Ant138
106 posts
Aug 18, 2009
11:55 PM
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Hi everyone,
I'm off to Bristol next week (that's Bristol U.K) for a week long course with work. I'm a bit short on cash and i will not know anyone there, so i thought i might give busking a try for the first time. I think it might be an ideal situation especially being in an unfamiliar city.
I have done a couple of open mike nights with a guitar buddy but busking really scare's me, i'm not sure why but i dont like playing my harp in public places for some reason, i feel a bit self concious. But i do need to face this fear.
Can anyone here tell me about their first busking experience? What did you play? is repetition best? Do i just stick to a few simple 12 bar blues? I would love to here what your first busking experience was like, it may give me the kick up the backside i need to go out there and do it.
Thanx, Ant138
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Andrew
523 posts
Aug 18, 2009
11:59 PM
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I'm probably going to find out when I get made unemployed on March 31st! (at the age of 49 years and 363 days, oh I do so look forward to it, not!)
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harmonicanick
340 posts
Aug 19, 2009
12:55 AM
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Ant you are lucky; bristol has more harp players than you can shake a stick at!
There are open mics all over the place every night but a lot shut for holidays in August.
As a bristolian I suggest:
Tuesday night...Old Duke King St open mic hosted by Eddie Martin, no less, top British bluesman and virtuoso one man band
Thursday night...Backdoor Man Blues Jam at the Cornubia Pub in Temple St..this is a must for you as you will be welcome as harp player
Don't forget the harmonica festival at the end of october, again in Bristol.
I can't give any advice on busking because I haven't done any but good luck and hope to see you at one of the above.
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mickil
466 posts
Aug 19, 2009
1:05 AM
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Ant,
I used to busk an awfol lot in Croydon, Surrey. We've got a few subways that are really great for their acoustics.
Anyway, my advice would be:
1. You're gonna feel awkward at first, who wouldn't? You'll probably get a bit nervous and make a few mistakes. Most people won't notice, and even fewer will care; after a while, neither will you.
2. Keep it simple. With my then limited chops, I used to play relatively easy stuff that people would recognise: Amazing Grace, Stone Fox Chase, and Shenandoah come to mind.
3. If your repetoire is limited and you're self-conscious about repetition, as I was, subways are great; no one except for you is stationary.
4. If at first it goes like crap, don't worry. Sometimes, I'd make a fiver in the first 15 minutes; other times, I'd make less than a quid in an hour. The weather seemed to play a huge part.
5. Try to have fun. If your playing appears perfunctory, it will be taken as such.
Good luck.
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
http://www.youtube.com/user/SlimHarpMick
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2009 1:08 AM
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Andrew
527 posts
Aug 19, 2009
1:06 AM
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I've got a friend in Bristol called Peter Rowswell, in case you ever hear of him, but he's a jazz guitarist, and I doubt if he'd ever bother with harps again since he abandoned them in the Seventies.
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tookatooka
393 posts
Aug 19, 2009
1:23 AM
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Ant138. May be worth busking to the queue at the Banksy exhibition. Apparently it can get as long as two miles. It would be slow moving though so you'd need to know quite a few tunes.
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When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
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Andrew
528 posts
Aug 19, 2009
1:27 AM
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Ugh, don't talk to me about Banksy and his feeble political satire. That guy is so over-hyped it's painful.
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2009 1:28 AM
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tookatooka
394 posts
Aug 19, 2009
2:51 AM
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Andrew I don't want to hijack Ant138's thread but on Banksy we'd have to agree to disagree. You can't over-hype someone who wants to remain anonymous unlike your Damien Hirst's and Tracey Emmin's (who can't draw for toffees). Although his prolific output and social comment is not to everyone's taste, his sense of humour pierces the heart of the art establishment and shows it up for the sham that it is.
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When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
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Ant138
107 posts
Aug 19, 2009
3:52 AM
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Wow great reponse guy's, thank you.
I will try to get to the Blues jam in Temple st, i dont think its too far from where im staying(im not sure how far King st is). My course is from 09:30 to around 4pm so im free after that. I did want to get to the Banksy exibition but i think its a bus ride away from where im staying (The grand by Thistle hotel, Broad st) and i dont think i would make the last entry time.
Thanks for the advice guy's, i am determined to give it a go even if i find a quiet spot to begin with then work my way up to a busy area.
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2009 5:41 AM
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walterharp
23 posts
Aug 19, 2009
6:08 AM
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My first was at the country fair, in Eugene Oregon in the 1980's. It is an easy crowd, cause they are mostly in a pretty good mood, not all without external help. The topless hippie women helped me from the inspiration angle.
It is a good way to work out fear, you don't need to be great, cause they only pay you if they like you. Unamplified, it forces you to think about projection and clarity of tone.
The more things you play, the better people will like it, but play some songs that everybody knows.
Do not infringe upon a spot that another busker has staked out, as a newbie, you get the worst spot.
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Ant138
109 posts
Aug 19, 2009
6:29 AM
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Thanks for that Walterharp. I will be playing acoustic as i've got enough bags to carry with me as it is without an amp and mic to add to it.
Topless Women hippies are always a bonus, but i dont think i'll get that sort of inspiration in Bristol.
I was thinking of playing Amazing grace,Key to the highway, sweet home Chicargo and maybe some basic 12 bar blues Oh and if i can get my chops up, Baby please don't go.
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mr_so&so
188 posts
Aug 19, 2009
8:43 AM
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Ant, I'm still a while away from my first busk, but from what I've seen of your Youtube offerings, you've got the makings for some good entertainment. Love those rhythmic chugs. You could keep one of those going for a long time and have a nice full sound that people will like. Good luck with it, and let us know how it goes.
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harmonicanick
342 posts
Aug 19, 2009
9:32 AM
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Ant138 if you are staying in Broad st then you can walk around the centre easily. There is no underground just bus & taxi.
From the Thistle you can walk to King St to the old duke in 2/3 mins on tuesday and to Temple St at the Cornubia in 5 mins n thursday.
Banksy at Bristol Museum is at the top of Park St 10 min walk
Last Edited by on Aug 20, 2009 12:21 AM
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sopwithcamels266
195 posts
Aug 19, 2009
10:55 AM
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Harmonica Nick:Well I guess if you post your clip you get all comers right
That is suppose to be blues right. If it is it ain't the blues I know.There ain't no blues in that.
The singer is a joke frrankly.As for the rest of it
thousands of bands young and old going out and doing rubbish like that.
Why don't folk learn what the blues is and what it's about. Man that band couldn't deliver a pizza properly.
Still, if they are enjoying themselves that is good I guess.
.
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2009 10:56 AM
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mickil
469 posts
Aug 19, 2009
1:03 PM
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Ant,
That other thread 'What A Wonderful World' made me think to suggest it here. In 1st position, it starts:
2< 3< | 4> 4> 6>
I see | trees of green etc
It really is easy to play; you can do it all without even playing a bent note if you want. Peeps know it and like it a lot.
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
http://www.youtube.com/user/SlimHarpMick
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2009 1:04 PM
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jbone
125 posts
Aug 19, 2009
9:47 PM
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i have done a sort of solo busking thing like when my partner- wife- Jolene- goes into the pavilion at the local farmers market for a break and some cooler air. while she's away i keep our spot and pretty much i just improvise something like mellow down easy. it's a chance to work on some things too. i have most always had at least a guitar partner, sometimes 2 or a banjo or mando also.
like any new experience in public, if you just do what you know in your gut will work- ie songs you know by heart, or improvs you are confident in, it will go well. i don't know what value people place on street performance there, but here in the south usa, it's up and down. we sometimes get a five or 2, usually a dollar or some change. some days we barely make gas $$, others it's like we can't do anything wrong as long as we're making noise!
the hardest part is getting those first few notes out. once you get started- with something you're familiar with- generally i have found that i'm too busy with the instrument to think about my anxiety. one pitfall i have found though, is if i start trying to guess who's going to drop a tip, and otherwise watching the crowd too much, i can lose my place and make more than usual miscues.
i also don't know if this would be a factor but here, there are homeless people and hustlers walking around. if they see a chance they will try and hit us up for a buck, a smoke, whatever. at very least it's something of a distraction, and as yet we have not had our tips actually grabbed, but the possibility is there. we once had a guy hanging around, yelling and dancing around between the crowd and our tip hat. then he had the nerve to ask for a cut of out nonexistent tips! as if he'd done us a favor. i shined him on, showed him our prmit and asked where his permit was! and that's something to make sure about, or maybe just go ahead and see if the cops bother with you. the only time we were hassled at all- and they were real nice about it- we were on a street corner, and there's a law on the books here about creating a bottleneck on a public street. they very nicely pointed us to the farmers market that time, which was all but empty, still we found a place and made a tip or 2!
i'd say just go for it and see how it works out. at very least it's a very freeing experience, and who knows, you may meet a solo guitarist who you could team up with.
best of luck and i hope you give us a report when you get back.
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Ant138
110 posts
Aug 20, 2009
1:18 AM
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Thanks again for the advice, everyone on here has been really helpful. I'll see you next week Harmonicanick!!
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Ant138
111 posts
Aug 30, 2009
1:07 AM
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Well i did it. Whilst in Bristol i managed to pluck up the courage to play in public. I didnt make any money but thats not what it was about. (i didn't realise just how many people listen to their iPods)I really got into it and the kids seemed to love it.
Im sorry i didnt get to see you HarmonicaNick , i did pop to the open mic nite but i only stayed till 9pm(it hadn't even stated then) as i had loads of work to do for the course i was on.
I will be coming back to Bristol so i will catch up with you then.
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Jfllr1
16 posts
Aug 30, 2009
2:17 PM
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Go again give me you location I'll watch :)
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"Blow as thou pleaseth"
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