Howdy y'all Well Christmas is nearly here, and what with all the present buying to be done I'm thinking about taking up a spot of festive busking in the town square, during my lunch break at work

Anyone got any tips/stories/moneymaking ideas/wise words of advice to share?

Make sure you've got a license!!!

Went collecting with rag in Durham once and got stopped by police!!!. somehow there'd been a ###### up with the license.

ended up having to go round the bars in the evening as it was then on private property so up to landlord.

Also, goes without saying really, but make sure you are in tune and that you have the right mikes etc so can actually be heard.

And...

Look like you are enjoying it !!!!

Mikes? MIKES?!! There's nothing worse than amplified busking. Sorry, there is. Amplified busking with a backing track. Yuk.

York's the best place to busk as you don't need a licence or anything (except for in Coppergate) but you might have to compete for the best spots.

S'ok, I have all my licences, for most of the places where they're necessary in Britain. And I don't normally need/use amplification. I spent much of last year backpacking across Europe with my act.

Anyone got any points specific to Christmas time busking? Like wearing a santa hat/fake beard...is it a crowd pleaser or does it make you look a bit tacky?

I would go for tacky for the santa hat/fake beard combo...
(though I guess it depends on your appearance If you're cute, don't cover it up - girls will give you more money )
A bit of Christmassy music would be nice though - not carols, more like Christmas songs

EDIT: just checked your profile pic - cute - don't do the hat/beard thing.

I am in a brass band and I love to do the Christmas Busking! We go in Supermarkets and randomly out in the streets, and can get away with it fine as the band has a lisence!
It's really good, we raised over £1000 for charity last year!

Is this for a charity? Then make sure you have logos & permission from the Charity.

Mittens, laminate a couple sheets of music if you are using music, note where the nearest toilets are, and its a great idea to do it with someone else. Make sure the music is recognisable.

No to the fake beard, yes to the santa hat, and how about bells on shoes, bit of tinsel on your instrument

What's your act? I'm intrigued
Fingerless gloves, all the way!

A friend of my lines steel pans accross the street to busk at Christmas: he brings his sweet little sister along with him to collect cash for cuteness.

Typical Carol

I have to admit that traditional bands and choirs at Christmas are just fantastic!

Stick to good old traditional hymns and tunes. Don't even think about playing Christmassy pop songs! Most people have had their brain attacked with these in the supermarkets.

Is there anything in the whole universe worse than that piped music in Tesco at Christmas?

By the way, how do you get a licence?

Is it cheaper if you're dressed in black and white?


Steve

Hahahahahahahaha! Charming, thanks Carol! Now if only the public agree...


I expect my main act will be playing my tabor pipe...it's a 3-hole whistle that was popular back in medieval times, still used in morris music. Basically a melody is played on the whistle with the left hand, leaving the right hand free for percussion (traditionally a tabor drum), and probably bells on me feet as well. Likely as not I'll try my accordion too, and failing that it'll be ukulele and vocals. I don't wanna go down the route of acoustic guitar, again.

In terms of facilities, I'll be playing in the town square, and I have an office in the town hall which is about 30secs away

I take your point but have also heard many a singer, flautist or other quiet instrumentalist playing/singing their hearts out only to not be heard over the busy shoppers etc. What a waste of time!!!! I didn't mean anything drastic but as I don't know what Basmadmat was planning what's wrong with say a semi-acoustic guitar being amped or having a mike for a singer so long as it's not too over powering.

Yes backing tracks can be tacky and many I've heard busking as such are often out of tune/time with the track but I've done a couple of favours for people at Christmas light switch ons (one at my piano teachers request) and have played with mike and backing track at one of these. Without it I would not have been heard. I have to admit that it was so hard tho' as there was a delay between me hearing the backing and it sounding through the speakers. There was also a delay through the mixer from my mike so getting the timing was IMPOSSIBLE!!!! I was in time with the CD backing but by the time it came out it wasn't. It was quite embarassing but most people didn't realise and said it sounded good. I made a mental note that next time I was asked to do such a job I'd make sure there was an adequate practice first.

However on the other occasion playing without any amplification was a waste of time as no-one could really hear and I was outside the music shop my piano teacher ran rather than centrally located. Therefore, it didn't really draw any attention and those walking directly past were probably the only ones with any chance of hearing.

Guess there are pos and cons of each...

Calm down, Carol - he looks about 12!!

Whaaaaaaaaaat?! 12?! Pffffffffft! *many splutters of indignation* 12?!?!?!?!

OK, perhaps a slight exageration. Has your voice broken yet?

From my experience of busking the early birds are more generous. People who are shopping late in the season, or late in the day, are too stressed out to pay attention to buskers. The first couple of weeks of December are good, because people are starting to look forward to Christmas, and aren't yet worn down by all the crowds. People love classics like Silent Night and Away in a Manger.

You can keep out of it

No problem

I do specify age-appropriateness on my signature - just in case

LOL perhaps I'd better just pat you on the head and give you money for sweets

You do realise that I'm actually 43?! I've just aged extremely well

Excellent - you fall into the flirting age range

Poor so-and-so! Run Matt, run now - whilst you still have the chance!

"Run"?! Well I havn't quite established "the flirting age range", but it Czerny's earlier mock outrage is anything to go by, then it's more likely to be a "slow Zimmer-frame assisted shuffle" than a "run"

You have been warned!

(and I think the flirting age thing is anything from 18 to 80!)

ROFL
The flirting range is from just above actually illegal to just below actually dead

I'm thinking I might have to work on that run after all now

But I think she'd consider just dead, but still twitching, actually. She's not fussy!

Oi HG - I can answer my own questions - see above

Suppose they do say variety is the spice of life...

Absolutely

im 16 soon carol

Carol, you may wish to adjust your parameters. Fast!

Ah, I get it! You're after H_C and just don't want the competition!

Who isnt after me...

Sorry, 18 or over only I'm afraid...