Work Abroad

Choosing where to stand and busk is as important as for a merchant thinking about where to sell his wares. You want your music to be heard clearly and you want to play to people who are likely to give you money. Playing Tuesday morning in a plaza that doesn’t get busy until nightfall is a clear mistake. But playing outside a school at home time is more likely to provoke calls to the police than unbridled generosity.

Saturday will likely as not be one of your best days as everyone hits the town with money to spare, likewise you might find throwing out time at the bars and clubs a good time to play with generous drunk people.

Or they might just vomit in your guitar case.

That's the way to do it http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisgold/

On the Street

If you play on the street try to find somewhere with good acoustics and where your music won’t be drowned out by the sound of passing cars. An alley or subway might work but you also want to be somewhere where a good flow of human traffic.

A shopping street can be good in that at least the passers by may have money to part with and it’s likely to be busy. Don’t piss off any shopkeepers by playing outside their store though or they may call the police to move you on.

Plazas and Terraces

Especially in Europe, the plaza is often the natural centre of the town and where people come to stroll and take in the sights – ideal busking territory.

Many plazas will also have café terraces and these are great places for the bold busker to stand and play. Firstly, all the people ordering food have money to spare if they’re eating in a restaurant in the first place, and, secondly, they’re sitting ducks – they have to hear you play and can’t run away when you come by with the hat afterwards.

Whilst some restaurants might see you in the same light as the gypsy kids with accordions, come to irritate their customers, others will see you as free entertainment and throw beers your way. You might have more trouble with the waiters who may feel that you’re encroaching upon their tips.

Sometimes a welcome diversion from the monotonous journey http://www.flickr.com/photos/nney/

One thing about plazas though is that you’ll typically find competition in other buskers and street performers. It’s usually pretty civil with a fair amount of respect and understanding shown. If all the good places are occupied, just ask the buskers when they plan to finish and if the slot will be open afterwards. In some places there may even be a rota.

Buses, Trams and Trains

In much of the developing world, travel around town is made more interesting by the musicians who climb on board to brighten the ride with a few tunes. Never mind that 90% of the passengers studiously avoid any eye contact.

Whilst the vehicle tips, sways and jolts around, the busker struggles to maintain his balance, play his music and somehow convince his audience that he is, in fact, a welcome diversion from the monotony of the journey.

In most poor countries the busker on a bus won’t make much but should be able to afford to eat for the day after a few performances. The driver lets him on for free and he works out which are the most profitable routes.

This guerrilla tactic can work in uptight, civilised countries like Switzerland and Japan, too, though. People are too polite there to raise objections when a busker comes on to play on the tram or metro and if one person gives, then the other passengers will often follow suit.

In countries like these, it’s a good idea to dress well so that you don’t appear like a beggar. The benefit of playing the trams and the metro is that you can get a ticket for the day and go up and down the busiest parts of the line.

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