I’m a sax busker too! I don’t think I’m very good but people seem to really like it and the positive feedback is even more appreciated than the money. I’m in Australia and play 2-3 hours from midday to 2 or 3pm twice a week and get between $50-$200 each time. My best day ever was $280! I have a playlist of over 200 songs in a wide range of genres and eras to cater to whatever demographic of people are around at any given moment.
Hey Gabe!! That's cool that you played in Boston. I'am from Boston. I am gearing up for my frist time busk in the Boston Common.I play guitar and i play the blues!! Hope they like me!!!
Awesome video my friend! I'm actually thinking about being a part time busker in the subways of Boston. Performing at stations like North Station and Porter Square since they are connected to the closest commuter rail like I use (the Fitchburg Line). I'm rather surprised that Park Street wasn't that consistent because that is one of the busiest stations on the Red Line and MBTA as a whole whenever I'd visit. Maybe you just went on days that weren't busy because I can tell you for a fact that every single busker is always trying to busk at Park Street whenever it's available no matter what time of day or what kind of day it is. Thanks for the tips and hopefully I can start busking after months of practicing the electric keyboard and when it's safe to go busking in Boston again!
Give it a shot! Harvard Square is the big-time busking spot; Tracy Chapman got her start there, even! But I saw some great folks playing downtown at State Street during lunchtime, and Porter Square would be a good spot. The School of HONK plays in Porter on Sundays, so be mindful of that. Thinking about the Fitchburg Line: downtown Waltham during the weekend might actually be good as well: lots of foot traffic on Moody Street during dinnertime. During the summer, any place in the North End/Aquarium area would be really good, and although it's not exactly commuter-rail friendly, if you can get down to Castle Island in South Boston, people are _lined_ up there during the weekend for seafood.
@@jorymil Thanks for the advice! It's been 2 to 3 years since I made that comment and I'll give you some updates on myself and my performances. I've been performing since July of 2021 and I can say that it's had it's ups and downs. I don't perform regularly like everybody else, I only do it once or twice a month, 3 times at the most. It's been a fun experience for the most part, it's helped me express my artistic side. I play typically in the subway, mostly at North Station. Although I do go to other stations from time to time. State Street is one of my alternative spots and it's a great spot! Harvard Square I've only been to once, but the people there weren't particularly friendly to me. Porter Square I haven't performed at yet, but probably will if Harvard is ever taken the next time I wanna play there. The Aquarium I have been wanting to perform at for a long time and I am definitely gonna take advantage of it when the warmer weather comes around! So yeah, that's a short summary of places I've played at and it's been a good experience so far.
Nashville is great!! I've made a career out of it.... I make realistically on the low end 200 a week and on the high end about 800!!! I want to try Austin, the Canadians that come here tell me I need to go to Saskatchewan... I might do it for a summer...idk
The panda suit guys story you told makes sense. I mean, buskers don't really need a huge set list because the walk by traffic only hears one song... two at most if they stop. So in all reality, if a guy had as little as 5 to 10 songs, that'd be enough. Every 2 or 3 sings a new crowd would be passing by so they wouldn't be the wiser.
When I was busking regularly I just went through any song that I liked that translated well to the solo sax. Mostly jazz standards. I did a lot of ballads. I would suggest going through a jazz fake book like The Real Book and picking tunes out of there. One of the ways I got a lot of standards into my head was by listening to vocal renditions of them as opposed to instrumentals. I love Sarah Vaughan and basically memorized a few of her albums just because I listened to them a lot. When you know the lyrics to a standard tune - it can be easier to remember. Make sure you're listening to the great sax players... play along with the albums... learn some of the tunes... listen ALL THE TIME and get it in your system. Maceo Parker's "Life on Planet Groove" was a great inspiration to me - parts of this album found their way into my busking. More with grabbing some of the grooves and then improvising off of them. Check it out here: Maceo Parker - Life on Planet Groove (Full Album) Sonny Criss' "Portrait of Sonny Criss" is still one of my favorite albums. This song was one of my favorites to play: A Million Or More Times - Sonny Criss Phil Woods' "Musique Du Bois" is another favorite. Here's a tune from that one: Phil Woods / The Summer Knows You've got me thinking... maybe I'll put together a blog post with all the tunes I used. Basically it's a mix of stuff that you enjoy but that also pleases the people. The more you can do of both, the better.
About the area that people "claim". The United States is a democratic nation where people can busk or "beg" where they want. If you're in an area that someone "claims," and they try and force you to move somewhere else, you are well within you're legal rights (in Australia and the United States) to say you were there first.
Great tips about getting more money by doing requests from people, as songs go I’m I normally do Facebook lives and karaoke in Dymk and xchange which are gay bars in Bournemouth, just starting out doing busking in Shaftesbury and Blandford Forum soon which you don’t need a music license
Yea finding consistent spots in NY city is weird, first I find a spot and make $100 for the day, same spot next week $40. It's like a mind game to figure it out haha
Mike Pokai and Lawrence Wilson - I'm in NYC (doing acoustic originals and some covers) I do one or two 90 minute sets and the most i've walked away with is 60! Where are you guys busking and what kinda stuff are you performing? I've been writing, recording and performing originals and covers for almost 20 years but i'm really new to the busking scene. Any tips for a new busker(been at it around 2 months)? I'm doing this full time, i'm 100% dedicated, it's not like a little thing you know? Any words of wisdom would be so highly appreciated. Thanks!
Josh Levinsky no worries I play George Strait,hank Williams,Charlie Pride,George Jones,Dylan,,Rodriguez,Bowie,U2,Johnny Cash,Ricky Skaggs ,I busk in Brisbane Australia normally outside Woolworths a major supermarket store,and ill go in to the Brisbane city sometimes
Josh Levinsky no worries I play George Strait,hank Williams,Charlie Pride,George Jones,Dylan,,Rodriguez,Bowie,U2,Johnny Cash,Ricky Skaggs ,I busk in Brisbane Australia normally outside Woolworths a major supermarket store,and ill go in to the Brisbane city sometimes
Nice man! It's so strange, everyone online in the busking community seems to be from Australia. There must be a prevalent busking scene! You guys are lucky you can use amplification and you have those outdoor squares. I hate relying on foot traffic, or the two minutes in between trains to really create a connection. I much rather a stationary crowd.
I’m a sax busker too! I don’t think I’m very good but people seem to really like it and the positive feedback is even more appreciated than the money.
I’m in Australia and play 2-3 hours from midday to 2 or 3pm twice a week and get between $50-$200 each time.
My best day ever was $280!
I have a playlist of over 200 songs in a wide range of genres and eras to cater to whatever demographic of people are around at any given moment.
My sister and I have been busking for 2 years. We pretty much busk anywhere possible such as malls, festivals, Etc we make around $200 a day
Nikki Behr BULL
Hey Gabe!! That's cool that you played in Boston. I'am from Boston. I am gearing up for my frist time busk in the Boston Common.I play guitar and i play the blues!! Hope they like me!!!
Awesome! Good luck out there!
Gabe I normally busk outside Woolworths ,that’s a major food and vegetable store in Australia ,I found they don’t mind buskers
Hahaha classic place to busk
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Awesome video my friend! I'm actually thinking about being a part time busker in the subways of Boston. Performing at stations like North Station and Porter Square since they are connected to the closest commuter rail like I use (the Fitchburg Line). I'm rather surprised that Park Street wasn't that consistent because that is one of the busiest stations on the Red Line and MBTA as a whole whenever I'd visit. Maybe you just went on days that weren't busy because I can tell you for a fact that every single busker is always trying to busk at Park Street whenever it's available no matter what time of day or what kind of day it is. Thanks for the tips and hopefully I can start busking after months of practicing the electric keyboard and when it's safe to go busking in Boston again!
Give it a shot! Harvard Square is the big-time busking spot; Tracy Chapman got her start there, even! But I saw some great folks playing downtown at State Street during lunchtime, and Porter Square would be a good spot. The School of HONK plays in Porter on Sundays, so be mindful of that. Thinking about the Fitchburg Line: downtown Waltham during the weekend might actually be good as well: lots of foot traffic on Moody Street during dinnertime.
During the summer, any place in the North End/Aquarium area would be really good, and although it's not exactly commuter-rail friendly, if you can get down to Castle Island in South Boston, people are _lined_ up there during the weekend for seafood.
@@jorymil Thanks for the advice! It's been 2 to 3 years since I made that comment and I'll give you some updates on myself and my performances.
I've been performing since July of 2021 and I can say that it's had it's ups and downs. I don't perform regularly like everybody else, I only do it once or twice a month, 3 times at the most. It's been a fun experience for the most part, it's helped me express my artistic side.
I play typically in the subway, mostly at North Station. Although I do go to other stations from time to time. State Street is one of my alternative spots and it's a great spot! Harvard Square I've only been to once, but the people there weren't particularly friendly to me. Porter Square I haven't performed at yet, but probably will if Harvard is ever taken the next time I wanna play there. The Aquarium I have been wanting to perform at for a long time and I am definitely gonna take advantage of it when the warmer weather comes around!
So yeah, that's a short summary of places I've played at and it's been a good experience so far.
Nashville is great!! I've made a career out of it.... I make realistically on the low end 200 a week and on the high end about 800!!! I want to try Austin, the Canadians that come here tell me I need to go to Saskatchewan... I might do it for a summer...idk
Awesome! What do you play? That's a big factor for sure :).
The panda suit guys story you told makes sense. I mean, buskers don't really need a huge set list because the walk by traffic only hears one song... two at most if they stop. So in all reality, if a guy had as little as 5 to 10 songs, that'd be enough. Every 2 or 3 sings a new crowd would be passing by so they wouldn't be the wiser.
Coolest buskers I saw drew a big crowd in NYC. Cookie Monster and a Pink Gorilla playing jazz in the subway.
I busk as well but I need some more songs, what songs would you recommend for alto sax
When I was busking regularly I just went through any song that I liked that translated well to the solo sax. Mostly jazz standards. I did a lot of ballads. I would suggest going through a jazz fake book like The Real Book and picking tunes out of there.
One of the ways I got a lot of standards into my head was by listening to vocal renditions of them as opposed to instrumentals. I love Sarah Vaughan and basically memorized a few of her albums just because I listened to them a lot. When you know the lyrics to a standard tune - it can be easier to remember.
Make sure you're listening to the great sax players... play along with the albums... learn some of the tunes... listen ALL THE TIME and get it in your system.
Maceo Parker's "Life on Planet Groove" was a great inspiration to me - parts of this album found their way into my busking. More with grabbing some of the grooves and then improvising off of them. Check it out here: Maceo Parker - Life on Planet Groove (Full Album)
Sonny Criss' "Portrait of Sonny Criss" is still one of my favorite albums. This song was one of my favorites to play: A Million Or More Times - Sonny Criss
Phil Woods' "Musique Du Bois" is another favorite. Here's a tune from that one: Phil Woods / The Summer Knows
You've got me thinking... maybe I'll put together a blog post with all the tunes I used. Basically it's a mix of stuff that you enjoy but that also pleases the people. The more you can do of both, the better.
Thank you for the advice! What are you doing now with your music?
The difference in generosity probably is partly determined by closeness to payday.
Thanks for sharing this
About the area that people "claim". The United States is a democratic nation where people can busk or "beg" where they want. If you're in an area that someone "claims," and they try and force you to move somewhere else, you are well within you're legal rights (in Australia and the United States) to say you were there first.
@@ULOVEKYLE holy shit that’s so cringe reading that now
Great tips about getting more money by doing requests from people, as songs go I’m I normally do Facebook lives and karaoke in Dymk and xchange which are gay bars in Bournemouth, just starting out doing busking in Shaftesbury and Blandford Forum soon which you don’t need a music license
The homeless people I ended up playing for loved the classic rock I was playing.. They gathered around for hours offering beer and weed . :)
free smoke ups? hell yeah
necro is da shiet
its about personality and making people smile man..thats all just smile and spare change
Yea finding consistent spots in NY city is weird, first I find a spot and make $100 for the day, same spot next week $40. It's like a mind game to figure it out haha
...Beer in Amsterdam costs $8....they don't have any money left over.....
If you have a skill, you'll always have a job ;)
No amps for Buskers....too loud...too pushy....
Dang I must be getting good. I do between 10 and 50 bucks an hour hehe
Lawrence Wilson me too normally make between 50/150 for a session lasting around 2and half hrs
Mike Pokai and Lawrence Wilson - I'm in NYC (doing acoustic originals and some covers) I do one or two 90 minute sets and the most i've walked away with is 60! Where are you guys busking and what kinda stuff are you performing? I've been writing, recording and performing originals and covers for almost 20 years but i'm really new to the busking scene. Any tips for a new busker(been at it around 2 months)? I'm doing this full time, i'm 100% dedicated, it's not like a little thing you know? Any words of wisdom would be so highly appreciated. Thanks!
Josh Levinsky no worries I play George Strait,hank Williams,Charlie Pride,George Jones,Dylan,,Rodriguez,Bowie,U2,Johnny Cash,Ricky Skaggs ,I busk in Brisbane Australia normally outside Woolworths a major supermarket store,and ill go in to the Brisbane city sometimes
Josh Levinsky no worries I play George Strait,hank Williams,Charlie Pride,George Jones,Dylan,,Rodriguez,Bowie,U2,Johnny Cash,Ricky Skaggs ,I busk in Brisbane Australia normally outside Woolworths a major supermarket store,and ill go in to the Brisbane city sometimes
Nice man! It's so strange, everyone online in the busking community seems to be from Australia. There must be a prevalent busking scene! You guys are lucky you can use amplification and you have those outdoor squares. I hate relying on foot traffic, or the two minutes in between trains to really create a connection. I much rather a stationary crowd.