Anyone done any busking? Tell me about your busking experiences. It's something I've daydreamed about trying for years, and a friend has just suggested it, but I know nothing about the practicalities. Can't afford decent battery amps, and I'd like to use mains-powered instruments, so can I ask a local shop to plug me in? Do I need a licence or something?

IIRC here in Oxford people need some sort of permit to busk. We had particular issues a year or so ago with a perpetual bagpiper!

As for 'plugging-in' you may get enmeshed in stuff relating to trailing cables and trip-hazards. People may be reluctant to assist because of that.

But good luck anyway..!

You don't say what instrument you play? I haven't tried busking yet but do intend to do this year. I plan to do acoustic guitar and vocal so don't need an amp but I have tried a couple of battery amps, the Roland AC33 is fantastic but fairly expensive, it will do guitar and mic. A cheaper alternative is the Boss Micro Cube, (I have one) it has mic and various guitar settings but is only single input so you may need two, they are about £85 new but sometimes appear on e**y for £30/40.

Most councils require a licence or permit of some kind but I believe they are cheap and easy to obtain.

Good luck

Chas

--------------------
Turn it down lads (but only a little bit)

Edited by Sam Spoons (06/07/12 08:25 PM)

I busked for about 8 years, starting off with a sax player who was just about as (un)talented as I was, ending up with a six piece jazz band playing some pretty lucrative if not particularly prestigious gigs.

You will meet the best and the worst of people. We found ourselves in some scary situations which could with hindsight have been avoided but stupidity on our part ensured we would usually go the long way to wisdom.

We played lots of parties, people booked us on the spot knowing exactly what they were getting and without a middleman. At one point it got to the stage where I was pricing us higher and higher to pur people off because we were getting sick of playing. Win/win, eh?

*It's not about gear*

Read that bit again, it's important. It's about communication and entertainment. If you have enough gear for that then that's enough. A single channel battery powered amp and a Boss EQ pedal will cover most guitar duties. More channels needed? Get a passive mixer from Maplin.

Don't take expensive kit on the street, you may have to part with it if some loser takes a shine to it. Such is life.

Like sex, it's much more fun if you're not doing it alone.

Good luck.

--------------------
Ohm's Law states, "Your PA isn't as powerful as you think it is".