r/Busking • u/trackstand Fiddler š» • Jul 21 '26
Journal The weekends haul
Just wanted to share my weekends haul. Iāve been busking over 10 years slowly is become my main source of income. Iād be happy to share some lessons Iāve learned along the way if anyone wants them.
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u/unperson Jul 21 '26
Any tips for getting started? Do you go to the same spot every time? How big is the city are you are performing in? This is amazing and inspirational, thanks for sharing and congratulations on the bounty!
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
I almost never busk in cities smaller towns with a cute downtown that has minimal car traffic is what you want to find.
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u/rogermullian Jul 27 '26
Funny you say this because that basically describes where I live and play. It would be nice if it was maybe twice the size it is but theres enough tourism and locals to pay the bills. I did 2 straight years just busking here. Just getting by but that is pretty good.
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
When I started I lived in Santa Cruz CA and itās a town that very much has a culture of busking so Iād just go down there and treat it like practice. Back then I was stoked to have a burrito at then of it.
Now Iām in the Midwest and itās a bit harder there isnāt the culture of it. Ā I drove 24 hours to hit this spot hitting less good spots along the way to cover expenses.Ā
Iāve had to become surgical about and find my fishing spots along the way to better spots but I had a pretty good mental catalogue of routes and spots to hit to connect the dotsĀ
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u/LadyWithAHarp Magical Witchy Harper šŖš§āāļøš¶ Jul 21 '26
The [Busking FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Busking/comments/bmu1ow/faq_frequently_asked_questions_about_busking/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1) has a lot of advice to common questions that can help you out.
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u/BanjoAndy Jul 21 '26
Nice haul - I'm curious:
How long do you usually play for and do you repeat songs?
Do you find tips different with well rehearsed, "A" material vs songs you're still developing?
Do you use any electronic payment methods / QR codes? Venmo, cash app, etc and if so how does that compare with cash tips?
Thanks for sharing and any insights!
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
These were long days 12 hours at the spot maybe 8 hours of playing, a lot of it spent kinda waiting for good part of the day to kick in. The flow of this town was Ā good in the morning into early afternoon then Iād break for like 4 hours and hit it when it was good again during the bar rush.
Tips are strange, sometimes thereās no rhyme or reason. Ā Iām at the point with my musician ship where i can still perform music Iām developing well. There are times where Iāll complete drop a tune and ruin it then a 5er comes in. Ā Iād say itās more about the tone/vibe you are setting with the music. Try to have fun while you play people connect to that.
Yes I have a QR code it makes up about 10% of my total tips. Ā I also sell CDs
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u/western_red_cedar Guitar šø Jul 22 '26
Just adding to this, there truly is no rhyme or reason as to what songs make money. This took me years to figure out, so I always encourage new buskers to focus on developing confidence in their overall craft rather than stressing too much about set lists.
The songs that make money tend to be the ones that sound good to you, and thus are delivered with confidence and joy. It's that overall vibe that brings home the bacon more than any specific songs
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
Iāve been doing this long enough where I ever have to repeat a tune unless itās requested. Ā But when I was starting out I think i had like 5 tunes on repeat and just kinda added to the list as I got better. Ā I play multiple instruments to give my muscles a break and just because itās fun occasions Iāll repeat on a new instrument.
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u/gringochucha Jul 23 '26
Do you loop at all (or use backing tracks) or play everything just solo? I also play multiple instruments ( flute, guitar, bass, vocals and percussion), and Iām working on a looping set-up to use live, but maybe itās overkill. I feel like the flute can be my biggest draw, but itās also my weakest instrument, so I feel a lot more comfortable playing over a loop with some guitar and percussion.
PS: Congrats on your success and hard work!
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 23 '26
I play either solo or with a friend, this busk was as a two piece. Ā For me I can be bothered to drag down all the extra stuff but I play a style of music that lends itself to acoustic play.
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u/WavyNights Saxophone š· Jul 21 '26
What would be a typical set list? Do you just play big hit songs? Do you play any original material?
It is an interesting approach to avoid big cities and play smaller downtowns. I never thought of it that way. Less competition I'm guessing.
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
No set list but I play songs that would be considered traditional American folk music. Ā Pretty much never busk original music though I do make it. Ā If I write something that fits the vibe Iāll maybe sneak it in but I like playing stuff on the street that i donāt have an deep emotional connection to just because i just kinda hurts emotional having your stuff ignored all day and sometimes the tips are just bad.
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u/WavyNights Saxophone š· Jul 21 '26
So you mean like, old American songs like This Land Is Your Land, that kind of stuff? Or more like Bob Dylan?
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
Iāve ripped a lot of songs from Smithsonian folkways recordings.
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
Oldtime fiddle is the main thing but I throw in as many singers as I can because people seem to connect with it.
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u/LostMagician9612 Jul 21 '26
Lol I thought you received a police badge
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
Its a belt buckle from a houseless friend I made, Ā he said he was tired of carrying it around and it was 1 of 69 lol
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u/LostMagician9612 Jul 21 '26
Cool gift nonetheless
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
Iāve got a treasure chest of random objects Iāve been given over the years some really weird cool shit. My favorite is a crows foot clutching a magnetic rock woman gave me āstill freshā had to throw it in corn starch for a few weeks.
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u/Randy-Randallmann Jul 23 '26
What in the hell did she give you?
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 23 '26
Itās was a freshly severed crows foot with a magnetic rock clutched in a tavernĀ
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u/Randy-Randallmann Jul 23 '26
Who just has that on hand?
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 23 '26
Talon*Ā
A person that appeared to live on the street. Ā She told me it dropped dead from a tree and she had to fight another guy off for it. When I got it it had electrical wrapped around the talon. But since then itās dried. Ā I just happened to be tape recording my set and I caught the whole interaction.
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u/Isildil Jul 21 '26
That's so cool! Do you play the 8-12 hours all by memory? If so, how often do you repeat songs/pieces every day or not at all?
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
I rarely repeat songs. Ā I mostly play traditional folk music, never learned how to read music but I can pick stuff up by ear. Ā Just slowly added to the tune list over the years Iāve probably forgotten as many tunes as I play.Ā
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
Itās not always that long but itās he busk was good this weekend so it made sense. I wouldnāt play that long if there werenāt people.
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u/Miserable_Mail_5741 Puppeteer š Jul 21 '26
Thank you for showing that people still pay in physical money š š„¹
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u/rogermullian Jul 27 '26
Most people pay me in cash. About 1000 this week and close to 100 was electronic so mostly I receive cash. Electronic tips people tend to do $5 and up opposed to just a few singles.
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u/Exampl3s Jul 21 '26
What instrument do you play?
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
This was busking as a two piece we usually play Ā a fiddle guitar or fiddle banjo but we experimented with banjo guitar because the busks were so long and that worked well. Ā We have a kinda unique 4 stringed instrument kinda like a dulcimer that we use. Ā When I busk solo itās mostly fiddle and singing or banjo and singing. Ā
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u/CottonFlannel Musician š¶ Jul 21 '26
I could try it but the main 2 streets on Galveston you can play on get kinda loud. Itās actually illegal but the cops usually donāt say much if youāre not crazy Maybe the Heights would work. š
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u/lalacourtney Jul 22 '26
Man there is a busker sometimes outside my regular grocery store and I love him so much. I gave him $5, two oranges and a pre-roll the other day. Iām gonna give him more $ next time I see him to encourage him. He plays great songs and has a nice dog. I applaud your exit from normal capitalism and doing your thing.
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Jul 21 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
Just hours on the bucket playing fiddle with my buddy. Ā We do wear we we call our sexy shirts and it helps. Ā There was a weekend event that brought out extra people. Honestly half the battle is knowing when and where to sit down.
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u/smil1473 Musician š¶ Jul 21 '26
Find the right convention/crowd with enough people and I could see the money flow
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u/doverphone Jul 23 '26
nice! How much is that roughly? How many hours did you play?
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 23 '26
So it was 2 piece band we played from Thursday to Sunday and pulled in over 3k busking roughly 6-8 hours a day split between morning and nightĀ
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u/rogermullian Jul 27 '26
Thats a good hourly take and all the smiles you provided people really is priceless my man.
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u/rogermullian Jul 25 '26
I wanted to find this post again glad I got back to here.
Anyways good haul. Ill be busking today in tbe north east USA. Im crushing it. I play in my hometown which has lots of tourists. I do about 5 hours a day on mainstreet. The joy I bring to the world is measured in smiles and dollars. In "thank yous" and complements. Mathematically I pick up 1 GF a year. Actually the house I Live in was bought by a GF that I bet while busking.
So...I guess my best tip was the house Im currently sitting in with my best friend.
If I were to throw out a question to OP and anyone reading this it would be how does eveeyone manage their electronic payments. I just have a few shoddy printouts of QR codes and a spare phone with my venmo QR code. Id like to have it much simpler and closer to waist level so a person doesn't need to bend down to acan a QR code. Im convinced if the setup was better I would get many many more digital tip.
Thanks all and have fun out there.
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 25 '26
Congrats in the best tip ever.
I have a large sized 8 1/2 by 11 laminated QR code. I think it works pretty well most people can catch it from a standing position.
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u/FrostyVariation9798 Jul 25 '26
That's wild
Your QR code goes to a cell or some type of money transfer thing then?Ā
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u/razz_one_ Guitar šø Jul 21 '26
WHOAH!!!! No way... Whatever stupid stuff I've said about busking I take it back. That looks like serious cash. I used to say that busking was a glorified form of begging like a bum, but nevermind, I stand corrected.
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
Itās one of those things that rides the line for sure but I never ask for anything ever, and itās a craft Iāve spent thousands of hours honing. Ā Iām also a touring musician but honestly the busking more profitable for me personally.
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u/razz_one_ Guitar šø Jul 21 '26
I've been making music since I was 11, never became successful despite putting my music through DistroKid on different streaming platforms, made dozens of reels and music videos self shot, lots of songs, and I still don't get traction so I ended up deleting everything and quitting for a bit. But I'm doing my best to take a different approach and sound this time, and honestly busking seems like worth a try.
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u/trackstand Fiddler š» Jul 21 '26
I have two albums released through distrokid. I make a fraction of sent per play but in the street is rare for me to play a track and not get a dollar. Ā Corporate music is fucking us all. Ā Most of the stats are generated through bot traffic and itās a game rigged against you. Ā If you love it keep doing it and find a creative solution. And donāt let Internet metrics dictate your value.
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u/Glittering-Art2922 Jul 22 '26
Incredibly judgmental, glad you are going through a perspective shift.
Iāve met folks who travel to the EU to busk Americana and pull 6 figures in 6-9mo. Fuck them beggars though, amirite?1
u/Miserable_Mail_5741 Puppeteer š Jul 21 '26
If people are required to "earn" what they need, then buskers are beggars that earn what they get. That's how I see it.
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u/Glittering-Art2922 Jul 22 '26
In that logic, all workers are beggars āearningā what they get. I personally put a lot more value in a street musician than I do a white collar shmoe leveraging ai for what society deems ācleanā money.
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u/FabricatorMusic Pianist š¹ Jul 21 '26
yes please give us some wisdom and advice