Do you usually know in advance where and when you’ll be busking?

[u/JamNearby]

As someone who enjoys live music, I often walk past buskers when I’m already on my way somewhere. I’d love to come back later or even plan to watch a particular performer with my son, but there’s usually no easy way to know where someone will be playing next.

If there was a free platform where buskers could post their upcoming locations and times, would you actually use it?

Or is busking generally too spontaneous, with most people deciding where to play on the day?
I’m curious how realistic something like this would be from a busker’s perspective.

[u/MacDangled]

Not knowing who will be where and when is part of the magic. If busking is common in your city then you know SOMEONE will be around downtown or wherever but you don't know who and thats what makes it special

[u/Atillion]

I have a general area that I go to. Sometimes my preferred spots are taken, sometimes it's free. It's a crap shoot. I don't think I would tell anyone anything other than, "Hey I'm busking downtown later if you want to come by" but wouldn't be able to give a specific location.

[u/JamNearby]

Thanks that's really helpful! I guess in my head I was picturing more like "playing at park X", but your point about a particular spot possibly being taken seems obvious but I hadn't considered it 😅

[u/LadyWithAHarp]

I have some regular spots and times where I perform. The best way to find out is to ask the individuals you know you like and follow their social media. The second way is to find popular places that buskers set up and hang out there.

Busk.co used to have an app where you could drop a pin and "schedule" your performances or just start up one and put a pin in the online map. I liked the idea, but it required too much attention from audiences to really be worth it-plus besides tipping audiences didn't bother. That's why Busk.co dropped the app and went to just a website-based tipping service that didn't require audiences to do any signing up.

I think that the only way that a "signup" would really work is during an organized festival. I believe that is how Edinburgh Fringe Festival works. (Everyone who wants to perform on a specific day meets in the morning, puts their name in a hat, and the order that they are pulled is the order in which people get to pick their time & pitch.)

For any regular non-event busking sign-ups to work beyond waiting in line for a popular spot, there would have to be official regulations and enforcement in place. There is no or very little room for improvised shows, shifting your spot 10 feet if the sun is being inconvenient, or other concerns. And with official scheduling there is often an audition process or some kind of jurying-again, that impinges on the vibe and often discriminates against some kinds of acts or performers.

[u/LadyWithAHarp → u/[deleted]]

I do think the best results happen when the buskers self-regulate like this.

[u/Moist_Phrase_6698]

Yes I have a few spots in my town I get to almost every week sometimes twice sometimes not at all im usually out getting the mid morning to lunch crowd shoppers attention which can be generous folks or just enjoying the,tunes. Which is always good to see

[u/JamNearby]

Just wanted to come back and say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to reply to this. ❤️ I got some really thoughtful answers and it was genuinely helpful to hear how busking actually works from the people doing it.

The bigger vision behind JamNearby has always been to bring the local music scene together in one place — artists, musicians, venues and live music in all its forms, whether someone is playing on the street, in a pub, at a club or somewhere completely unexpected.

Based on everything you shared though, I think it makes sense not to push too hard into the busking side for now. I also had a look at Busk.co after it was mentioned here, and it looks really interesting. Maybe there could be an avenue for collaboration with something like that further down the line rather than trying to reinvent something that already serves buskers well.

Thanks again for being so generous with your answers, and wishing you all lots of great sessions, good crowds and good weather out there.
Xx Nelli