how to busk
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- Опубліковано 12 тра 2024
- How do you go about playing music on the street? I asked Matt from Too Many Zooz, and went busking with Mary Spender and Ian Barnett.
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by popular demand, you can now buy "PLAY THE RIGHT NOTES, MATE," t-shirts.
teespring.com/play-the-right-notes-mate#pid=46&cid=2742&sid=front
So, I was hearing to Steve Reich and I was wondering if there's any type of harmony on his music, or what's up with harmony in Microtonal music like Julian Carrillo. Even the concept of harmony applies to those cases?
Great video by the way!
We did it Reddit
I'm sold. Good use of marketing Adam.
bully the guitar player shirts next :)
Hahaha yes!! Now that's good merch!
My strategy is to play horribly, with a sign saying "need money for lessons"
fucking genius
Or play horribly, with a sign saying "put some money and I will stop...................until you leave"
do a video of it lol
And do it every fucking day until you drive someone crazy and he shoots you
@@ISKMUSIC1 that's pretty much how busking in Indonesia works. Just without the sign.
"Play the right notes, mate"
Wondering if this was a mistake or Adam exercising bass privilege by doing some improvised reharms
this is the new knower protip
In jazz, there are no wrong notes. They are just wonky chords
Adam apparently forgot that repetition legitimizes. That would've worked if he would just done it couple more times.
Best tip for busking
"I've been replaced by a trombone player.
Fate worse than death."
Sorry I cackled.
Definition of an optimist from the '90s. A trombone player with both a pager and a cell phone, so they don't miss any calls about gigs.
by a trombone player...
The guy kinda looked like Andrew Digrius, the former trumpet player for Thank You Scientist, who also played trombone on some tracks. I wonder if it was actually him, but sadly there's no way of knowing...
Trombone players have one advantage over the other horns: the full arm movement of the slide attracts more attention the minuscule finger movement of the other horns.
As a trombonist that shits funny
@@jonathanmcdaniel1040 your big slide is like a weapon though, people can't come near to give you money because they might get jabbed.
This doesnt really count as busking but my first time “busking” was in Seoul on a cute little yellow public piano where i played some Latin rock songs and random improv and a nice Korean lady gave me three pieces of gum and to this day i have kept the wrappers as a motivation to keep going as a musician especially because it was during a time where i was in a dark place and was considering giving up in music
Those sticks of gum meant more to me than the amount of money I made that day... which was zero LOL
Mario c
Is your opus "Three Pieces.... of gum" is ready for the bedpost over night? I have given up music more times than you have chewed those three pieces of gum. dark is good.
let me jokesplain that... in "The Sound of Music" Julie Andrews sings "a Spoonful of sugar helps the Medicine go down in a most delightful way" this song was relyriced "does your chewing gum lose it's flavor on the bedpost overnight" by hispanic comedian Jose Himeniz as a mocking of 60's bubble gum pop like the Monkeys and Tommy roe and Bobby Heart. In hindsight bubble gum was truly a special sub genra of pop/rock music that is todays least common denominator. So get with so Tiffany and do bubble gum pop It's your calling. It's your Seoul
Awww thats heartwarming!
thats super sweet omg
I got replaced with a trombone player... A fate worse than death.
Luke Beadles you better watch what you say about trombones buddy boo or there might be some trouble 😡😂
Luke Beadles could have been worse.... at least it wasn’t a BASS trombone player
BASS
Oh, look at this little trombone boi gettin upset! That's so cute!
@@31pas0 *wooosh*
shout out to the cops for being super polite!
Awesome!
I read "police" and thought I was too old for modern humor for a second.
How about getting an acoustic bass? Or are they too silent?
Oh no, a musician said something nice about officers of the law. . .
Guess he's a racist
How do I subscribe to the polite police?
try having a sign that says: "gonna play "the lick" for every donation" and see what happens xP
KamiDisturbed that sounds so ominous
That is such a good idea bro
Heres a bit more busking advice. Be entertaining, don't just stand there, or sit on your amp, its like when you do a regular gig. its more than just the music, add some Choreo, do something outlandish, wear something bright. Entertain, demand the attention by calling them over. Also a horn always helps. Im surprised the trumpet player of too many zoos didn't mention this, their bari player goes insane with the dancing and playing. People listen with their eyes, not just their ears. I've had days where I've made $200 and days where I've made $50. The days I've made 200 is cause I've had tons of energy. Also the ideal number of people to busk with is 3(drums/bass(or guitar)/horn). keep it up beat and funky. Try it again with all this in mind and it'll be a lot better. dance and play, break a sweat make it look like you are having fun. Entertain!!
Right!
Another hack: switch instruments at the fly.
And another, keep your instrument and fret the notes of your bandmates, and viceversa, as the ''Steve Vai best performance HD''. When they join at the center of stage and pick their guitar/bass but fret another one, crazy interactions made people go crazy.
That blows people's minds.
In my case its true. Have like 12 years of busking experience. People play way less when I'm standing still and also when my articulation is nonexistent (playing alto sax). And yeah, wear flashy clothes, you are trying to entertain them, not make them squeze money out of their wallets out of pity. And last but not least, nobody will enjoy your music if you are not enjoying it. Play what you like, drop the songs you despise, even if those are popular.
catch me quoting the lick while twerking in the middle of Washington Square
@@theoddnightingale8673 pls do 😂
amplification not allowed, but a drum kit is OK... makes sense
taken to it's logical extreme, a full orchestra is ok but a guitarist with one of those little pocket amps isn't.
@@ateol And then officers have to have something to measure the decibels. If they need some stuff to monitor every law its just not possible in practice.
We still agree this leads to completely dumb situations.
@@ateol In that case it means the government should buy a cellphone for each agent?
@@ateol Cellphones are not made equal though. One app on an iPhone and another app on a Samsung might read differently, simply because of calibration. Are you then going to impose regulations on decibel-measuring apps to ensure that every phone will read the same volume?
Furthermore, there will always be the problem of how you determine this volume limit. On one hand, you have to consider the public, who might find loud music irritating. On the other, you have to consider buskers, who rely on their music to advertise their craft. What is too much and what is too little? You would have to appoint a whole committee, gather feedback, and agree on a single number which is supposed to accommodate the needs of both parties.
The solution of "no amps allowed" might be hard to swallow for some but it works... to a certain extent. And that is mostly sufficient. This is a relatively minor issue compared to, say, violent crimes, so the amount of resources devoted to the issue is relatively smaller as well. It is the more practical compromise - officers can make an easy distinction of amp or no amp (plus their own discretion in certain cases), and buskers know that they need a permit to use an amp.
wtf man, you can play drums at almost any volume if you're good. A trumpet can be louder than a drum btw.
I went busking once for 10 mins and some dude dropped me $20 so I went home I never busked since
Yeah, now you can somewhat credibly claim to make $120/hr busking. If you go out there and make any less, it'll ruin your record.
Busker? I barely knew her!
Might as well end on a high note haha
When you see Rudy in the comment section of an Adam Neely video.
I am everywhere
If you want to busk to make money then you need to play money songs. Old people and you know beegees etc. Pick the crowd go outside a metal concert and play metal. Once you have then money songs sussed and can pull a crowd then consider slowly introducing originals. I have watched more street musicians than you have had hot dinners even made a few global viral sensations! :) More tips: involve the crowd, the most money I ever have seen made was a white girl who could speak Chinese. She would say hello and a quirk like "your dress is nice" in their language. They would drop big notes because they were out of their country visiting and a local had welcomed them with arms open. So learn every language you can to just say hello. Most excellent video and thanks for making it!
Right on. Doesn't matter where you're playing, play to your crowd.
“learn every language”
build set around a theme...money...That's what i want - Beatles.... Give me some Money- Spinal Tap... Money - Pink Floyd... Shake your money maker... encore
I've found the opposite to be true: i ONLY play original music and the normal public goes nuts for it (cuz it's unique and singular) (ex: trippy uke that sounds like pink floyd maybe!) and I get far more tips and bigger tips and people scream my name driving by in cars!
SINCE THE INTERNET...humans need to "UP THE DOSE" every day.
They want to see something they've NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I was shocked, playing in NYC and the east coast, outdoors in all kinds of locations where ppl are.......
I EXPECTED they'd want PRETTY and MELODIC....but in fact they wanted the FUCKED UP.....BIZARRO shit i do!!
I was stunned.
And this is wherever i go!
It helps that all my music is INSTRUMENTAL, too.
"I always make sure that I have a wall behind me so that no one can, like... creep."
I did not even begin to think about that until she mentioned it. That was sobering.
Youve got to watch your hat/case/napkin/money box too if you're in a busy walkway. Classic scams include 'accidentally' kicking your money out everywhere and then making off with the money or your equipment and swapping out notes under the pretense of putting a coin on top of their note to stop it blowing away
yeah, it's not just a female thing.
male buskers must be vigilant too, cuz it only takes ONE junkie to grab your money.
there's a variety of tricks of the trade, but I'm trained to SMASH THEM IN THE FACE
WITH MY HEADSTOCK which will cut them badly.
Hard work in the NYC heat but so much fun. Thanks for busking with me! x
Bass!
+H Q Damn, I wasn't ready to witness such eloquent wordplay today.
I'm british and I think your voice is the most british thing I've ever heard
What the fuck is “NYC heat”?
You were super dope. "BASS!"
Adam, can we please get a "Play the right notes, mate," Shirt? Cheers.
I'd buy it.
I wholeheartedly agree with this comment
As a Pianist who often accompanies violinists and Cellists, i fucking need one!
Yes! Pleaaaase Adam!
Mister Apple hi again!
My experience with busking - I always play cover songs as opposed to my own music. People like hearing songs they know that are well known and loved.
I make up songs about the people walking by to see if any one notices if they do i include that in the chorus..." Some on is watching me... will they leave a tip?"
but that's a false metric.
ex:
i EXPECTED the public to want FAMILIAR....but in fact they want to see / hear CRAZY THINGS THEY'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.
Everyone has heard Beatles songs, even on acoustic. BORING.
I do Guitar Sorcery and EVERYONE goes nuts and calls me a genius.
YOUR argument was "People prefer FAMOUS songs to my unfamous songs", which is a terrible metric (unless YOUR songs are RADICALLY INNOVATIVE and are unlike anything they've seen or heard before).
MY WEIRDEST sounds are always my most popular!
I feared they'd want my most MELODIC or conventional stuff.
And I've been playing numerous states for 7 years.
Typical opinion of someone who doesn't know how to busk
I find the opposite, where I live no wants to hear an old zombie play Sweet Caroline like for the millionth time, but they will stop listen and support someone original. It feels nice to see a busker doing what they want because they enjoy it, and that feeling is contagious to everyone in the area. People love covers, but they have to have feeling
i'm a full time busker. i loved this. thanks Adam.
you nailed the skills required: pick up your location wisely, learn to react to the audience reactions and demographics, play the right thing at the right time of the day.
I'd like to add that all walk-by buskers (as musicians, but really it extends to anyone who wants to entertain) have lots to learn from circle acts buskers (jugglers, magicians) in terms of crowd control, how to incorporate comedy and theatrical routines into a different act, and how to convince people your show is worth a donation.
everybody should really do it once in their life, at least for a few weeks, and/or stop watching professional buskers to understand how hard actually is their job.
"Play the right notes mate."
Stone cold.
Pro tip: make sure the bass and vocals are in the same key!
Steve Austin.
In the future, all basses will be replaced by trombones.
Trombone > Literally every instrument (c) Paul The Trombonist
FACT
I like your profile picture.
+@@JestersGhost Yours is pretty good too.
And then the tromboners will invade the planet
The part about observing the people around where you're busking is really interesting. I was in Montreal a couple months ago and I saw this guy playing guitar in front of the Notre-Dame Basilica. Out of all the things he could've played, he played one of the most memorable Chinese pop ballad. At first I was like huh that's really weird, then I looked around and I saw all these Chinese tourists. I thought, damn, this guy is smart.
One of my Berklee professors just played this in class! I thought it was pretty cool that they’re using a former student’s video.
big city busking is when people pay you to play music
small town busking is when people pay you to stop
Lol true
That's part of the legend of blues musician Skip James. He stopped playing on the street in his early days because store owners would pay him to go away; his voice was so haunting that it unnerved their customers. He was too good, at being eerie and unsettling, you might say.
smaller places are a lot better to play in than big cities, though
Smaller the town, more likely the cops don’t have anything better to do than write you a ticket if you don’t have a permit.
yeah like NY you mean?
6:38 The whole sequence of events is amazing and takes about 2 seconds in real-time... Adam plays the wrong note and immediately looks at his fingering with betrayal in his eyes like his left hand just banged his girl behind his back. The next millisecond, he realizes he's gonna catch ish from Mary and he literally has to force his gaze towards her direction; slowly... like a child forcing himself to look up at his mom after getting caught steeling cookies. However, you can see he still carries a smirk like that smarmy little cookie-steeler who knows his punishment won't be that severe. Meanwhile, Mary has been out on this precipice vocalizing away when suddenly she feels the bus driver jerk the wheel to the left at the exact moment she expected to go right. Next thing you know, she bangs her nose on the bus window and dude that hurts. She looks over at the bus driver and sees Adam shyly smirking away like "oopsie!" and then time speeds back up, the audio 'squirbles' back to life and the first thing you hear after the ever-so-slightest pregnant pause is.... 'play the right notes mate.'
You should write literature.
Haha you were definitely baked when you wrote this... also 'steeling'
it sounded like he was trying to use a sus chord but fucked it up?
BEST comment EvER
What?
6:00 So damn funky, 6:30 "Play the right notes mate." -
I feel for you Nealy.
Great tips and suggestions, thanks. Busking with my autoharp for 100 days paid for my tiny home on wheels, my 34-foot retired school bus, 'Rumi, the Bus King' (busking, my last name is King...the name is a royal fit). Go outside and play!
It's kind of stupid that just because you are amplified, you have to stop, but then an unamped instrument can come in, play JUST AS LOUD and not get stopped from doing so lol
Or else the cops would have to have decibel readers?
@@Inertia888 but they already have a db limit to enforce.
I would argue that litle amps could be free of license, but now a days just cause the amp is small it doesn't mean they are not loud.
*Laughs in Saxophone*
It's the government of New York. What do you expect?
You had me at "we live in a society".
One thing I didn't hear you mention was the importance of location and time. I can grind all day (6-12 hours)and make 5-150. But if I find a spot next a bar as it opens or venue as it closes I can usually make 50 - 300$ in an hour. The too many zoos guy is right about paid rehearsal. Good luck busking!
Firstly, that drummer is so good! I average 40-60 dollars an hour when I busk. I make sure foot traffic is literally slow moving, or sitting/standing still. A good example is farmers market. Everyone there moves slowly because they are shopping, have kids with them, or just taking time to smell the flowers. Also, I try and match the energy of the crowd with the music I play. Also, pre tip your tip jar. Do not leave it empty. I make sure to put large bills in the tip jar as well. In addition, I offer small little toy instruments for people to play. A box with triangles and plastic castanets among other various cheap instruments. When kids play with them, I offer it to them as a gift to take home. Once the crowd see's that, people literally start dropping $5-$20 bills.
"Play the right notes, mate." #musicianprotips
I do stop and listen to great buskers.
I have a vivid 20yo memory of an accordion player playing Bach's Toccata and Fugue in Dm (BWV 565) -- BRILLIANTLY -- in the Paris metro and the pedestrian tunnels added the perfect reverb to make it sound like a pipe organ.
People were transfixed and time stopped. It was delicious.
lohphat, yes...those moments happen. ❤️❤️❤️
69th like
lohphat omg
4:38 FYI for non-classical fans: he's playing the Bach Chaconne (BWV 1004 VIolin Partita 2 Chaconne is its full name) and it's been called one of the hardest Bach pieces to play because it alone spans 15-20 minutes, it has many finicky chords, and it is played at a slow tempo. The violinist has to skilfully hold the tension, convey the pain Bach put into the music, with difficult fingerings for 15-20 minutes straight. I'd kill to hear it live.
Great video. I'm now disabled and have played guitar for 40 plus years and have thought about busking for fun and a side job kinda. So this was great info. Thanks so much.
Regards from Southern Indiana. USA.
Heartland.
Tim...
playing is the least important thing in busking. I was in London recently and there were two buskers in the same alley. First: a tuba player who was doing typical tuba "pah pah" notes with an accompaniament from a radio. From time to time, he was also singing along a track, doubling a vocal track from the recording. He was dressed hilariously in an old '30 style, a fire came out of his tube on each note, had an old-school radio and a hat with blinking lights. And there was a double ring of people around them.
Second busker: a great guitarist with amplification which was playing and singing really good and even selling his CDs.... and 0-5 people listening.
You need to be funny and charismatic and then play whatever.
Being too cool for the room is NOT helpful when the goal is financial!
the most important this was consistency and a unique look/sound/approach. I actually put myself through university for a couple years playing on the street... Although I have to admit... it was in Canada... different financial demands... The biggest challenge though was dealing with the fact that when I played Beatles tunes... I would get more money, but got bored bored bored of the same tune and would then play my own stuff (which paid less) but kept me musically happier.
There ain't no business like show bushiness.
I've seen that tuba guy around....(unless there's more than one tuba fire players in London, lol). Took some video of him in Tottenham Court Rd I think. Yeah, novelty often pays.
I feel like no one likes guitar anymore
@@eole123456789 *no one likes good guitar
$16?
Thats more money I earn playing music this year.
0$ is more than I made this year.
@@Ludix147 did you busk tho
That's 10 times more money than I netted the whole time I was in "Jam Daddy"!
I think I'm a qualified street musician since I've spent hundreds of hours out there and made thousands over the past 3 or 4 years - Last year on Valentine's day I had a $350 Hilton gig and I decided to go all out and spend an extra 5 hours on the street(extra info I played 2 keyboards and sang and powered it with a boat battery). It was BRUTAL, I played out there before AND after the gig...but after all was said and done I left finished the day with about $800 and had this cool idea to take the money go to central park to see how the busking was up there, and I got super lucky with a stupid cheap airbnb, bus ticket, and one way return flight. I was thinking about maybe moving up there and playing. I saw great musicians and not-so-great musicians, but I was generally amazed at how these musicians just assumed I coudn't play (well). The quote was "you think you can play until you come here". Funny, as he said this, I watched the duo split their money up and quote dude went home with like 50 bucks...btw if somebody wants to be a martyr and play straight ahead jazz over there while I sing popular melodies over here and give listeners an opportunity to exercise the universal instrument of all humans, the voice...thanks and I will come listen on my breaks...actually i did that...but in this case I'm going home with more money. Also, I will play vocal jazz tunes that give me the chance to explore some interesting harmonic and melodic content while still within the framework of what I'm out there for...people...and continue to get paid. As you've stated, The Girl from Ipanema has some wacked out changes...I still get joy from that B section EVERY TIME. Sometimes when you get close enough, you will attract an aficionado LOOKING for some bebop or something you're really into whatever that is. Let the fan find you, and be open, and you get to play the stuff we music nerds love AND get paid. Like...play Tom Sawyer at the bar without a request and...it might go over ok...but wait for a rush fan to ask for it and you're getting 20 bucks on the spot. I remember after watching A Star Is Born with Gaga and Bradley Cooper and thinking that at least 4 or 5 of those tunes were like actually really good, and this is a cultural phenomenon right now. The next day I went ahead and learned the tunes since it doesn't really take that long, maybe a night as long as I can pull up the lyrics later. So about 2 weeks later, at my Saturday Italian restaurant gig, a lady calls "LADY GAGA A STAR IS BORN" and I'm like ohhhh here comes the money. I explain this is new to me and i'm not sure if I can pull it off (standard move I learned from dueling pianos, not entirely untrue). Then rinse and repeat for two more tunes, and low and be hold the audience member drops a 100 cien muy bien in the jar. For me, taking requests is a big part of my busking/tip game and it's worth it. And to reiterate: whether or not jazz cats find a sound sophisticated enough actually has zero correlation with either dollars or appreciation. They literally sound like the classical snobs that they hate at that point. "B-b-b-but my music is superior, why are they famous and not me?" The answer to that should unanimously be: "If you're asking for dating advice, you're hopeless." On my side, those moments I've experienced...the man that told me that they were on their way to commit suicide but just stopped to listen and heard me sing "what you won't do for love" and just couldn't leave for hours, or the child that cried as I sang "wonderful tonight" and when his mom scooped him and asked him what was wrong, he just said it feels good to cry - the experience has been beautiful! Clapton evokes people! On another occasion I was passing through Zurich and I had the lovely opportunity of exchanging songs with a guitarist for a bit. A Japanese woman came up and I was able to take my busted Japanese and Spanish and explain to this South American guitarist that this woman's sister had died recently and this song has helped her process that experience. Another time, somebody stole my tip jar, and even though I had felt like 2 hours had been wasted I kept going, and a woman came back just to tell me she wanted to tip me earlier but had to find an ATM and then gave me 60 dollars(would have been stolen)...even all of the great moments with all of the kind people from the shelter just hanging, offering me a swig from their covert bottle or even the cops that didn't say a word to me when I blatantly violated my license (volume, hours) since nobody was complaining...anyways busking is a special way to connect with humans and especially your city. Hopefully it will be an option again soon.
This is the longest UA-cam comment.
Apart from your technical proficiency (as a musician) and vast knowledge of music (as a teacher), i have a great respect for your open-mindedness - which, I think, reflects both humility and maturity.
Question: If Adam had played The LICC, would've he got paid more? 🤔
How to busk - play with passion , regardless of your level of musical expertise
But jazz.
that's just rude
This is guy is right actually, people pay you a lot more when you're passionate
From my experience you are quite right
just please don't use that word "busk"... what a nasty, ugly-sounding word.
We have similar rules where I'm from, and I used to find it hilarious that the guy with a 5 watt guitar amp gets moved on when our raucous 8 piece brass group with drum kit got to be left alone.
that's because the lazy moron politicians INCORRECTLY thought amp means just LOUDER acoustic instrument (nope!), and so it's based on electricity VERSUS volume / decibel level. It's not constitutional, but until someone hires an atty, everyone's fucked.
I live in new york city too, specifically queens, and i go busking under this little overpass for the train. its not the MTA, its the LIRR, so even though the train is noisy, it doesnt run frequently and right when people get off they can see me. i make between 15 and 60 dollars a day, and its just me playing my sax with no backing tracks or anything. it really depends on how long you play, how you play, and possibly even what day it is. On days where ive made 45-60 dollars, i played for 3hours straight. on days that i make 15-30 dollars i only played for 45 minutes to an hour and a half. also my neighborhood has nice people, which is rare for nyc. also i dont really play avant garde or complex stuff, i play jazz or just mess around with chord functions. and people like it. they ask me to play songs like careless whisper and baker street and when i do they give me 5 or even 10 dollar bills. very rarely do i come across someone who hears me playing donna lee or giant steps and says "ay i know that youre a really cool jazz guy". also the place where i go busking is by forest hills stadium, which is a pretty popular performing venue. people like kamasi washington and van morrison perform there, so when theres a concert, its a good time to busk so i get a lot of notoriety. at the same time, when theres a concert there people from the city (manhattan) come, and theyre not as nice so they dont give me money. also people with kids give me money cuz their kids get captivated by my playing. also when people walk by they sometimes like to look me in the eye, i look back at them while im playing, and they smile, and then stop walking and come back to give me money. when the weather is cool, i tend to get the most money. when its really hot, i get a decent amount of money. when it rains i barely get anything. on weekends i get a lot of money, however on weekdays i have to wait until after 5h30 pm to get some real cash. and i would never perform in train stations or on trains, street performing is the best. thats probably the most detailed "masterclass" i can give on busking lol.
Thanks for letting my play with you guys!!
ludwig amadeus yes I am
Lolol thats so funny man
You sound great!
I love your work bro and I love Adams work and when I saw you come up in this video I lost my shit lol
play the right notes mate
*plays the lick*
In the land of the free, we'll need permits to take a crap.
in new York City, come to Ashville, NC and busk your little heart away
That's what happens when we let idiots vote.
That is illegal outside in most judications. Think of another metaphor dumbshit...
It is not actually illegal and requires no permit to take a crap in public if you take it with you when you are done.... just don't leave it steaming on the sidewalk.
large coffee to go... with a lid please.
Your videos are so interesting, informative and well edited, thank you and keep it up.
Some years ago I was in Boston for 5 weeks and used to busk almost every day in the public gardens. The people were very nice and money was really really good, so I didn't have much to organise about the performance. It was just me and my violin playing mostly classical music. One day, I was in New York and tried busking in Central Park. I was playing for 10 minutes and no one even looked at me! (exactly the same set as Boston) After a while, a lady comes and says "you are disturbing me. I am trying to work and the park is not yours." So I take my things and start to go find some other place to play. And she said "I'm going to come with you to make sure no one gives any money before he knows what you do. You don't know anything about music, you've never seen an orchestra play and you are just trying to trick tourists to give money". She kept following me until some woman from the crowd came and took my side.
Funny thing is I grew up playing music, went to see the orchestra perform almost every week and basically was in USA because I had a scolarship for Berklee's summer program! :P
Wow never wanted to imagine people like that exist
That woman had some serious problems.
After listening to you on your channel for a bit, I can confirm that woman was crazy
That lady is a piece of shit
Everybody’s a critic. Damn, she’s like Baobab tree level shade. Rock on! Thanks for sharing your story.
Buskin' makes me feel good!
Those buskers!
Creepy ghost bass!
Who you gonna call!?
buskin buskin buskin buskin
Go Buskers!!
Oh I miss busking, it's so nice to feel the good vibes of people.
Awesome video Adam! It was an absolute journey, with a great message in the end. It gave a lot of useful information towards any people who might need in need of busking in the future, and hopefully it'll help them be able to succeed at it. Great stuff!
First time I busked in Glasgow with my brother and friend we made £1,300.
Been basking for 2 years now with the same guys.
For proof, our facebook page is called "Travelling Jukebox"
I think what Adam has missed is being appealing to a crowd by putting on an act, what location works best. Busking at a place where people have money on them eg. a shopping centre. I would never think about busking at a park.
Probably the best piece of advice on here. LOCATION! My band busks at outdoor markets in the summers and we tend to make about 1,000 in 3 hrs.
Yeah....farmers markets and flea markets are GOLD here in BC, Canada...I regularly make $250-$350 for 4 hours as a solo act (guitar instrumental music)...the markets usually pay something to have a busker there if they know them and they are good...
Well Too Many Zooz have a jumping around baritone saxophonist... if that dosen't get you payed, nothing will
Same guy (Leo P) played bari on Adam's master's thesis performance... find it here.
Your videos are extremely entertaining and insanely informative. Thanks for doing what you do Adam!
What a great video man!!! Thanks for continually provide such incredible information!
dude just lands a bird on his hand like it's no big deal 6:03
IF you act like it's a big deal the bird will get scared and fuck off, you have to pretend you don't give a shit about the bird to make it stay
Its NYC dude. You can legit kick pigeons if you wanted to. They don't give a FUCK.
69 likes
@@MaynardOwns Like you'll ever catch one lol
I love your videos, Adam. This was a great piece of journalism. Also, I had never considered the great point about creating a 9 minute set and then breaking to allow a new crowd to form. Really great.
Thanks so much for this video. I really needed some info before trying this. I love your videos. So well made and informed
Man, your filmmaking skills are getting notably better. There is a new cinematographic charm in your videos and I'm totally liking it.
I go busking regularly. There's plenty of different tricks to it, but the ones I use are the same as much of showbizness, have an act that stands out and people are attracted to because it's not something they see everyday. Second is audience, you playing to tourists, shoppers, commuters which does your act work for, and finally what locations suits your act?
Taking the above point into consideration. I play medieval English bagpipes, few people have ever seen this, so the act it has real stopping power to passers-bye. I play in tourist areas because they are free with their wallets and looking for novelties and sights they don't see at home. And I usually play at medieval locations around London because the tourists there have come to see specially to experience history.
Fantastic video! I've been busking for over 10 years and I would have loved to have something like this to share with people back then! Thank you for taking the time to know busking better before filming. The guy you skype chatted with really knows his stuff!
Thanks for this clip. I did busking in at least a dozen (or 2) different cities in Europe. Every city had different laws/ordinances. Some cities were full of buskers. Some cities had very responsive audiences and others were stone cold. Choosing a good spot to play and attracting a crowd is an art that takes time to learn.
Wait, is that the same lady that just turned up on a bunch of Rob Scallon videos? Is she the mastermind behind all you guys? Is she the one talking to Rick Beato from off camera?!
THIS EXPLAINS EVERYTHING!
pestilencekills Rick Riffson?
what
Who?
thats not sarah longfield, or am i really that out of the loop?
A busker that situates themselves on a bus and calls themselves the "bus-king"
And in India, a "Rail Raja"
Tzar Buskovitch
Especially the "øqwerty" part xD
"several hundred dollars"
*LAUGHS IN NOT FROM NEW YORK CITY*
I've done a lot of busking. Never thought of taking the set down to 9min. That's a good idea.
Wow, that Jake Paul intermission was too good
It was the best music in the whole video
Thank you for this, especially pointing out the "glaring flaw" in that awful article on Josh Bell: not talking to actual buskers. It's a skill, and no matter how well you may know other types of music performance, busking is its own thing. I earned my living as a busker in NYC for about 6 years and put myself through grad school that way. I'm nowhere near as good a musician as Joshua Bell, but I made a lot more money than he did, because I was humble enough to learn. It could be hard, but it was also an awesome experience in a lot of ways. I'm glad I did it, I miss it sometimes, and it's my fallback plan if things ever go south with my work, and/or for making a bit extra when I one day retire.
Dude!! Saw Too Many Zooz for my first time when they were opening for Beats Antique back in October of 2016, this was at the legendary Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and holy moly man what a show!!! Fell in love with their energy and style immediately 😍 it was one of the best shows beginning to end man that entire evening was magical. Thank you so much for making this video, and sharing your music, and imparting some great advice, Adam, Matt, Mary, and Ian!!!
nice! very inspiring and motivating. i've had the fortune to busk at a flea market here in santa fe for a couple weeks (they never paid me like we agreed of course). even though there weren't too many people, and i was new to busking, it was probably the most fun i've had performing solo. thank you for this video and reminding me how fun it is even if the bucks aren't too big at first!
Being a good musician doesn't make you a good entertainer. You have to be a good entertainer first. People are not there for what you play. They are there for the experience of watching a musician performing for them.
We saw this guy in Boulder CO college street mall area last summer tap dancing playing a beat up old trumpet dixie land jazz style. He was FUN to watch and my son loved the act. Limited music set - probably not much off the "9 minute set" the guest speaker here mentioned. But fun. Had my kid toss the guy a few bucks :-)
Some People prefer to see/observe 'Entertainers' doing music ... ( Generally, Pop Culture conditioned ones)
But Other People, prefer to listening/observe Musicians doing Music ...
I belong to the second group ... If I want to listen to music, I will seek musicians, not Entertainers... First is Music, Second is Music, Third is Music ... Last is Music...
Therefore, For Me, An 'skilled musician ( with 'Big Ears', Musical Imagination, Creativity, Technique, Expression, Musical Narrative, Repertoire, interplay, Spot on Improvisation, etc)' does not have to become 'first' an entertainer, because by being a skilled musician, He/She/They becomes the best 'entertainers' for those who really love to observe/listening Musical Performances.
If I want 'Entertainment First', then, there is a lot of entertaining stuff to pick up and choice ... Inclusive, Entertaining stuff without Entertainers ...
For Me, When it comes to Music, Prioritize Entertainment over Musicianship is A Number One Bullshit...
Musical expression is more vast & complex than mere entertainment and A Complete Musician can arrive to 'Entertainment Spots' without prioritizing them, just by crafting the Art on Itself.
@Mimex001 Arnaldo The Gatekeeper's labor comes by the commenter who prioritize 'entertainment' over musicianship ... Ok, If a musician wants to monetize his/her performance in a busker's environment, adding "entertainment" will improve the chances to get money ... but that do not imply that a Musician must to become FIRST an entertainer and next, care about musicianship.
Yep, If Jim Carrey could play the Sax as John Coltrane and make higher profits busking on the streets do not means that Coltrane needed to become "first an entertainer' in order to achieve a musical/cultural legacy as he did.
As Adam said: In a busker situation, You put yourself in a salesman position ...
Obviously, to sell entertainment is more easy than selling Art and Music... So, For buskers, entertaining others matters ... but for musicians, entertainment is a side effect of exploring the musical landscape and 'entertaining others' an aspect that happens when/where an audience resonates with the performance ...
In Music, There are not deep reasons to prioritize entertainment and monetary incomes over Musicianship + Musical Expression.
... and prioritize those values ( entertainment and monetizing ) over musicianship is a clear invitation to downgrade Music as an Art Form ... Making of it a mean to achieve those relative values and never becoming a Value on Itself.
Paraphrasing Verdi :
" There is something in Music that is more than Music: ... Music ... "
Art and Music are entertainment since they stopped being a form of communication thousands of years ago. When you buy a painting or an album, you're not only buying the object itself. You're buying the experience that said object gives you. You're buying these people's story. And if that's not a good story, you'll receive it once and forget about it some time later. This is the same reason why "commoners" don't have that much interest in "musician's music". They don't identify themselves with that story nor understand it, therefore, that experience is not worth much for them. The Joshua Bell experiment demonstrates it well. First of, not many people identify with classical music due to its extreme levels of solemnity (compared to attending a funeral). Second, the vast majority of the people passing couldn't even identify with the music itself. How you're gonna profit like that? Your experience is not worth much to begin with, and that's subtly mentioned in the entire video, although not in a direct manner. Jazz used to be pop music before it became too "art" and then people went for something else they could dance to. Go ask carnival caricature artists. That's how they make their money.
@@crimsun7186 Ok, but If I want to drink and/or made Champagne ... I don't have to drink and/or made Coke first, because, People use to drink coke because for them Champagne is something solemn, sophisticated, complex, arty, snobby and expensive ...
Nothing against Coca-Cola lovers ... but don't come at me, telling that if I want to appreciate the champagne, I must to produce and consume Coca-Cola, FIRST.
Plus, the word entertainment is very ambiguous ... One could be entertained by activities that do not entertain others at all....
Then, If nobody except you get entertainment from an activity ... Is that activity an "entertainment"?
Adam's face while Mary's showing off her dollars is PRICELESS!!!
I was busking several years ago on a classical guitar.. there were 2/3 people watching.... then I started to make tapping and shredding on the classical guitar and people grew... I learnt the hard way that people don't wanna just hear but also WATCH!
As for Joshua Bell, the same thing happened with Billy Gibbons... So, it made me think that people also want to hear a great produced acoustic sound and also that they're like sheeps, they want to feel included in a group of people: gathered in the same place for the same reason.
Buskin makes me feel good
That s great Man, keep on the good work!!
I Love what you do, really.
Clip of the Viper playing Age of Empires 2 during that twitch streamer montage made my day a bit.
Hgmidd that, too many zoos, and the Joshua Bell experiment, all of which I have recently pick up on, were crazy for me to see in one video
3:31 Adam, Adam, Adam.... don't lie, my friend.
There is a thing called an acoustic bass guitar.
You should give it a try. LOL
They're pretty quiet though. Wouldn't be any use for busking.
If you're in a tunnel and you'r using a pick?
Might as well play an unplugged electric at that point ;)
If there is an acoustic bass guitar loud enough to hear over traffic I want it.
Or play a proper bass ;)
Honestly your content is so God damn good. Such a broad range of information
3:55 If you go to the gym every day and lift weights for 6 hours a day... you're not going to have a functioning body in 6 months dude :/
Facts
Yup. You need to let your body rest so it can actually gain muscle. Lifting doesn’t necessarily equal muscle gain. Sleep does.
Well it depends. If you lift hard everyday yes, but if you stay on a proper plan yes you can go everyday. Some days you lift really hard and other days you do some cardio and light lifting afterwards to keep up your health and yes I do lift an workout everyday mainly running but afterwards I still do and hour of lifting/workouts
Well yeah but the metaphor is still solid
With PEDs, a massive caloric surplus and 6 hours gym per day you can get swole. You may or may not die of a heart attack at 40 though
As a saxophone busker in Glasgow, Scotland, it is one of the favourite things I have ever done in my life. I think that Glasgow has one of the best busking scenes in the world due to there being such an amazing community. No permit for amplification is needed as well :D
That explains why, in the spring, some bell end had a cranked Roland Cube in St Enoch Square and - at least when went past - was playing Cowboys From Hell. In full.
Which, IMO, is a bad decision for a busker, because damn does that verse riff get boring without the vocals or other instruments.
Derpimus Maximus yeah that’s one of the downsides to such an accepting community. Most times people are very reasonable with their volumes and have respect for those around them.
Yea, you need to cap your volume at the point where it starts to impinge on others.
Buchanan Street is usually a nice place in the summer(unless it's raining, which ofc is most of the summer).
Derpimus Maximus You of course have the bagpipers who are openly disliked by other buskers. They’re incredibly loud (nature of the instrument) and play the same old songs again and again xD
The pipers are there to salve the disappointment of dumbass tourists who got on the wrong train and have been trying to find Edinburgh Castle on Sauchiehall Street.
How do you busk with a piano or synthesizer. obama wont answer my emails on it.
Lmao
Glad to see such a venerable old man full of wisdom
I've had a ton of success busking as a pianist. I sit in a folding chair and play the keyboard either on top of a low stool in front of me or on my lap, depending on how much room there is.
I've found the best keyboard for busking is the Yamaha PSR-E243. It's super cheap and lightweight, it's big(61 keys), it runs on 6 aa batteries, it's internal speakers are super loud and the "portable grand" sound is passable. I've never needed an amp or anything else. I make about $100 after a few hours in front of the grocery store.
One word: keytar
Just do Bruno Mars and drag a bar piano
I really, really appreciate this video. Presented humbly as well as informatively.
I knew that was Augie Bello!! Thats awesome that he jammed with you guys!
I did NOT expect HER to say BASS!!!! Worth waiting until the whole video is done! Smart, Adam!
Dude, spoilers!
seiph80, Oh my god I missed it the first time around thank you I had to go back and see it again it’s pretty epic
@@JohnnyArtPavlou you're welcome!
I thought you were all trolling together until I saw it 😄
Adam Neely is the reason I don’t get any homework done, thanks mate, cheers
Same. I think I have a UA-cam addiction.
Otherwise, to procrastinate on homework, I practice.
Been following you for awhile Adam, didn't think you could find ways to improve what seemed to me like awesome content already. I'm really impressed by the work, thoughts and energy you put into your videos ! Getting better and better, Don't know how you do that, but carry on mate !
Cheers from a fellow french musician :)
Thanks Adam! I had never heard the term "busking" applied to playing on the street for money, proving once again that it's good to learn new things! BTW, you are a very talented bassist! I've only seen one other of your videos (the Mario Brothers one) and I like what I see/hear! I subscribed and look forward to more of your great content! Keep on playing too!
We live in a society.
Where we reply to comments 10 months later.
Society lives in us
I did my masters thesis (together with a film) on this very subject! Interesting. Had this video come out a year and a bit earlier I'd have cited it. Great stuff, as always!
Hey Adam, thank you for this video. As I try to become a musician your content in general and your advice about busking really helped me. Keep going yk. Greetings from germany :D
It's refreshing to see and hear an intelligent discussion on this. Too often buskers are seen as pseudo-talents, over-medicated and a bit grungy, but this was very well put together, very informative. Thanks.
Mary Spender is damn near as attractive as Adam is.
And she also plays the right notes.
I was busking for 2 summers in Montpellier. I did grow showmanship thanks to that experience.
The number one rule I got from it was that placement is everything. Many buskers think that you need to be in a spot with lots of traffic but it's wrong.
Travelling people don't stop or just stop for a few seconds, and give a quarter or two. Whereas Idle people sitting on a terrasse or waiting for someone can listen to a few songs and will give you 1 or 2 or 5 bucks.
It's better to have 90 out of 100 people giving 1 buck each , than 90 out of 1000 giving quarters. When I understood that, I went from $20 to $75 average each time I went busking.
Great video. I have done a lot of busking, it is truly an art the requires practice. In many ways I like it better than than a typical "gig", in that when it really works, there is such a genuine connection that develops with the audience. At a gig, people are there, and somewhat "stuck". But on the street, people are there only by choice, can come and go whenever they want. They are there because you connected with them! Also children almost never come to "gigs", and children are the ones who most often really connect with the music, which is great. So many factors at play. I have made anywhere from a few bucks an hour to hundreds, depending on the situation, with basically the same act.
Wow this is so different! In Buenos Aires, Argentina, busking is kinda in the same category as uneployed people who arent taken into work because of their social status, their looks, or even injuries caused in previous work. People who busk usually does so without amplification but because of economic reasons, and they can be both outside and inside the subway, as in traveling inside the public transport as they play. They also ride buses while playing. Most people disregard not only musicians but people in economic crisis altogether, even literal 5yo who cant possibly work. This video gave me an idea of what can i talk about when i get started on my UA-cam channel! Adam; your videos are truly fantastic, and youre amazing!
TOO MANY ZOOZ!!!!
Christian Barnard YESSSSSSSSSS
Leo p is my god
If either of you are musicians in the city we should meet up at guitar center and jam
@@veggietempura9594 ah, I'm in Cali. Sounds fun tho
Oh my god i love "Too Many Zooz" so freaking much!!
Very interesting vid. As usual thanks!! I've never done this but certainly some great tips came out of this!!
Play the right notes mate
Im dead
I saw buskers often in Paris. Some are goods, some forgot important point. Choosing a spot is very important, it must be crowded and not too noisey (some Paris metro are very loud). And also everything should be clear. Don't bring your friends or parents (yeah I've seen that), get a identifiable stuff for people to give money (tip = put already some money into it), and be sure to choose the good songs. As a musician I personnaly hate all those well-know songs (feeling good for example), but don't care. Just make it good. In the end the important is doing what you like (and making some $$$).
Thus, we have an audition for the metro musician & they are often the best.
Chumming the hat with $!'s +$5's is vital for busking... ambient sound is best native sounds can augment a set if you know their schedule your best tippers will arrive on cue and religiously drop 5 in.
hey adam, this is a really insightful episode. i just wanted to share my experience busking for a few years out here in LA, specifically on fairfax. i was there for like 3-4 years busking with my friend, who i basically started my band negro galacticus with, outside of our art dad's gallery and i consider those years my prime practice years insofar as performing and just playing in front of people and letting them hear me suck but also letting hear me figure things out with my friend. i used to jam with his old band the afronauts every friday, which was the primetime of the week because of the human traffic from bars/restaurants, the supreme store, and canters across the street. friday was when we got the most traffic cuz its fairfax, and this was around the time odd future was getting popular so there was a lot of increased traffic during the week. people would walk by and do that awkward "walk like im getting into it dance" or nod their head. we got a lot of people who stopped, or at least it felt like it because it was a pretty condensed block for its size. we had good nights with donations, id say about 40% of the time. the rest was like under 40$. but since it was a gallery, our art dad did a lot of shows. so id say that bumps th 40% up to 60% or so because we often got donations on those nights. we also got to record in there. shit, i wanna busk again.
i like when you go into video essay territory. it blends well with the vlogging segments :)
Here in Vienna, until recently, you couldn't even play amplified with a permit and even only in designated places that get assigned to you.
Only recently they introduced the subway stars, where you can sign up to play at certain subway stations, sell your cd's and take donations, while playing amplified.
Playing in subways is prohibited entirely, though cops usually give you a warning before (only seen this though, never busked myself).
Sadly there's not a really vibrant busking scene, and I think many people (especially elderly) are not very understanding to say the least.