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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Jan 22, 2009 19:22:17 GMT
Hi
i have this idea those of us who ever play outside on the street perhaps we could share experiences good bad etc
al
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Jan 23, 2009 13:02:45 GMT
To expand a bit i meant things like
good places to busk .....places where the cops give you hassle etc .....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2009 7:45:00 GMT
Whereabouts are you? Different countries and different cities all seem to have different attitudes and different legislation. In Birmingham UK you have to be registered with the Council as a "Street Entertainer", which costs nothing, but some cities ask for a license which can cost quite a bit of money.
Busking on the street is something I do occasionally, as it can be good fun, and is a useful way of practising and keeping sharp. Although I don't do it just for the money, how much you get is a handy gauge of how well the performance is going, and a measure of whether you've chosen a good spot. Here in Brum there are designated spots, so you can't just pitch up anywhere, or the streetwardens will ask you to move...don't know what it's like in other places.
I went to Leeds a few months ago, and there were quite a few buskers playing on Briggate, the main pedestrian shopping street..very busy, and potentially a good place to play I would have though in terms of punters and remuneration.
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Jan 24, 2009 20:32:49 GMT
Hi To answer your question im from Bath Uk but havent lived there for some time,there was a time when Bath was a great place to play but no doubt thats has changed
Musically speaking im based in belguim so a great deal of what i do is in the benelux countries and germany...it is true i think that so many different places have so many diferent rules I find luxembourg town ok to busk in zurich great if you want t o earn some cash
In the 90s i spent 2 years in munich that was always trouble in one form or another yet vienna or prague was very different
Thank you for the reply re Brum......that seems cool to my way of thinking a designated places to play Does it work?
al
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Post by robn on Jan 24, 2009 22:26:23 GMT
Hi Al, I thought you may be interested in seeing another busking scheme - the one for the London Underground www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/2435.aspxYou have to pass an audition to be able to busk!!!!! In some repects, I think that this is a good idea but it does snatch away some of that "pitch up and play" excitement. I busk occasionally in my local area and normally pop my head in at the local police station first. Local by-laws vary from town to town and are not always published on the net. I do a lot of "live practice" rather than busking - I go and sit somewhere public to play - normally the seafront. Robin
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2009 8:02:27 GMT
I'm not mad keen on the specified pitch idea, as in Birmingham they are not necessarily the best places to busk in terms of foot traffic, and you can't use an amp at some of the spots. Also the whole idea of having to be registered doesn't always seem to work....as some people just pitch up anywhere and try playing..I don't know how insistent the streetwardens are with those people, but more often than not when I'm playing i get asked by them if I'm registered and if I'm booked in their system. Police are never a problem at all in Brum.
It's pretty good for the stagecraft skills, as you inevitably have to deal with the odd bit of abuse and the odd drunk or socially maladjusted individual who insists and standing two feet in front of you to scrutinise your performance for 15 minutes...reducing the chances of getting any money to less than zero. I've also had a wino asking for money out of the hat whilst I'm playing...
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Post by growler on Jan 25, 2009 8:12:24 GMT
The only thing that freaks me out playing outside in public places over here in France , is because it is a child friendly place the children seem to have a free rein to run about in front of you, completely oblivious to their parents, resulting in them crashing into mike stands and tripping over cables,
regards Growler
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2009 8:49:03 GMT
Mike stands...cables.. busking?..surely not?! I often use a little Pignose Hog battery amp just to lift the guitar a bit, but that's all that I need.. And if you are using a reso, that's plenty loud enough on its own. I sometimes busk with a double bass player and that carries just fine with no amplification, add a piece of board with some beer bottle top jingle for stomping, sing loud and there's plenty of volume to carry over a busy shopping street.
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Post by growler on Jan 25, 2009 9:11:42 GMT
ChickenboneJohn Yes you a right . its just that I liken playing in the street outside the la Mairie ( Town Hall) the nearest I have been to busking, where they seem to always supply some sort of PA for you to plug into , or a plug if you want to use your own,
Regards Growler
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2009 11:14:42 GMT
Blimey..that's well organised! Playing on the street with a decent PA is good on a sort of semi-informal basis, as it's nice to be able to project everything a bit and pull people in. The last couple of years we've played at the German Chrsitmas Market in Birmingham, and that's a great atmosphere: decent PA and a little bandstand, right next to the Bratwurst stand and a couple of the bars...so always guaranteed to have a captive audience..plus there's a pretty decent fee as well!
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Jan 25, 2009 20:02:20 GMT
Hi all I am not surprised to hear about the differences in Francei have always found France wonderful for playing music Has anyone hear in this forum Busked in Switzerland or Italy ?would love to hear about it If anyone who reads this is going to pass through the benelux area please send me a private message .....if you are looking for anything..... al
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Feb 10, 2009 13:52:33 GMT
Hi this is a question just for fun really
for those who busk
where is the most wildest usual dangerous place you have played
i plyed in jerusalem on the streets a bomb went of one day later
al
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 10, 2009 17:12:10 GMT
I have not done any busking in my career, but in the old days I did play in a few pubs where some serious fights broke out. The only safe place was hiding behind the amps. It's times like that when a metal-bodied National guitar makes a very useful riot sheild!
I once did a concert out in the wilds....I won't say where....but the stage was about 10 feet high with a metre of chicken wire....we were introduced...'Ladies & Gentlemen please welcome from London the Michael Messer Band'.....and the reaction from the audience was F*** off!!!!.......I don't do gigs like that anymore,....I hope. It was Jake & Elwood Blues for real!!!
Shine On Michael.
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Feb 10, 2009 20:20:53 GMT
Hi
yes i can also relate to that the jake blues thing,i have gigged loads in germany when the skinhead menace was at its full swing
i have defended mid gig my guitars with all sorts of things it got the blood pumping .....
those were the days
al
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2009 22:45:13 GMT
If I tried Busking in Harrow Centre i would either get arrested, because I am slower the those selling illegal DVD's, mugged by a load of gentleman from Wembley Park or mugged by the local visitors from Albania.
I have seriously thought about it, and worked out some places to play, but t'would not be a good idea.
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