Rllink
Well-known member
I was talking about this to Jerry yesterday and today. I was playing a set at a craft fair that was being held at a local winery. Three or four women with children in tow came by and I immediately went from Love Me Tender to Wheels on the Bus and got the kids' attention. Three songs in, the mothers sent their kids up with dollars to throw in my ukulele case. It always works. And if someone has three kids, every one of them has to get a dollar to throw in the case. And then if you can get the attention of a couple of families, one can't be outdone by the other. It is a gold mine. Always have at least three or four kid's songs that you can launch into in a moment's notice. I learned this trick out busking.
Maybe some don't know what busking is. It is street performing. I'm addicted to it. And it doesn't have to be music, but my juggling is not that good, so playing the ukulele is my thing. You find a place where there is a stream of foot traffic. They call that a pitch. You find your pitch, put out your open case, and try to get people's attention. If you can hold them long enough, they will throw some money in your case.
A secondary benefit is that people ask you to do their craft fair, or a birthday party, or something like that. It is a good way to pick up an easy paying gig. Hence I found myself yesterday morning at a craft fair at a winery, playing kid's songs. The guy who was playing before I went up was a fellow busker that I have run across on numerous occasions.
Anyway, my busking tip is to launch into kid's songs any time you see one within earshot, and keep playing them until the parents have to bribe their kids with a buck each to some how break your hold on them. Think the Pied Piper. A challenge, but really not that big of one. Kids are easily entertained.
So is anyone else all about busking? Any stories, tips, or just want to talk about it? Anyone thinking about busking but hasn't yet?
Maybe some don't know what busking is. It is street performing. I'm addicted to it. And it doesn't have to be music, but my juggling is not that good, so playing the ukulele is my thing. You find a place where there is a stream of foot traffic. They call that a pitch. You find your pitch, put out your open case, and try to get people's attention. If you can hold them long enough, they will throw some money in your case.
A secondary benefit is that people ask you to do their craft fair, or a birthday party, or something like that. It is a good way to pick up an easy paying gig. Hence I found myself yesterday morning at a craft fair at a winery, playing kid's songs. The guy who was playing before I went up was a fellow busker that I have run across on numerous occasions.
Anyway, my busking tip is to launch into kid's songs any time you see one within earshot, and keep playing them until the parents have to bribe their kids with a buck each to some how break your hold on them. Think the Pied Piper. A challenge, but really not that big of one. Kids are easily entertained.
So is anyone else all about busking? Any stories, tips, or just want to talk about it? Anyone thinking about busking but hasn't yet?
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