch - here’s some beatboxing, here’s a guitar groove, here are some background vocals - wow, now people feel like they’re listening to a duo or trio. You can get creative with a harmonizer, beatboxing or drum loops, looping, or - truly, anything you can think of. And busking is a great low-pressure way to try some of these things out. The Spark Edge comes with an app that allows me to dial in different vocal and guitar effects so that I can layer in really different sonic vibes while I’m looping. I’m still pretty loyal to my foot pedal looper, but the Spark App also has a built-in looper including a Creative Groove Looper that will let you bring in some smart accompaniment that follows what you’re doing live. It’s 2024 and the solo musician game has way more options than it used to. Get creative and see how you can make big dynamics around what you do.
- There’s nothing wrong with a gimmick. Identify something you can do that is a little bit whimsical and will make you instantly memorable. I saw a guy once who put his name on a LiteBrite which he put on a table next to him - remember LiteBrites?! I’ve seen people who deck out their gear with fairy lights, or attach a stuffed animal mascot to their mic stand. I even know a few musicians who plan out silly costume changes that they do in real-time on stage by layering on a few outfits and taking things on and off as they perform.
- Make the impression stick by being on top of your game. Once you get someone’s attention - you keep it by wowing them with your art. Make sure your instrument is in tune, your voice is cared for, and that you bring the same passion the 100th time you perform a particular song. For the listener, it’s their first time hearing you perform it - and if you make them feel something, they will want to hear you again.
- CAPTURE THE FAN. Please don’t literally kidnap anyone - but when you can tell someone is interested, show up for yourself and your future career by engaging with them. If you see someone filming you or snapping a photo, say “thank you so much would you tag me in that?” and point to your QR code. If someone comes up with a compliment or a tip, thank them and directly ask them to follow you or sign up for your mailing list.
1% Better is the Name of the Game
The bottom line is that just like learning an instrument – busking is something you master through practice. If you want to try out busking and see how it works - make a deal with yourself that you’ll take it seriously and try it out over a period of weeks or months so you can really see whether it’s something that can work for you.
Identify what your goals are – do you want to feel exhilarated and connected, do you need to make a certain amount in tips for it to feel functional, do you want to get people following you on social media? Take a look at those goals every time you get out there and perform, and ask yourself how you’ll go after those goals today. After you perform, ask yourself how you feel and if there’s anything you want to try differently next time. Perfection is an unattainable goal – but getting 1% better every time you perform is a totally attainable goal, and will help you grow like crazy over time.
Rorie Kelly is a singer/songwriter and live looping music witch from Long Island NY. She performs constantly both online and in person and has cultivated an intensely loyal community around her music. Rorie’s music has received airplay around the world, and has been featured in film and on TV. Her mission as a musician is to remind you to love yourself with the fierceness of a kitten who doesn’t know it is tiny.
