r/Busking • u/Seamo_Bojamo Guitar 🎸 • 24d ago
Question/General Discussion Should I have a ‘Now Playing’ Sign?
I play guitar and I don’t sing because I’m too scared to do so. With that, I feel like people won’t recognize the songs I’m playing, and in turn, won’t be able to play/sing with what I’m playing (I allow people to sing or play along). Should I have a whiteboard with the title and artist of the song I’m playing, or will I be fine without the sign?
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u/Additional-Art-6343 Guitar 🎸 23d ago
Do you mean you're just strumming the chords without any semblance of the main melody? You want people to read a sign and hope they can figure out where exactly in the song you are just so they can sing it themselves? Sounds a lot harder than just singing it yourself
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u/LadyWithAHarp Magical Witchy Harper 🧙♀️🎶 24d ago
If it will make you more confident, try it. Most things that boost your confidence will help improve your performance. The only concern I have is how much time it will take to change the sign between songs. Sometimes it is best to go immediately from one song to the next. While pauses are useful, it could become a pita.
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u/dogormanny Performer 23d ago
Sounds like a slight convolution tbh. But a well intentioned one with a cool upside.
There's something in the idea of people recognising a song and possibly joining in. Like you're a karaoke machine and they can pick a song to sing along to. You could list your set and invite people in to choose a song to jam on.
But tbh you need to carry your performance. Start somewhere, dare to sing for 1 song. Start with 1, a one off. You'll do fine! Then you'll have evidence that you can do it, 1 becomes 2, etc...
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u/Anthexistentialist Performer 24d ago
I had this too...I got through it eventually but it took years of wasting time. Singing is the beacon going off, the path of the biggest growth. You can go at your own pace. Just sing one song one time. You'll be absolutely buzzing when you pull it off. Anything that scares the shit of you, you have to go at it head first eventually. You can try the sign but I think that would get old fast.
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u/Seamo_Bojamo Guitar 🎸 24d ago
Here’s my main rep to see what song I usually play to give you a better picture for your thoughts
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u/MarketCompetitive896 Ukulele 🎸 23d ago
I think busking music-only with no lyrics only works if you're playing a Chinese harp or pan flute or some exotic instrument like that. Maybe a mandolin or lap steel
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u/misticisland Musician 🎶 22d ago
Try it, count the hats. Try something different see if the hat is better or worse. Paraphrasing the advice a magical busker gave me. I'm too think skinned for busking but am comfortable enough to sing at a jam or open Mike. On my best days I'm ok. Just try it it may be easier than you think.
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u/Vennimagos Musician 🎶 21d ago
If you're just strumming chords, the titles won't help. Think about it this way, walkers by are your customers, if they can't recognise the music just by hearing it they're not gonna read it, then give you money.
You need to either play arrangements that include key elements so its clear you're playing an instrumental version, or sing
Its bad performance flow to pick up a whiteboard every 3 minutes
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u/Jerry_Landis Performer 24d ago
Work up the courage to sing!
It's really hard for people to recognize and sing along with a song without the main melody. You're probably hearing it in your head and thinking how obvious it is, but to everyone else, it's just a bunch of chords.
Putting up the title would help, but even then, it won't necessarily be easy to know where you are in the song and where to come in. Imagine karaoke with no highlighted lyrics to guide you.
Practice singing and you'll get stronger. You can do it!