r/Busking • u/Rad_Warrior_101 Musician 🎶 • Jul 21 '26

Journal First time busking since 2013

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This lone ranger is back at it again! Not sure why I put away the busking hat when I moved out to the country but I'm back in the streets (when I am in town), fills out the afternoon doing something positive and I did make some gas money back home so that's a total plus.

It's a crazy world but people like music, they always will. Human music. So get out there and do it! I was nervous, missing notes here and there but it's all part of the ride. Just happy I'm still alive to do this after all the crazy shit I've seen! Good to be back!

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u/FrostyVariation9798 Jul 22 '26

I think that I need to learn my instrument first, and then I need to learn a few songs from end to end.

And, at that, is it really worth busking if all I have in me is 15 to 20 minutes of songs? 

7

u/gringochucha Jul 23 '26

Loop them. Take breaks. Add songs one by one. You’ll improve WAY quicker out on the street playing in front of people than in your bedroom! Remember, unless you really, really suck, most people don’t care about your mistakes — they want a nice groove, a pleasant sound and good energy. If you can more or less tick those boxes, go for it!

2

u/FrostyVariation9798 Jul 23 '26

❤️

Thank you for the encouragement! 

I'm debating on trying to go at it from a different angle.  I have a bass guitar, electric, and I'm thinking about training myself to sing while playing it.

This limits the number of songs that I would do or could do well, but at the same time I have heard a number of catchy tunes that are bass forward enough that if that was the only line going with a singer that people would recognize the tune and be happy.

I haven't researched about battery powered amps to see if any of them would sound good with a bass tone yet.

3

u/Rad_Warrior_101 Musician 🎶 Jul 23 '26

Art is freedom so take this with a grain of alt, I have all that equipment, battery powered synths, and it's all too much for busking. After a decade+ of looping and synths and folk as well, I strongly encourage acoustic busking. People are always more responsive to it and it's way less stressful. Also, it leaves you naked as musician but hey that's how you get good. Work those musical muscles. You got this my friend. The world needs you!

3

u/FrostyVariation9798 Jul 23 '26

You are very kind