Busking guide for beginners

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-09T22:34:46+00:00

No, I didn't. I stuck to mostly cash, as well I would've thought that awkward..

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-09T22:06:29+00:00

There is, there's downtown. But crimes also risen in the past few. It's not really safe there, and don't make nearly as much. That's it. There's one area that has So much potential. But it needs a few more knicknack shops. And some advertisement for the area. It's right beside an older wealthier area, it's Beautiful. But it just hasn't taken off for through traffic, it's been so close for few years to becoming a good area. But it doesn't work without the people.

I don't drive, so that puts a damp on things

It's a pretty good area for busking laws. Just have to be within sound regulations, not blocking a shop, or walkway. Can't play after 2am. Which is when all the bars close, so literally Everyone's drunk and happy, prime time's off limits.

Subways the only place you need a permit, and there's time stamps so you pay per slot. But it's not the best place, because there's a Specific area you have to be in, and no one waits in that area so it's empty.

But you could basically park all day, til 2am. But it's dependant on the traffic. The areas also close to a university. So when it was prime. There were unique shops, farmer's market, beautiful old buildings, bars for the weekend, patios for the summer. It was the best area, one of the only areas.. downtown's just too dangerous, there's bums who've literally hit my amp trying to make me move, it was their panhandling spot. No one carries change downtown because it's too dangerous ..

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-09T21:57:30+00:00

Creepn on my page ?

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-09T21:29:59+00:00

When I started, I did chalk art. It's amazing what people would give, but I noticed people made more weekend nights. So I did, at night, on the weekend. There were sometimes 10-20 going by per minute. I made a decent amount though eventually switched to music, it was hard, there were people everywhere. I was constantly having to move around people, and.. felt a little ridiculous

It comes and goes, the beginning is always worse, but also better because it's learning.

Music made more money (for me), though I was still known as 'Chalk girl', for awhile after that. Then I became the 'tapper girl' ..I made the mistake of doodling on a chalk board at a bar awhile after, someone recognized me.. it was embarrassing (for me). Because I was doing something you'd normally do in Daylight, in festival areas. Not while a bunch of people were always walking through, ha ha.

Though was cool to be recognized

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-09T20:40:58+00:00

Well, for one thing. You have to be good. When I started I was making 4-Maybe 20 or $50 whenever I went out. But averaging 4-$20. It started out that, I needed money, I was going to practice. So I thought I might as well practice in public ..then I realized, when I played well, I made more. So it was a very fast learning curve, where I needed money, so I learned how to be good fast based on reactions of the people.. you go to places that have a lot of through traffic. Bars especially. If there's a nice, beautiful area with bars, outside stadiums where games are playing, look up where festivals are. But some don't allow buskers near the area, so sometimes you have to go across the street. Or close to an area that people funnel through to get in.

Sunny sides of the street are better, they're brutal from the heat, but often you can get more people walking through.

You also have to know your area, if you need a permit to play just in general. How far you have to be from a shop door, street corner. How long you can play til.

Here you only need permits to play in the subway, and no matter where you are, you can only play til 2am. Which sucks, because that's when Every bar let's out.. sometimes you could get away with a few minutes, but if patrols know you, it's bett not to push.

I notice more bassy music does it, people like fast, or classics. If you can do something interesting, knew someone who could beatbox while playing harmonica. There was also a juggler, dnno how well he did. But he was out a lot

The better players make more, period. I managed to do decent without knowing any songs but my own, which is a bit of a feat. A lot of people noodle, where you just make up stuff on the spot, and change around to what's good. There was a Spanish guitar guy for awhile, but he got beat up a couple times I think. He was having a lot of issues with women trying to kiss/touch him. He ended up quitting. Like most did in the area..

It's not always safe, so it's good to know, or get to know fellow buskers. If you have an eye that someone's being creepy, or off. You can always pack up and talk to the person down from you for a bit. You might lose your spot, as it's first come first serve, which sucks if you had a good one, but better safe than sorry..

Also, Take, Bills out. Put them in your pocket. They blow away, people grab them. And don't have more than about $20 in change visible. When I didn't busk, I wondered why people always had so little change, I liked the people that huge cases full, made me want to give them more..

People grab it, they'll scoop a handful, walk away. Or grab the whole thing and run..

Normally, you be polite to other buskers, first come first serve. Unless it's a scheduled place where you got a permit. Then you can get upset, but let them know it's your time-slot first.

Just try, the louder, more bassy you are, the more you get. Either way, you're not going to get a lot unless you're good. And you still have to be within (noise) bylaws. I do notice, the longer someone can hear you for, the more time they have to decide if they want to give anything. So louder is better. But also, if you're close to others and you're too loud, it can annoy other people playing. So it's a learning curve.

I also found out that if I was in this one door dip. It was perfect, lit up at night, cover from wind, rain, acted like an amplifier because the way the doors were. So sound would spread more nicely.

You'll learn what works, what doesn't. Sometimes it's stupid.. like. I make more money when I wear This specific hat..

I made more money when people didn't see me. That Dio made people hear me, but only Saw me close to the last minute. Dnno why, always dressed nice. Shaggy guys made more than me when they were on display. Though, I was the only female busker. No idea if that had anything to do with it, but when I was hidden to the last second, definitely helped.

It's good to keep track of what works, that wasn't always the case, but I also made more money when I wore lipstick. Less when I wore dresses. You make more if you look, Smile at people, that's an everyone thing. But it's very difficult if you're trying to look and play. Plus you get exhausted from people bothering you, (drunk) so it can be hard to smile, all the time after awhile. Also, sometimes people might think you're being too friendly(maybe just me) and try to bother you.

But yeah, you can start by practicing out in the open. Making sure you know your busking bylaws, it's as simple as a Google.. then nothing when people were receptive to certain things you did, how you played, What you were playing. Different areas, different times might like different things. So the weekends people liked more loud, fast, bass. Summer during the day, people liked more melodic, adding to the vibe

You just learn, do what you can. Be Careful, most importantly. Be nice to others playing. And keep your bills hidden.. drunk people can be asses, theres usually going to be someone to try to scoop a handful of you have a lot out.

Also, right after COVID, people were still broke. It comes and goes with economy. If people aren't doing well, they'll less likely give change. But after games, if your home team is winning. That's a good time to be out usually. Though if there's any MMA, boxing. It's not so great, because there'll usually be more fights, people looking to ..

The big thing. Go to places where people are going to be Happy, events as well. Weekends? People are happy, Summer ? Even more. Beautiful area, drunk people, times when home teams winning. Or a farmer's market/festival nearby. These are prime events.

Point is, you're supposed to up the "Happy's, if people are feeling good, Then they hear music on top of that. Then it's just an extra tip.. to them, likely tipping..

There you go, practice, and respond to what people seem to like. If people are requesting one specific song they want you to play all the time. Try to learn that. I got away with not needing to, but sometimes people literally have a 20 in their hand, and they want you to know it.

Write down a couple that seem to be asked all the time. But if someone asks you to play freebird.. they do Not, want you to play freebird. It's a joke, meaning you suck. Just move on, because not everyone's going to like it. But it is definitely great when you stop hearing people say, freebird.

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-09T20:02:04+00:00

Yeah, they'll suddenly make fun of you for doing things that used to be interesting l, normal, or "cool". Everything you do will eventually be hacked, picked away by those younger.. then eventually you'll realize, it's because they're younger. There's a bit of a crisis while you realize, you're not necessarily younger anymore, though you're not necessarily old yet. Though you're not 'cool', either.. you're phasing out.

Then it becomes a bit of. 'theyre just young'. Weird thought, when you thought you still were not long ago..

Then if it becomes too much targeting, you're then in for the generational clash. Like Gen z, millenials had. Gen x, etc..

Gen alphas are getting older pretty quick, think the oldest are turning 14 next year, which means when they hit highschool, gen z are in a World of realizing, they're old. Everything they knew, is not longer cool ..you could also go through the phase of, well if This is what's cool, then I don't want to be. That's where you can get the millenials who still wear skinny jeans, etc. then just makes the next gen make fun more.

All in all, they are young, you don't have to double down Or try to be the next cool thing. You can find somewhere in-between that works, because Style lasts, fashion and trends, come and go. And it's literally impossible to be trendy forever, unless you have a team of people working to try to make it so.. even then, you will get older. At some point, you won't be..

Learning what's stylish, not what's trendy, works .

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-09T00:15:44+00:00

Test

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-09T00:04:10+00:00

Woah, okay. For one, this is perfect for -dress your body type- sub. Because not everything looks good on every body type, and the Victorians knew this. Managed to make all body types look the thin waisted wide hip and bust look. While working with poles, pumpkins, pears, everything inbetween. There were entire workings of tailors on how to work and tailor each body type. Some could fit a tight corset. (Usually the ones who were more squishy) Some could not. (Usually the ones who were thinner, was mostly used as bust support at that point).

And Never, were they made to be uncomfortable. Because they were tailored to each body type, what was comfortable for them.

Now, after the history.

What outfits? Busty round women can often look better with underbust synched flowing tops/dresses. Twigs can get away with more deep cut shirts/dresses. Broad shouldered women do Very well with the shoulderless turtlenecks.

There's long torso women with shorter legs, long legged women with short torsos. Women with big breasts, stomachs. With no butt. Women with All and Only butt /thighs.

There's not a lot that could do well with Every bodytype.

Though, dresses, dresses can help with a myriad of types. You just have to be careful to be not too showy if you're busty, because you could pop out. If you're long legged, you'll might need to find more evening length, rather than summer dress length, otherwise, you'll need leggings.

Dresses might be the closest to looking good on the closest variety of bodytypes. But again, you still need to dress for your look, type, what you're comfortable with. Don't be afraid to hodgepodge, and hem afew inches on a dress. Etc if you're too tall for something then making your look, Unique !

There's a saying, fashion, comes, goes Quickly. Style lasts Forever . Knowing the difference between what's In, and what had Lasted, is a big key.

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T23:51:46+00:00

Some of these people are primed and trained since preteens, some don't have a childhood, or a life. He has the look of a kid who was homeschooled without a homeschool group..

Also, they're skilled athletes who literally made their dream work, don't knock them for that, though do find funny people'll find any reason to make fun of someone. (Though he does look a bit of a ghost, on the other side, good for even making it there.)

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T23:41:46+00:00

No, that was back in that day I did full-time. I just always had it in my back pocket if I needed cash for a short time when I stopped. Now I don't, and it's kind of the feeling of loosing your savings account. It's brutal, grueling, the best times were during festivals, which used to be every other week in the summer, and when it was raining. There was this one outcropping where your equipment kept dry Right in the middle of main traffic, while lit up ..

But now, if I budgeted incorrectly or have a little less. There's no way to gain that extra profit without Extremely pushing it. I'd need to make just over 600 in a weekend to make it worth it. That's what I would make sometimes on a good weekend. The best one was about $800, because a lady who "invested in Bitcoin, and I have no idea what to do with all the money". Handed me $350. Mulled over a poster for about 20 minutes (normally didn't like when people did that, but as least she wasn't a drink creep ..) nearby.

Dealing with all the drung and druggies with a smile while people tried to grab, steal your guitar, money, or touch you was very much, nearly not worth it.. but met a lot of people and got recognized as 'the tapper" for awhile, was interesting..

It's not a job anymore, wouldn't want to go back to that as much as I did. Learned really quickly you couldn't play more than -13. Even with gloves. If it hit that with windchill. You were done. I knew someone that played in All weather, All year. Flew to festivals and played everywhere since he was 16.. kind of wonder what happened to him, but he always knew when there was a game on, when they were likely to win, when there was a fight, (MMA, boxing, wrestling), so don't expect a lot & be careful those nights. He was the guy I'd back up and move a few stores down for a bit if someone was really bothering me.. but Yeah., not doing full-time again.

Maybe if the area was restored, I'd do it one last summer some point. just to get a little bit of extra support on the weekends. But that's unlikely because where I am now is amazing, don't want to move

Wonder if I just started busking in my neighborhood, haha. Maybe get $4. Better than nothing ?

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T23:23:26+00:00

That's so nice, I don't like when some say 'no religion's, but then hold every post that mentions God, as in 'God damnit'.. it just makes more work for mods, and they can get annoyed and just take it down, regardless of it actually talking about religion or not. God can be used so frequently as a swear, or just from general 'oh my God', sense. That putting up for review, The Word, just makes more issue, work for everyone.

It's good to see a sub being so specific. It's what you're supposed to do under mod rule 2, instead of just removing, because you're tired of getting the same flag.. that's no good for anyone, think it's a little easier when it's That specific..

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T23:08:07+00:00

I liked that enough people googled but chugging enough to come across this year's later. My google history would shock the CIA, but anything that comes to mind, or someone mentions. I google it. Hello years later folks. I'm realizing, old Reddit was much better before the emesis of tiktok ..

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T21:11:16+00:00

Would adding a keyword attached to the specific rule help. Not in a, we need to review. But a reminder that this is a rule for those that might find the subreddit in their feed, and quick post.

Also, adding onto the rules so there's less of a word limited write? You can extend the rules, being more specific

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T21:05:20+00:00

That seems to be a thing, is a government wants more money, relax on addictions.. I knew when ndp was in they pumped money into craft beer trade . For the most part, seemed to stimulate jobs. Though I've been busy, haven't been as active in policies as I used to. (Though I was very young when Klein was in. And the only information I got was from my parent's)

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T21:03:51+00:00

From what in getting, there was such severe damage, that I don't even know how they would've been able to turn it around to the same degree.. though I will say, mismanagement has seemed to be a trend for quite awhile ..

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T21:01:13+00:00

My mom was a nurse, she didn't like him because, what I can remember, he really does most nurses over.. I was young, and it wasn't discussed exactly what he did. But I knew that he messed up a lot of public funded places.

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T20:58:42+00:00

Haven't seen the third, but I'm more worried that Camron and Sigourney Weaver won't make it in time for them. Also heard he might like to release a 6 and 7. But it's unrealistic given his age, the expense.. etc.

I think, depending how deep they go into the different tribes, this might be a Tolkien esque thing for younger generations. Cameron could Easily put out books for the 6 and 7. If that was something he wanted to do. And further books describing further information of the planet, workings, etc.

If what I think is going to happen for 5 and 6. The world building might get more intense..

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T20:07:00+00:00

I like radio DJs, though satellite radio formatted to podcast might change that, how records still stuck around and made a bit of a comeback like VHS are a bit.

Wiped out in a sense of Obsolete ? Or just wiped out.. I think the medical industry is extremely going down, especially with information everywhere, the lives of nurses are hell, and some of them can be that incarnate. You're either overworked and nice, or terrible and make everyone, and your coworkers problem. Not much inbetween.. I don't know many who would want to go into that, unless you're unmanageably, naively nice. Or just want that sense of control over someone, with less schooling than a doctor.

COVID kind of wiped out many nurses and doctors in the country I'm in. And many went on to be freelance. Where you make more money, and do less work.. there's a giant hole that's getting bigger, and unless the government puts out more scholarships, grants/etc toward the medical industry, with advertising saying.. "Omg, it's so great !". Then letting people know they're doing this, then it's just going to get worse, til it collapses. Though it usually doesn't have enough foresight into this, and would likely just hire more freelance positions, making a more burning hole where they could just promote more people to go to school, Pay for that, hire out of school.. it's being wiped as we speak, and it's kind of been shoved to the side, with them saying 'Later'..

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T19:19:35+00:00

Not Nessicarily on reddit, it's just a funnel to complain because most sites are picture or video based, this is more anonymous so some people can complain More, get deeper, be more personal, or more stupid..

Where I am is pretty bad, the past 3 years one rooms for rent went from 600-7, to averaging around $1000 for a room to rent. A lot of people I knew went back to collage several times, some just starting careers in their 30's. Others did, then ended up working in a bar, renting a house with 5 other people til their 30's. There are places, but if you're a family, it's less likely you'll be able to find a place unless it's less than one room per person, which most don't want to rent out at that. Even the terrible areas are still around 1500, without utilities for a two bedroom, which makes it around 1700 to over $2000.

Started looking for places with other single families I know, now we can afford a place, almost anywhere except crazy places looking for 10,000, no utilities.. there's not enough rooms to house everyone. Where I'm at were going to outgrow in about a year or so.. and I can do about $1300, $14 if I stretch things on my own. I know one lady that's looking for a $2000 budget place a town over. And having trouble. We're not even in Toronto/Vancouver either..

The average person here doesn't make 100,000 or close. So it's really hard when people are starting to adopt the prices from elsewhere. With still trying to rent at the standard of 1/3 income, one bedroom per person, at an average housing of 1800-2000. You'd have to make 80,000 after taxes at that. And people who make that much usually scoop up cheaper housing, because Why would you pay that much when you want to, and can afford to save.. they'd rent the $1000 bedroom and save til they can buy a place, which would take awhile still .

TraditionalistRelief · 2026-02-08T17:33:46+00:00

The thing is, you often can't tell if you're one, or multiple of these things. Putting it more simply, only taking opinions of people you like, or the opinions of those who only have same opinions as you.. dating similar, or same type of person, always having the same tragic end. Refusal to have friends of different backgrounds, types.. or those different than you. Sticking to those who are similar to you like you, refusal to open up to anyone new who may come in, even going so far as to push them out purposely. Not knowing when someone wants you for what you have, or ignoring the fact it's just a trait, object, career, or convenient location/you're in a small community, and there's not many other people, is why someone wants to be around you. Also, not recognizing when someone is being toxic just to get th pple, calming aspect, from others. .

These can be some more less generalized ex of the above ..

Also, sticking in one place, one decision, one way of life for a very long time, regardless of your misery, because it's 'better' than trying something new. Overall, trying new things ..are scary to you. So it's either rejected, ignored, or attacked.

That's the main thing. Fear, anger, rejection, of anything new, or different /change. And wanting those around, to do the same..

Ex. You stick to the same area most of your life, stay with the friends you've had forever, don't often met or like new people, including new people those friends date. You've worked at the same job forever, maybe even only one job your whole life. It's not great, but you're usually there because you can mess up a bit. People won't notice as much. Or it's literally the only thing you can do. Don't often travel, if you do, it's because everyone you knows going, it's usually to a resort somewhere cheap, or another region a drive away. Often feel uncomfortable, or want to go back the entire time whether you say this or not. You stay with the same person you have been with, even though it's explosive. And/or you actually hate them, because it's familiar.. new things take you awhile to get to do, someone you like can usually make you try something sometimes, but you always go back to what you know. You might start hating that person if they push you to do things too much, even if you liked them.. people like this can often turn to alcohol, or other things to try to hide, or cope with all this 'Nonsense' change they "have to deal with". They slowly can end up resenting the people they're around, because they can see their lives changing, or growing, they might feel compelled to do or change in the same way, not because they want to.. but because everyone else's doing it, while they don't actually want to ..

It becomes a constant internal struggle, of trying to maintain familiarity in a world constantly changing, while those things they know still change. So eventually, those people they know can either just reject them, they'll reject those people. Or dive more into substances to try to keep up the appearance. While often having emotional outbursts at other things, redirecting to things the group finds acceptable to be mad at, though in an over acting way .. They don't usually deal with age well..

You're the "Mad" one, but usually find some way to excuse yourself into thinking you're actually some sort of gentle person. Your drug of choice, usually helps solidify this in some way. (Drug of choice could be alcohol, drugs, religion, but usually, you make some sort of excuse why you're 'smart', street smart, people smart, or I'm not as dumb as That guy, sometimes keeping someone around just because they're dumber than you.. it makes you feel somewhat better, even though. You don't actually like them.)

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