PROS & CONS OF BUSKING | Should You Do It?
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- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2024
- Hi Guys,
Today I'm going through the pros and cons of busking based on my experience as a piano accordionist!
Thanks for watching.
Lucy xoxo
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![[Accordion] The Happy Wanderer](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bU4ah0RPQ8k/mqdefault.jpg)
![Eminem - The Death of Slim Shady [Album Trailer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/X0HIrS6kUYI/mqdefault.jpg)
I sit on my front steps and practice during my daily lunch break. Passers-by never cease to be appreciative - always smiling, sometimes clapping, bowing, or stopping and listening. One young woman even lay down in my front yard and listened for 20 minutes! My sister and I play for our fellowship group. While I play guitar for the worship service, during the post-service fellowship, I'll play accordion. This has really helped me with my performance anxiety. Everyone is listening and enjoying, but they're not focusing their attention directly on me. And when we have other guitarists, percussion, and a bass, look out, we jam and it is so much fun! My sister plays nyckelharpa and ukulele, and on warm evenings we sit on the porch and play together. We've also played for the lunch break at a Civil War cotillion for the past few years, which has been a super. We made thirty bucks in tips one time! Lucy, your videos are inspiring, motivating, extremely helpful, and just plain enjoyable. You have done us all a great service. Thank you so much!
P.S. I just started working on Summertime.
Wow thanks Andrew. I’m so glad you’re enjoying my content. Thanks for sharing your stories. All the best with Summertime.
Lucy, I can relate to your experiences at busking, especially when I had gotten somebody asking me to leave because it messes up the recording inside their stores (as if the streets were theirs).
It is also an excellent idea to share your social media through a QR code.
I don't really make good money at all in the USA, but I love the attention I get sometimes, especially from women.
I'm currently learning Ambience Mussettienne song. Can't wait to see what happens when I play that properly. :)
That's a shame that you've also had some poor experiences!
I'm glad you enjoyed the attention. I do love meeting people and hearing their stories and connecting :)
Wow! Definitely a subject I've been curious about as streets in the EU draw many buskers. I also liked your insight into how busking affects the psyche of both players and listeners. In a way, busking is the original form of expressing our musical talents. Keep on stirring up them street vibes!
Thanks for watching :) I have a couple more videos in this series so keep an eye out!
Thanks for posting!
You're welcome :)
Thank you Lucy! Busking won't be an issue for me for a while, I'm still kind of terrible, LOL. I can see where it could be useful aversion therapy, as I'm self conscience and fearful about playing in front of anybody, right now, even friends. I have been thanked as a source of aversion therapy myself. I have pet reptiles, and especially when they were new to me, I couldn't keep them off my social media. Several of my Facebook friends thanked me for exposing them and making them less terrified. I tell them I myself would be fearful if I encountered a snake in the wild, that's just wise. Not terror of my tame, friendly pets.
A lot of buskers in NYC needless to say. Not uncommon to see an accordionist, perhaps the only way I've encountered them myself. When I've improved enough to be a positive representation of the instrument, it's something I'd consider, not just now though.
I recall back in the 90's an accordion busker who was trying to stay current with trends. Listening to him play and sing 'Macarena' is not an image I'll soon forget, LOL. I wouldn't pander to my audience quite THAT much, WOULD want to show that it's a wonderful, versatile instrument that can do so much more then Polka :)
I'm sure you're not as terrible as you say! You only need a couple of tunes under your belt to get started.
HAHA I've had someone request that I play Macarena before. It was not a great performance from my part and I never played it again!
Wow, this was really inspiring and a great insight into busking. One day I will try it!
I hope you do! :) Thanks for watching.
Good advise Lucy... I will do it!
Thanks, you've answered all my questions. Big thing for me is the anxiety part of it. Hoping it will help me in that aspect.
You’ll be great. I know it 😊
Wonderful video. I need to start busking.
Do it!
Your best video yet Lucy.
Awww thank you so much 😊 I’m about to make part 2 “your busking checklist”
Great video! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
This is such a beneficial video on so many different levels. Thanks Lucy
You're welcome Scott :) Thanks so much for watching.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, this was very insightful.
Glad it was helpful!
i ate this up. such high quality!!!! thank you!!!
also, THE JUMPER IS AMAZING
aw thanks Mim :D
I play autoharp and sing. I used to busk. I don’t like being alone receiving money. I had someone with me on the Silver Comet Trail. Georgia, USA.
It’s nice to have company. I’ve never seen an autoharp! I would for sure give you money!
I used to play at my mom’s deli during lunch hour when I was a kid. Made some decent cash (for a kid at least!). Also a great way to get over those nerves
That’s a great way to start! People love a cute kid busker!
Interesting video. Wish we had some accordionist buskers in the UK.
Maybe you should be one :)
@@accordionlucy Maybe once I've studied a few more of your tutorials...
Thank you 👍
You are welcome
Excelente!!!👏👏👏👏👏🌹🌹🌹
Some advice from my experience busking:
Busking is all about location, location and location.
Stay away from streets with cars passing by or any kind of noise alike. There is nothing else that pisses me off more than the sound of engines around me when I'm playing.
Avoid areas with old people, open spaces (due to bad acoustics), homeless, beggars and tourists (if you want to gain money or avoid annoying comments). Find places where locals go often.
Dress properly. Wear sunglasses and a classy hat. Bring a cushing for your royal butt.
Try to smile when people look at you or you are playing a nice piece (sunglasses is the key!).
Also, imagine those people are not there and it would be easier. Always warm up before you start.
Last for now. The USA suck for busking overall.
Don't feel bad if you do poorly in money. Most americans have no taste for music that isn't playing on a speaker or tv. Even professional musicians barely make some pennies after hours of busking.
Forgot to add,
You can't go wrong by learning Mussette tunes, so once you are proficiency enough, learn them. You will make people feel they are in France.
Those are some good tips! I make some of those points in my 3rd video in this series, which will all be about location. I completely agree with you that tourists can be not the best tippers and locals always show their appreciation more.
Wow Lucy, your're so active ! Everytime I get on Yt, you have a new lively video ! My accordion style is abit sloppy, but it's fun when I handout maracas, shakers, to the elderly at the assisted living facility. It is a noisy place with people shouting. As you mentioned, are you still doing your other non-accordion job ? ~Bob
Yes. Still doing my non accordion job. The goal is to be finished there and become a full time musician by the time I am 30. That’s April next year!
During September and October I work at an Apple orchard, selling bags to people to pick apples. There’s a lot of down time, which i fill by playing my accordion. Most of the customers are VERY interested in it, especially the kids. It’s a lot of fun.
wow that sounds like a pretty cool way to spend the downtime!
fantastic video a very balanced view one day i may be brave enough but a round of applause to you
Thanks! I’m sure you’ll be awesome if you do it!
Thank you very much @@accordionlucy
Lucy you are great keep playing forever sorry the microphone misspelled on the last one.
No worries. I appreciate it. Thanks :)
I stopped playing accordion at 18 y.o. some 50 plus yrs ago. Not a typo. Now I am getting back into it but with a button accordion instead of piano. They say playing music is like riding a bicycle. I beg to differ. On a bicycle you can barely keep your balance after 50 yrs of a bike. When playing the accordion, you barely remember how to hold it and how to pump those bellows.
All this to say that I planned to go busking but for totally different reasons. First, for the pleasure of playing and the more people that stops to listen, I'll know I am getting a little bit better. Second, for the practice. Practicing in front of mirror gets boring after a while. Looking at the exact same audience can becomes very demoralizing. Third, the people. The amount of people you get to meet in unbelievable and that at my age is worth its weight in gold.
P.S.: Your sweater needs some stitching under your left arm. Just saying - lol
im gonna start busking!... Im 70
Do you busk in Geelong very often? I'm in Ballarat (and have a Chromatic Button Accordion). I would like to hear you live sometime. Do you post anywhere when you play in advance?
Not so much anymore, but I've been inspired lately to get back into it! I might go to the Highton village on Sunday morning. Do you follow me on instagram? I might start posting on there when I'm busking as I've had a few people request to know :)
@@accordionlucy I will. Thanks.
Lucy your grade keep playing.
thanks!
Have you ever had thieves rob you? In Canada, we have a number of homeless. My wife is fearful I might be assaulted and robbed. I never had any problems, but my busking time was very limited.
Never ever. I’ve actually had homeless people tip me on many occasions!
Homeless are mostly harmless (although they might scare some people off from you)
Needless to say, don't go to bad neighborhoods. Go to places where is crowded with people walking.
I busked in the distant past, but would not do so now. There's too much random music and noise assaulting people already, and the more we can reduce that, the better.
I think the answer then would be to "assault" people with enjoyable and worthwhile music that gives them a positive boost.
Also, that people think busking (especially with an accordion) is a homeless thing only shows that they watch too much TV.
The accordion is a very expensive instrument that requires proper shelter and care. Is not something anyone can purchase.
That’s right! I was playing on a $8,000 accordion!
Play something Brazilian
I need to learn some! I'm currently working on it.
Hi Lucy,
Thank you for posting your busking tips and thoughts on the topic. It was really interesting to hear about some of the pitfalls and tribulations.
We have a guy called The Great Morgani here in Santa Cruz. He has been busking for years here and plays in wild costumes. I think he is independently wealthy, so he does this for pleasure and probably donates the proceeds.
He discovered that he can cover the accordion with stretchy cloth and it's still perfectly playable, so he was able make the instrument part of his costume. His wife make his costumes and he has a very large selection to choose from. He hasn't always had a smooth ride as a busker, though, since the City tried to charge him for some kind of concert permits. He managed to negotiate a way through it.
ruclips.net/user/shorts4vqZfXqpelM
Maybe some of your followers will be inspired by his approach to street entertainment.
He has certainly achieved national, if not world, fame.
Yes I know of the legend of The Great Morgani! I actually reference him in my blog series which I am converting to RUclips videos in this 3 part series. I will talk about him soon!
Thanks so much for watching. I’m glad you’re enjoying these videos :)
In my experience, all the world is the same story exactly as you said.🙂🪗
Is that so!
@accordionlucy Nowadays the world is coming one big town. 😀
Yes