Street Music and Public Attraction
Public performance is a great way to get recognition as a musician, earn money, and connect with your local community. Also known as busking, street music involves playing music in public spaces for tips rather than for entertainment or as part of an event.
That said, did you know that Ed Sheeran used to sing in the streets before he gained recognition? Yes, that’s true! Ed moved to London in 2008 to try his luck in mainstream music. He started as a busker, playing in small venues, and auditioned for Britannia High the same year. Busking played a huge role in Ed’s success as a musician.
Many aspiring musicians worldwide have been using busking as a side gig to portray their talent publicly and earn some extra bucks. In fact, street music has helped many singers become what they are today.
Busking is an effective way for enthusiastic musicians to build confidence and learn to perform in front of huge crowds. You will find old-fashioned street performers everywhere, from traffic signals to festivals to famous market areas to subways!
Street music performance is a good way to earn money and recognition.
So, are you a budding musician wanting to learn everything about the art of busking and how street music can change your life? Keep reading to learn how these talented men and women use their unique skills to draw public attraction.
How Street Musicians Create a Show to Gather People?
It is easy for street musicians to gain maximum attention from the public and create a successful busking show because their music itself is compelling.
Usually, street musicians set up a stage by laying out some props on the street to draw the public. These props can be your guitar case, a drum box, a piano box, or anything related to music.
Some musicians also put money in these props to let the audience know where and how to tip.
From what we have seen, street musicians start performing like it is the last show of their lives - they do their best, whether singing or performing an instrument.
Plus, busking can be done individually or as a group. We have seen plenty of bands busking collectively; composers, singers, guitarists, pianists, and drummers.
How Much Do Street Musicians Earn?
As stated earlier, street music helps budding musicians earn both cash and recognition. On average, street musicians can make $0 to $200 daily, depending on their talent and the place where they perform.
But even if the performance site is good and crowded, you won’t be able to earn any tips if the performance isn’t worth it. The better you perform, the more tip you’ll get! Also, the earnings of buskers are higher on weekends than on weekdays.
Tips to Succeed as a Street Musician
Now that you know the basics of street music and how it is done, we have some handy secret tips to make your busking successful. Read on!
1. Choose Louder Instruments
You can’t perform street music with just any musical instrument. Busking is done in crowded places with a lot of noise, so you will have to choose louder instruments to be clearly heard.
Here is a list of some musical instruments that are best for busking:
Cajons
Bluetooth Keyboards
Electric Guitars
Digital Pianos
Stompboxes
Horns
Auxiliary percussion
Djembe’s
Busker Amp
A Good Quality Microphone
2. Appearance is the Key!
Apart from musical performance, the appearance of the artist matters too. As such, it is a good idea always to dress nicely and moderately. But dressing nicely doesn’t mean showing up like you are at a wedding. Just don’t look like a homeless person - wear neat and comfortable outfits!
Dress nicely while playing music in the streets.
It would be best if you also try and dress according to the music you will perform. For example, wear bright colors and some headwear if you plan on playing hip-hop. If you plan on performing jazz, you may want to wear ties, formal vests, and fedora hats.
3. Be Loud and Confident
The most common mistake street musicians make is not singing or performing loud enough. Again, you will be performing in a crowded place, so you must ensure you are being heard. Be as loud as possible when you are performing.
Having a loud voice not only improves your performance but also portrays you as a confident person. This confident personality will further leave a great impression on the audience and will persuade them to keep listening. The more your audience likes your confidence and performance, the more tips you get.
4. Choose the Perfect Location
Finding the right location is the key to successful busking. You just can’t pick any road or street and start performing; this will only waste your time. Instead, choose a location with high traffic and a large crowd.
Also, ensure the area is spacious enough to perform and fit in all your equipment. The ideal example for busking sites are street corners, sidewalks, parks, festivals, and outside grocery stores. Just try not to set up outside a bar or restaurant that plays music.
Another crucial factor in choosing the right location for busking is ensuring that other musicians do not occupy it. Hijacking the location of other musicians is not only ethically wrong, but it will also cause chaos. The noise of both performances will mix up, and the audience won’t enjoy or understand a thing.
5. Play Recognized Songs
Ensure the songs you plan to perform are recognized, and your audience is familiar with most of them. You can research the audience of your targeted area and create a playlist with relevant songs.
6. Don’t Stick to the Same Songs
Some buskers learn five same songs and keep performing them daily. But this is not a good practice. People who visit your busking place regularly will notice it. You don’t want to bore them every time with the same songs, do you?
Buskers should have variations in their performances. Keep changing your playlist and perform at least one new song daily.
6. Always Say Thank You!
In the end, never forget to acknowledge your supporters. Whenever someone drops cash in your tip box, take a second out and say thank you! If you can’t really say because you are performing, just nod your head and pass a smile to your supporters!
Enroll in Music Class
Are you looking for a music lesson in Winchester or Acton, MA? You’re at the right place! Stage Music Center offers instrument and voice music classes for kids and adults.
Enroll in a music class now or contact us for more information.
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