How to Busk on the London Underground

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  • Опубліковано 17 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 101

  • @tlcrf80mins73
    @tlcrf80mins73 8 місяців тому +5

    London's loss is everyone else's gain. Keep on keeping on.

  • @JeffDuncan-yp7xf
    @JeffDuncan-yp7xf 8 місяців тому +1

    Their loss for sure, man. I’m continually so impressed with your positivity. Huge kudos to you for sharing this video even though you were not chosen. Super interesting to see the process and the way you navigated it. -A fan in America.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      Thank you Jeff! I appreciate it! Gotta share it all! 😃🙌

  • @paulchristopher284
    @paulchristopher284 8 місяців тому +7

    A blessing in disguise. Auditions and judges is the anthisesis of the freedom busking ethos represents.

  • @marshlanderdumarais264
    @marshlanderdumarais264 8 місяців тому +3

    Bravo, you’re braver than I am. I do not function in any competitive situation and refuse to put myself through it. The notion of corporate approval horrifies me. Stay independent! Much love to you, ARP!

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому +1

      It was the first time in a long time I’d done this in a musical setting and it didn’t leave me feeling pleasant, a little strange to say the least! 😃 I think you might be on to something with this! Thank you Marshlander, hope you’re well!

  • @normdouglas
    @normdouglas 8 місяців тому +2

    I've only recently found your channel love it. Great report here. As a 53 year old late to music type of guy I love watching people like you show me how it's done

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому

      Never too late my friend! Stoked you've found the channel too and rad you're following the journey! 😃 🙌

  • @whenifeellow
    @whenifeellow 8 місяців тому +2

    once again, you are the MAN for showing the details like this in your amazing journey. Keep gettin your vitamin D, bro!

  • @tlcrf80mins73
    @tlcrf80mins73 8 місяців тому +6

    Two observations on the TFL process: 1. it feels like a closed shop that favours incumbents and 2. working with/around their prescriptive policies and restrictive processes feels like a monumental pain in the posterior. It's the antithesis of what busking is. Sorry that you didn't get the licence - but the rest of the UK provides a big, exciting stage, so keep on keeping on.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому +1

      This is so well put! Thank you for this. I agree with you too, the rest of the UK has so much to offer buskers 😃🙌🏻

    • @tlcrf80mins73
      @tlcrf80mins73 8 місяців тому +1

      @@AugustRadioProject No worries. Really enjoying your journey. Wherever you are today, have a good one.

  • @tavianmorgan
    @tavianmorgan 8 місяців тому +3

    Keep up the great work bro! 👊🏾

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому +1

      Dang! Thank you so much for this! Appreciate it so much! 😃🙌🏻

  • @flooperer
    @flooperer 6 місяців тому +2

    At the start of the vid i was afraid you would get the license. I'm glad you won't be stuck underground. You seem to enjoy being outside in cool places. Rock steady!

  • @TheHoodooMan
    @TheHoodooMan 8 місяців тому +1

    Thanks

  • @samuelfernandezbass3217
    @samuelfernandezbass3217 8 місяців тому +1

    i absolutely love your videos. You pushed me to busk and now i want to busk everyday. Greetings from Spain.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому

      This is so rad to hear! Stoked you're out there busking in Spain! 😃 🙌

  • @joelson1984
    @joelson1984 8 місяців тому +1

    Bro I always dreamed to busk at Londons stations, but since I became your subscriber I realized that busking is more than that, Busking is a lifestyle, I am sad for you, didn't get the license as you said their lost, however Thank You so much for your hard work to show this video, you were amazing at audition, I loved it, keep going to show places for busking, Thank You so much

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому

      This is so cool to read! I appreciate the kind words! Thank you for this! 😃 🙌

  • @Frostinabrokentree
    @Frostinabrokentree 8 місяців тому +1

    Thats tough man ..remember Abergavenny with no rules how good yr busking day was there...hopefully you will return soon..keep it rad ARP

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому +1

      Freakin' loved it in Abergavenny! I'll be back there at the end of October for a week or so! 😃 🙌

  • @cletussea-ray944
    @cletussea-ray944 8 місяців тому +1

    Awesome documenting that process and your experience. Way to stay positive!! If you decide to to audition again in the future, play “To the Beach” and they be on their knees presenting the license to you! You rock!

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      I love this and I love that several others said the same! Well and truly noted but also so stoked on the love for this song! 😃🙌🏻

  • @ffolgosi
    @ffolgosi 8 місяців тому +1

    Great video! Congrats!

  • @robertrowlands3642
    @robertrowlands3642 8 місяців тому +4

    Hi, thanks so much for your encouragement, I've just done my 3rd busk at the age of 64 😊 and I love it 😊 if you fancy doing a video in Manchester I live in a over 55s retirement block and there is a gust room that can be booked for just £10 per night with 2 single beds in it. You could bring your girlfriend or a friend.

    • @patchevansbrokencountry2583
      @patchevansbrokencountry2583 8 місяців тому +3

      Hi, am a 67 Yr old busker. Maybe we could meet up and busk together. I live in the Midlands. Either keep on trucking, Dude.

    • @marshlanderdumarais264
      @marshlanderdumarais264 8 місяців тому +3

      Youngsters! I’m older than both of you!

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому +1

      This is so rad to hear! I do love how busking transcends age! 😃it really doesn’t matter 🙌🏻
      Also the room in Manchester sounds epic. This is actually the next place I’d like to adventure so maybe I could take you up on this offer. Perhaps email me the details on how it might work: info@augustradioproject.com 😊

    • @robertrowlands3642
      @robertrowlands3642 8 місяців тому +1

      @@AugustRadioProject hi, I've been waiting to speak to the manager here to book the guest room for you but he was off Monday and Tuesday so I spoke to him today and unfortunately there not letting the guest room at the moment because we no longer have a cleaner to maintain the room. Sorry again. Best regards Robert.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      @@robertrowlands3642 no worries dude! 😃 thank you anyway! 🙌🏻

  • @NetStorm84
    @NetStorm84 8 місяців тому +2

    You are blowing up! How could they not grant you a license?! If you are planning on gigs in Brighton, give plenty of notice. I will be there.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      Thank you man! Appreciate it! I’ll be sure to post about any Brighton gigs! They’ll definitely be some coming 👀😃🙌🏻

  • @starbuckita
    @starbuckita 8 місяців тому +3

    Mate, you are doing just fine doing your own thing, I agree the tube ain't your spot, you traveling around and adventuring is. I know a guy that was an underground busker, Wilfy Williams, and he did it and moved on. You can still busk spots outdoors around London I know a girl that's been near the London eye for years, Charlotte Campbell, check her out, she also does gigs too but this is more your vibe since its outside in the fresh air and sunshine! cheers my friend ☀🎸 all the best.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому +2

      Thank you for this! I appreciate it and I agree with you 😃🙌🏻 I do know if Charlotte Campbell actually, she has a few videos here on UA-cam eh! I’ll have a look out for Wilfy Williams! Thank you for the recommendations 😊

  • @Darce-music
    @Darce-music 5 місяців тому +1

    You sounding amazing, they must be mad not giving you a license.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  5 місяців тому

      I appreciate it! This time it wasn’t meant to be but it’s all good… thank you for the kind words! 😃🙌🏻

  • @maxmemos9390
    @maxmemos9390 8 місяців тому +4

    Sorry about the license. Like you said, their loss. :) But hey, time for another Brighton Busker to get a #1 album don't you think? :)

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      Dang! Now this is a rad comment! Time to make it happen I think 👀😃🙌🏻

  • @pookznl
    @pookznl 8 місяців тому +3

    Even more reasons to check other oppertunities. Time to travel to the neighbor's my guy! Respect to your positivity on this one even though you probitly had a breakdown for a few moments about this. As you said it, their loss not yours!

    • @patchevansbrokencountry2583
      @patchevansbrokencountry2583 8 місяців тому +2

      Seems to me that we have to accept that us buskers are like Marmite. I feel fine being Marmite. I certainly do not want to be MacD or KFC.

  • @philc8622
    @philc8622 8 місяців тому +3

    Can't believe you didn't choose to sing 'To The Beach' at the TFL audition as your choice. That song is a real winner. It would be really interesting to see who actually did get the licences (TFL should share the audition videos of the 'winners'). That was cool seeing your vibrant performance of TTB at your gig - so much more positivity than the audition.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      This is a good point actually! I didn’t think about the song choices - I definitely shoulda played To The Beach, I’ll bare this in mind 😃🙌🏻 and the gig was epic, cannot wait to do it again!

  • @nailuj237
    @nailuj237 8 місяців тому +1

    It's better i the sun 🤗

  • @tuvansoykan
    @tuvansoykan 8 місяців тому +2

    I had my audition at the exact same spot one week after your audition. I wish I could meet you there! Apparently, you performed very well and enthusiastically, so I don't really understand why you couldn't get the licence. I enjoyed meeting all the fellow buskers during the auditions, but I also agree with you the audition process makes you nervous and leaves a strange feeling afterwards, like a weird date you don't know how to feel about it. I was also not successful in getting the licence, but I'm really wondering about all the successful ones and which boxes they ticked in judges' eyes to get selected. Maybe they were thinking the professional buskers could make money anywhere else anyway so they picked more amateur musicians in need, I don't know really just thinking out loud. In my optimistic opinion, they really had a very limited amount of licences to give, maybe around 100 so every 2 out of 3 buskers failed to get a licence. I support the idea of supervised and licenced busking in the underground but it shouldn't be this competitive as if it's Britain Got Talent. I think every decent musician should be able to get a licence, not only the creme de la creme.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому +1

      So cool you also auditioned and happened in the same place. I do think that Farringdon was particularly loud to be holding an audition like this but perhaps that was all part of it 🤷‍♂️ I also wonder how many license actually got given out. Maybe it was even less, maybe 50 or so? Who knows! I am relieved that I don’t have to spend lots of hours on the underground though. It’s a hectic energy down there 🤣 one of the reasons I love busking is that it’s an ‘outdoor’ sport! 😊

  • @RobertEdwards-b3g
    @RobertEdwards-b3g 8 місяців тому +1

    Hi, useful video, thanks. I've just applied for a license to busk in the City of Westminster London. Costs £20 for 6 months, no audition. There are about 25 pitches mostly no amps, but includes Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Unfortunately there seemed to be a problem with the online form application. I paid my money and got an email receipt but no license yet. I'm currently trying to sort it out. I must admit Westminster City Council are being quite helpful. Watch this space. Ted

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому

      Nice one Ted! Let me know how you get on with the license, I know a fair few people who have it... One of the nice things about the license is that the queue system for the spots mean you can meet and get to know the London Busking community, many of whom seem really cool! Enjoy, hope they've sorted it out for you! 😃 🙌

    • @RobertEdwards-b3g
      @RobertEdwards-b3g 7 місяців тому +1

      Hi, got my WCC license. Popping up to London this Thursday to check out pitches. Most are no amps which doesn't work for me. Ted

  • @kite666G
    @kite666G 8 місяців тому +1

    Awesome to see how you turn a negative into a positive. Keep it up man!

  • @GipsyRipley
    @GipsyRipley 8 місяців тому +2

    Super interesting and definitely worth the time checking out the underground. Keep shining the light in the darkness leading the way bro PS watch out for new bug stomach going about! it’s like hell bro keep them hards clean out there dude 🧼

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому

      Thank you!! Stomach bug does not sound good, hope you recovered all good! Doing my best to stay away from any sickness! 😃 🙌

  • @stevieG.
    @stevieG. 8 місяців тому +2

    It must have been upsetting there's no dressing that up but really, lets face it busking around a load of stressed and indifferent commuters and the pressure of having 'slots' booked, the heat down there in the summer and the artificial ventilation - I reckon I would done it once and never returned.!

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому

      It's definitely not as good of an environment like down on the seafront on a nice warm summers day! 😃 🙌

  • @CROONERSTONE
    @CROONERSTONE 8 місяців тому +2

    Dude. Such fools. And you sir.. for posting this self deprecating true story… I’m a fan. 😎

  • @davidtinson6394
    @davidtinson6394 8 місяців тому +2

    As someone remarked you dodged a bullet I’m reminded of the words of a song… I am a mole and I live in a hole…. You failed the audition because you’re not a Mole type performer.. it must be the most depressing place to perform. It a depressing environment anyway. you are definitely not that type of personality. It’s the old problem judging by three people instead of of opening it up to a wider public vote
    So A. R. P you have my full respect for doing this it’s their loss

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      Thank you so much for this! I agree with you. I don’t really enjoy the energy in the tube. I much prefer the outdoors and I also prefer the folks of a high street or scenic promenade, seems like they have much more opportunity to stop and chat than those getting on/off trains 😃🙌🏻 I would imagine anyway!

  • @patchevansbrokencountry2583
    @patchevansbrokencountry2583 8 місяців тому +3

    I have told you my story of receiving a sort of complaint about my busking in Lichfield. After I posted on Lichfield FB that people can talk to me about issues. The response has been overwhelmingly supportive, maybe even loving. The underground is not a community. I wouldn't want it except to busk in poor weather. Busking is a community service, we add to the ambience and make people smile, what people wrote as comments on the FB page. Stay true to you, Ben.

  • @Jack-fs2im
    @Jack-fs2im 2 місяці тому +1

    you get PRS money too on tfl but nowhere else pays royalties I believe.never mind rock on.

  • @pearlhartney9
    @pearlhartney9 8 місяців тому +1

    Ah shame you didn't get it! Never mind onward upwards. I busked the underground in the 90's before this audition bullshit it was pretty good as I remember especially at the bottom of one of the big escalators. The buskers also had their own system at popular places to take it in turns.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      So cool to think of those times. I spoke to another dude who did the same. He said sometimes the station officers would come to move them on and they’d run on to a train and busk the next stop 🤣🙌🏻 😃

  • @RikHoward.
    @RikHoward. 8 місяців тому +1

    Sorry you didn't get through the audition man. It's there loss dude brush it of and move on. We've all seen and heard how good you are.
    I would not like to busk down there the air is dirty i remember watching a Charlotte Campbell video where she says she often gets a sore throat from busking on the London under ground because the air is so dirty and anyway imagine being stuck down there on a nice sunny day😕 it would be so horrible and the whole process of have to book a pitch etc. Show us some videos of you busking around Brighton in different spots. Brighton's a lovely place and it's on your door step no travelling👍👍

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому +1

      That's so interesting about Charlotte Campbell getting a sore throat! It kinda makes sense tbf, it's not the cleanest of air eh! 🤣🤣 One of my favourite parts of busking is spending the whole day in the fresh air outside, you're totally right about here in BTN too! 😃 🙌

  • @MrCheswickMusic
    @MrCheswickMusic 8 місяців тому +1

    Dude, in a way, I'm glad you didn't have to bow down to their 'rules & regulations' because you're doing brilliant on your own just doing you own thing, you know?
    ARP don't need no stinking licence off no stinking corporate entity ha ha

  • @nickworley1000
    @nickworley1000 8 місяців тому +1

    Nowadays it's all about box ticking

  • @TheOnlineBusker
    @TheOnlineBusker 8 місяців тому +2

    Swearing and rant incoming: Mate fuck them seriously. You played/sang great, and honestly, the noisy fucking underground is not your place. I spoke to someone playing on the Madrid metro, he said it was shite, too noisy, and as you said too nobody bats an eyelid, they're all rushing to their miserable jobs, they don't give a fuck for some busker singing. Your place is the sunny street as you said, enjoying what you do and interacting with people who actually stop to watch you.
    London Underground's loss, bollocks to them.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      🤣🤣🤣 thank you for this! Put a smile on my face for sure and I like what you say about being on the ‘sunny side of street’ - sounds like a song lyric to me! Appreciate this man, thank you! 😃🙌🏻

  • @thatbusinesstrainer1414
    @thatbusinesstrainer1414 8 місяців тому +9

    Trying to "governmentize" busking...the exact opposite of what busking is all about. You dodged a bullet methinks

    • @tomguarente
      @tomguarente 8 місяців тому +2

      Fully agree. It ain’t the vibe. Just do you’re own thing, stay away from bureaucratic nightmares like this.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому +1

      Well said! 😃🙌🏻

  • @TheAcousticGuerillas
    @TheAcousticGuerillas 3 місяці тому +1

    Hi Ben! Didn’t you want to come to Europe? If you’re planning to go to Germany, please stop by my place. We can bust together and you get bad and breakfast for free. I am up in the north of Germany and your next stop would be Denmark, Copenhagen or Sweden, whatever! I don’t get why you didn’t get the license. You should’ve though.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  3 місяці тому +1

      This is so rad! Thank you! I really wanna do a run of Europe! I'm heading out for a brief time at the end of this month but won't be coming through Germany this time! 😀 Genuine goal is to get a camper van and do a proper 'tour' 👀 But I'll let you know as and when I am passing through! 🙌 I really appreciate the offer too!

  • @JoeJ-s7m
    @JoeJ-s7m 8 місяців тому +2

    Your better off on the beach

  • @JollyWollyCollie
    @JollyWollyCollie 8 місяців тому +1

    Thought you sang well with enegy an a bit more rawness. I suspect you lost out primarily as Acoustic guitar singers must be most common group.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      Definitely the most common busker demographic! I imagine it definitely was a factor 😃🙌🏻 thank you for the kind words!

  • @thesongwritersdropin2565
    @thesongwritersdropin2565 8 місяців тому +2

    Hi Ben . I try to be as respectful and open minded as possible , but the whole Audition process and the rules and regs is just Urgh! its everything that goes against what busking is about and like most things where music is judged ,who has the right to decide who should be granted the liscense and who should not. is it another way of keeping good music of substance away and being substituted with Crap like the rest of the music industry. I really hope not. you do great work and love your attitude to it all .All the best.

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому

      It's definitely a little retractive from what lies at the heart of busking. I get why they do it for the underground but I'm relieved that I didn't get the license in a lot of ways! The great outdoors is where I prefer to play! 😃 thank you for the kind words 🙌

  • @tinka9291
    @tinka9291 8 місяців тому +1

    Coar I have to say that audition process is not the one- no one to meet you initially and lots of confusion; seems a bit cold and barren to put y’all in the corner in noisy Farringdon- perhaps they need a two step process, first in an audition room then take you out into public to listen. And a panel who get the community aspect and are less poker face

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому

      Farringdon was definitely a tough station to do it at. SO noisy! They did say that the other stations had been better for that! A room would make more sense eh but I guess they want to see the busker playing in the situation they'd be in with the license! 🙌

  • @Yourlocalmusicman
    @Yourlocalmusicman 8 місяців тому +1

    Nice try mate. Probably for the best. Doesnt look much fun busking underground, and likely wouldn't pay much as everyone is just getting somewhere.
    A tip for next time you audition though. I would recommend keeping your UA-cam plans and life a bit quiter for your audition. Filming yourself and passers by etc. could create a conflict of interest for them.
    As a part time librarian, its kind of like if I went to work documenting my day... managers etc probably wouldnt appreciate it very much.
    Just a tip for you anyways 🙏 peace brother

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  7 місяців тому +1

      Hmm interesting take, I didn't think of this tbh but it definitely could be true! 😃 I always think about the folk that take the tube and who they could be... definitely a few secret agents taking those trains, or maybe I've seen to many films... 🙌

    • @Yourlocalmusicman
      @Yourlocalmusicman 7 місяців тому +1

      @@AugustRadioProject lol. Certainly a few characters to be found on the underground. Hopefully you will give the audition a try next time. I would like to see what videos you can make of life underground. Would make for good content for sure.
      But yeah, my experience of london is that I just doesnt pay too great. Small towns and quiet areas are the way for me. Will try to dip my toes into london a bit more, but I'm not holding out on it being a staple part of my routine

  • @Milamberinx
    @Milamberinx 8 місяців тому

    So they give a handful of people, many of whom are already immensely famous, permission to busk every... several years...? Mostly sounds like an "oh yes we promote the arts" lie.

  • @billybright5038
    @billybright5038 8 місяців тому +2

    Thanks

    • @AugustRadioProject
      @AugustRadioProject  8 місяців тому

      Thank you so much for this! Appreciate it so much 😃🙌🏻