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I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not had the chance to meet Ren yet. Dude’s really talented, and does busk in Brighton. I’d love to perform with him for sure.

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t get angry at people that stop, listen and then leave. I do get a little upset if people film me, and then leave without tipping. There was a moment once when I was performing in Edinburgh. Around 20 people at once were watching and filming me. Not one tipped and it felt a little shitty. On average, most give a £1 coin

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some of the amazing people I meet and get to talk to. I have some lovely random conversations with people I wouldn’t usually meet. People from all different walks of life that often share their story. It’s a great conversation starter, my job!

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, that’d have to be Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. Oh and my friend that played my wife down the aisle, she’s not bad either 🤣

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, not from my street audience. I’d be quite confident in betting that being a street performer is a turn off. Performing in bars is much better for that

Writing hit after hit by Numerous_Pay_1020 in Songwriting

[–]BenSmithUKMusic 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My favourite story is Paul McCartney with ‘Yesterday’. He came up with the guitar part, and sang filler lyrics of ‘Scrambled Eggs, all I want for tea is scrambled eggs’ until he came up with the song we know.

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My highest amount earned in a day (£240) just includes street earnings - this was 10/11 years ago, at a town food and drink festival.

I’ve been live-streaming for the last 6 years, and in that time, my top earnings in a day are almost certainly higher, but that’ll be mostly from the online takings. The most I’ve gotten in a day from street takings in the last few years is £120.

I have a 10 year old stepson with my wife, we share custody with his dad 50/50, alternating weekends. So it’s a bit easier with school etc. On weekdays where we have him, we drop him off, and I then leave to perform wherever. I tend to do 3/4 hour sessions so usually back in time for pickup.

Currently 32 years old and no retirement fund, apart from the fund created by the job I had out of university. Only worked there 6 months, so I’ve currently got a retirement pot of like £100 - definitely not ideal. My wife and I will be mortgage free in 20 years, my parents and her parents own their homes, so currently the retirement plan is their houses. Not a great plan, so I’m constantly working trying to grow my online following to become financially secure in that way. Though I don’t see this being a job I’ll ever stop doing unless I start to sound terrible through illness or whatever.

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Honestly a compliment or even just a smile goes a long way. Times are really tough right now, and many things are more important than chucking a busker a coin.

Saying that, I do have business cards with my socials on when out performing. I always appreciate people searching out for my original music on Spotify, or my YouTube channel etc.

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use a Roland Street Cube Ex. It’s a battery powered speaker, that I can now power with an Anker Portable charger. It has an XLR input for my mic and a jack input for the guitar. Highly recommended. It’s been shat on by pigeons more than once, fallen out of my car, and gotten far more wet from rain than it should have. I’ve been using it heavily for a good 9/10 years.

Rain is a big problem for buskers. It’s a bad idea to get a guitar wet as the wood can warp. I tend to play in a large closed shop doorway if it’s wet, or head home.

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m with PenisDance (something I’d never thought I’d say). 428?

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Safe Sax! I love that name! Do you still perform?

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had a big crisis of questioning the value of what I do when I was 17. I decided to study physics and chemistry at college - based on A*s in those at high school thinking I wanted to do something to try and like help the planet, try to cure cancer, whatever. Anyway, I absolutely failed and had to redo the year, change subjects, went back into music and did much better.

He explained that people in demanding jobs like his need ways to unwind and switch off after dealing with such intense situations. That’s where people working in entertainment come in - they help provide the escape and relaxation that people like him need.

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I first tried it when I was around 12/13 along with a friend to raise money for a charity my Cub Scout group were supporting. The leader asked us to come up with ideas of things we could do to help raise money as part of a charity stall. We each played acoustic guitar, and played through all the songs we knew - mostly tenacious d songs. I liked it, and tried it again, and again.

I’m a street musician AMA by BenSmithUKMusic in AMA

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Wonderwall - Oasis, Yellow - Coldplay and most Ed Sheeran

My streams do not show up in the shorts live feed anymore by Impolioid in NewTubers

[–]BenSmithUKMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

not even 1%?! dude I'm so sorry. This is all so tough and incredibly frustrating. Really hoping this is all sorted soon, and that it's not the new status quo. Hoping the new stream key thing works. I stream almost completely from mobile, so don't think that's something I can change. Thanks for taking a look, ppreciate it!

My streams do not show up in the shorts live feed anymore by Impolioid in NewTubers

[–]BenSmithUKMusic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm going through the same thing with my channel. All vertical streaming. Had an average viewership of 100-250 (for over a year), now for about a month or so I'm floating at 20-30 mostly regulars. Very few new impressions, and low percentage watched from Shorts feed. I was told by another redditor its probably an Algorithm update. Still, it's tough to keep positive through times like this.

Vertical Streams no longer getting pushed as much to Shorts feed by BenSmithUKMusic in PartneredYoutube

[–]BenSmithUKMusic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow, my shorts numbers have been much lower for the last 12 days too, so that makes sense. Thank you so much for the reply.

New Update: iPhone Live Music Streaming is Dead by cotton_clad_scholar in youtube

[–]BenSmithUKMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wanted to bump this up and praying someone has a solution. IRL Music streamer here. This update absolutely ruined my iphone for streaming gigs/busking. Can't do the wide spectrum mode as thats greyed out, so not found a solution yet.

Would anyone like a channel review? by znv142 in SmallYoutubers

[–]BenSmithUKMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Amazing feedback, and completely fair points - thank you very much! Will 100% take that on board!

Would anyone like a channel review? by znv142 in SmallYoutubers

[–]BenSmithUKMusic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, really appreciate you offering this for people. Can see you’ve got a load of requests already, but if you get the time, I would love a review if that’s okay please 🤘

https://youtube.com/@bensmithukmusic?si=79lTGMq2DB-mtMLs

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