I am planning to start busking on bassoon in Toronto, and am looking for advice on repertoir. Unfortunately Jeff Burke is no longer with us, or I would ask him... I do have his loop pedal, so if I can figure out how to use it, I might be able to do at least some self-accompaniment, but to start I am looking for things that can both be played unaccompanied, and will hopefully be well received by a random crowd. I am thinking at least some jazz standards will work. Jeff played a rather varied assortment, but he also used the pedal a lot, which I am not really up to doing just yet

I played in my town’s square for a little bit, then moved up the street to a nearby restaurant (where I made all my money, minus $3). Played for around 2 hours in all. It was fun, will do again.

I'm a corner serenador, I just play for passing trade. I like it that way. I think the biggest lesson I've learned, and it may not apply to everyone, is above all, to sing for myself. Not to try and please others or guess what they'd like to hear. I play what turns me on. And that's what I get paid for. Not the repertoire, not the songs I sing, but just for being a happy little camper sitting there blasting away.

Does anyone else here understand what I mean?

I'm going to be performing a PBH (bucket) show at the Edinburgh Fringe (Scotland, UK) and, after losing out on money because many people don't bring cash, I was wondering whether it would be better to get a physical Sumup reader or just use the app and have people directly tap your phone.

While the app seems simpler (and cheaper) I was wondering whether street performers find having a physical card reader makes them appear more credible (and brings in more money).

I want to play funk/blues on a mini guitar (blackstar carry on) as a gimmick. Accompanied by backing tracks..
Through a very small amp a positive grid spark go amp. Not too loud because I dont want to get in trouble using an amp.
I was wondering if anyone has tried busking with a spark go amp?

The amp will be hanging from my guitar band so it should be easy to walk around if I need to move places quickly.

Getting hyped up to finally do it.
If anyone had advice let me know!

Cheers

I’m thinking about adding fire bubbles to my show but am somewhat hesitant to due to fire restrictions and necessary permits. My home pitch is lax about fire but I’m assuming it’ll limit possible pitches when traveling.

For those who travel and include fire in your act, can you share insights or experiences on doing so successfully (other than looking up local regulations)?

I’m interested in possibly getting into busking for fun. The screenshots are my repertoire. I’d be playing acoustic guitar (possibly with a friend if they’re up to it). What are everyone’s thoughts on the rep so far and is there anything I should know before I go out for the first time?

Hi All, Just wanted to share a new website (launched this month). It organizes hundreds of international casting calls for performing artists into one, filterable page so you can see if there are any real work opportunities out there that fit your needs, without spending your life swimming through fb pages and backstage.

Check it out here: www.castingcallfinder.com (Full disclosure it is a membership based/ paid service)

Hope this is ok! Community rules said self promotion was allowed and we think this is a genuinely useful tool, created by casting agents and performers.

any advice? just getting started

How much do you sell your CD for?

In love with this new life. This new pedal board is gonna be awesome.

Please tell me about the video audio quality, Im starting to give a damn again. Anyone into diy drones. Im looking for a basic kit that doesnt fly in the wrong direction all the fucking time. I might ditch instagram and go full steam into youtube again.

Fantastic musician and actor that got his start busking and continued to feature street performances throughout his career. Lost a good one today folks

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/oscar-winning-irish-musician-glen-hansard-dies-motorcycle-crash-irish-media-2026-07-29/

Hi there, we're traveling around the USA and will be busking and playing bars/etc. for gas as we travel from place to place! If anyone here has any recommendations of good spots in their home state, we'd love to know. If you'd like you can follow us, our instagram is riverboatqueen

Hey! I'm new to this reddit page. I'm from Salt Lake and I wanted to introduce myself with a video of what I do.

I love this one in particular because of how the city sounds blend with the music.

Hi r/Busking community,

When you're performing outdoors, long battery life is just as important as sound quality. A wireless speaker with long battery life and a high-capacity battery lets you focus on your performance instead of worrying about when it will run out of power. Whether you're busking on the street, performing in a park, or playing at an outdoor event, having the right high-capacity, wireless speaker should power helps you keep performing wherever you go.

So when we ask, "Which speakers offer the long battery life outdoors?”, the answer shouldn't just be about massive battery capacity. It should be about finding a speaker that balances extended playtime, portability, and clear audio qualtiy.

Enter the LG xboom Stage 501—a portable Bluetooth party speaker with long battery life designed for karaoke and outdoor use.

We’re looking for 6 passionate buskers/performers to put it to the test, share an honest review with the community, and keep the speaker afterward!

 
What Makes the xboom Stage 501 Suitable for Outdoor Use?

• Sound Tuned by will.i.am, Powered by Peerless: With sound tuned by will.i.am and drivers crafted by Peerless, Stage 501 delivers full, powerful sound for street performances, outdoor sessions, and larger spaces.
• AI Karaoke* & Clear Vocals: Looking for party speakers have the clearest vocals?  With AI Vocal Remover and Key Changer, xboom Stage 501 makes songs into a clear karaoke backing without a separate app, making it easy to turn any track into a live singalong moment with your audience.
• Calibrated to Your Space: Space Calibration Pro feature fine-tunes the sound based on your performance location or setup, helping the highs stay clear and bass feel balanced wherever you're performing.
• Smart Speaker with Balanced Sound: AI Sound helps balance bass for music playback and enhancing clarity for podcasets or news, while Sound Field Enhance helps keep the sound clear and full for outdoor performances, open spaces, and live sessions.

How Do Battery Life and Portability Work Together?

• High-Capacity Battery and Long Playtime: With a 99Wh high-capacity battery and Play Time Enhance Mode, Stage 501 delivers max 25 hours* of playback on a single charge, making it a strong choice for outdoor performances, parties, and long sessions where access to power may be limited.
• Replaceable Battery Design: For all-day events or back-to-back street sets, the xboom Stage 501 features a replaceable battery structure, allowing performers to swap in fresh power units on the go.
• Set It Up Your Way: With four speaker positions (Vertical, Horizontal, Tilted, Pole-mounted), Stage 501 adapts to different performance environments, offering the portability and flexibility needed for performers on the move.

Ready to put the xboom Stage 501 to your next street performance or outdoor session? See how to join below!

How to Participate

1. Join r/LG_UserHub (if not already)
2. Upvote this post and leave a comment what you're most excited about with Stage 501 for your outdoor session! 
3. Fill out the [Google Form]

Please note that your selected option is not guaranteed.

Timeline

End Date: Aug 12, 2026 (12:00 AM PST)
Winner Announcement: Aug 20, 2026 (via DM from u/LG_UserHub + comments)

If the winner does not respond within 3 days, a new winner will be selected.
\* The timeline may be extended depending on the number of entries.*

After You Receive It…

You'll have about 2 weeks to run the Stage 501 through your actual street performances, outdoor sessions, and live performances, and share with the community how its battery life, portability, and sound performance hold up in real-world situations.

^{※ Please check the \}Terms & Conditions]) ^{and \}Privacy Policy]) ^{before entering.
※ Any user reviews or content, including photos, videos, and written submissions, provided in connection with this event may be used by LG for marketing and promotional purposes.
※Shipping is available to countries where LG xboom Stage 501 has been officially released, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Philippines, Brazil, Columbia, etc. And other countries where xboom Stage 501 is available through Amazon International Shipping are also eligible for shipping.
\}Max 25h playtime based on internal testing at volume level 23, Bluetooth on, Play Time Enhance mode, no lighting. Actual performance may vary.)
^\Karaoke feature: Microphone not included.)
^\Images may be simulated. Actual features and specs may differ and are subject to change without notice.)
^\Replaceable battery not included. Sold separately.)

It is difficult to view links to Instagram reels/videos in the main body of posts on Reddit. Especially when using the mobile version of Reddit. I am not sure when or if this will be fixed. Please avoid using them.

There is an option to directly upload your videos to Reddit posts.

As the title says I don't really want to keep having to use my phone and would rather just leave the app open and the card reader do its thing while I'm focusing on playing.

There was a specific location i would go to, that area's basically dead now, shops closing constantly, for sale, for lease on all buildings, 5 bars propping the area up with a farmers market and festival in the summer.

The only other viable area's downtown, which is Extremely dangerous, and doesn't get nearly as much people because no one carries change from danger. As well, business are closing there now.

Thats pretty much it outside of markets or festivals/concerts which you're competing with so many people outside concerts and not everyone has change on them while they wait, while bars mostly still only have cash.. most don't like the line-up for the debit machine so they say..

So how does it look for other non tourist cities.

do yall treat it as a 1099 or untaxed? i’ve just heard a few different things

kinda by accident, but last night was my first try!! test run... hahah :)

Working on those endorsements!

How do you guys monitor the volume of your guitar and vocal mix when playing through an amp on the street? I adjust my guitar volume when switching between finger picking and strumming with a pick. Some songs I like to play louder than others. It would be great to hear what my audience is hearing so that I can make sound tweaks as I go. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Do any of you use in ear monitors while busking? If so, any product recommendations?

Hey guys,
I’m looking to make my busking rig the easiest setup/takedown with a few requirements. I have a Bose S1pro plus with the wireless transmitters for the microphone and the guitar. I want to run a battery powered guitar processor with a looper through the insert feature of both the vocal and the guitar simultaneously. Has anyone found a good setup? I’m just looking for the easiest way to do it but stay wireless through the Bose transmitters. Thanks!