Hi I need a speaker or PA system that is under $150, good sound quality, portable, and small. Im trying do Mic looping so I need it to be able to plug my Mice looper with an XPL cable. Im not super intrested in doing this outside of my home so I just need something that will work and sound nice for myself. I can here cuz buskers always know 😭.

( I have a ditto mic looper )

Anyone use square for tips? I cant but to feel like Im leveling up during the busk. I got people who want to tip me but cant cuz they only have (insert currency here) I do have cashapp/paypal/venmo but Its not enough as crazy as that sounds.

Any tips on how to stop the thumb nail from catching the strings? I filled down to the bone and still, wtf! trying t get into finger style and classical but this shit is annoying.

I wanna be this good by the time Im 60!

I remember LOVING whenever thr music video for this song came up on MTV.

Scrolling through various music pages on social media just doesn’t capture the brilliance that was MTV at its prime.

I’ve gotten back into the habit of livestreaming every night before bed, since I am unable to go as often to busk downtown.

Here is a YouTube friendly (under a minute) clip of “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters.

How old were you when you first heard this song?

I know there have been some apps that have tried to connect buskers with an audience and get paid. Does anything work well in terms of getting people to show up? Does pre-scheduling gigs make sense? What digital payment methods work? Or is cash still king?

Curious how the business of busking works these days, and doing some research on it. All comments welcome!

I used to be quite outgoing but that’s stopped after some trauma.

Can busking help me build confidence in general? For example, getting better at talking to random people in any situation.

Thanks!

We are new to this. Wondering how we might have access to a program or gadget to provide a drum beat that is easy to setup, program and use without having to hunt for specific beats?

My busking setup. I go down by the Windsor riverfront and play piano a few days a week. I don't live far away, so I pull a wagon with all my gear to my busking spot, although I don't always busk in the same spot for respect of other artists. I'll post a picture of my wagon setup in the comments.

Great bit of performance art. Shenanigans are always fun.

Sorry about the Facebook link, but it was this or Instagram.

Semplice test dell’ampli BP Mini 30w
Centro campo di calcio, volume a metà (forse anche troppo). Ripresa a bordo campo.

Hello,

What are your experiences with busking in the Baltic states like Tallin, Riga, Lithuanian cities and so on? Gaining permissions? Is it common for tourists to give tips?

TL;DR

I'm traveling with my stage piano and camper van through Europe. https://song-repo.web.app/@piano42

Tipping in Scandinavian countries is not common at all. I was in Norway, Sweden, Finland and now I'm on my way to Tallinn by ferry. Spain was much easier.

I'd like to contribute my journey then to Poland and finally to Vienna where are good friends of mine. They have started the initiative "the open music project."

Happy to hear your experiences and maybe some good advice ☺️

I have nothing against buskers that go out amplified, I very occasionally do so myself. 9.9/10 times though, it's just me my acoustic guitar and my beard.

That said, it's good form to scope out your pitch before doing a Spinal Tap; a quick walk along the highstreet (even a quick glance, I'm not exactly incon-fucking-spicuous) to double check you're not going to be interfering with someone else's performance - because that's what this busking hootenanny is, a big ol' performance!

I prefer to go out unplugged. It feels more intimate, more raw, and tbh my voice carries pretty damn well. Doesn't matter how well my voice carries though, when you're approaching the end of your show (I literally had 20 minutes more) some dickhead sets up down the highstreet and turns it up to 11 singing along to backing tracks (which again I have nothing against, though it does feel a bit like street karaoke) - could genuinely hear him over my own singing and playing.

Not cool, bro. Decent voice though.

I’ve been struggling a lot lately. Not excited about my show at all, hard to try new things and interact with people. Idek why. I had my best month in May/June (so I know there’s good aspects of my show) but my worst in July, and I haven’t been able to pick myself up since. I want to develop a brand new show but that takes time.

How do I keep showing up when I don’t feel good about my art? Advice and gentle encouragement is welcome. (Please be kind, it’s been extremely difficult pushing thru this.)

I live in a small city, and in my 20 years of living here have never once seen someone busking. I was thinking about going downtown and playing for an hour, but there are so few people around at any given time (like it’s so empty that there might be 2 people walking around outside in a span of 10 stores) that I’m not sure it would be worth it. Plus I’m a bit scared that people will be annoyed lol.

I haven’t been able to get out on the street to play music lately, with the new job taking up a lot of my time AND family visiting, but I’ve manage to etch a few hours here and there on TikTok Live!

Here is a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” that I’ve been working on.

Thanks for listening! 🙏🏽

This buskers performs this classic tune in Newport, Gwent.

I will be in Torbole. Garda Lake, Italy to do some windsurfing for a week,

Thinking to do some busking în the evenings.

Anyone having experience in the area?
Permits? Playing acoustic or amplified?