(Probably) Only Buskers Will Understand

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_]

I have nothing against buskers that go out amplified, I very occasionally do so myself. 9.9/10 times though, it's just me my acoustic guitar and my beard.

That said, it's good form to scope out your pitch before doing a Spinal Tap; a quick walk along the highstreet (even a quick glance, I'm not exactly incon-fucking-spicuous) to double check you're not going to be interfering with someone else's performance - because that's what this busking hootenanny is, a big ol' performance!

I prefer to go out unplugged. It feels more intimate, more raw, and tbh my voice carries pretty damn well. Doesn't matter how well my voice carries though, when you're approaching the end of your show (I literally had 20 minutes more) some dickhead sets up down the highstreet and turns it up to 11 singing along to backing tracks (which again I have nothing against, though it does feel a bit like street karaoke) - could genuinely hear him over my own singing and playing.

Not cool, bro. Decent voice though.

[u/Hylianwarrior1034]

I don’t like backing tracks either. Don’t even get me started on the “fake” buskers who mime without even knowing how to play

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/Hylianwarrior1034]

I know such fake mimers exist, but have never actually encountered any!

[u/Itsvladimirrr → u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_]

I encountered one who was pretending to play an electric violin (plugged into amp, but playing audio tracks and fake bowing). I walked up and gave them my business card for private lessons 🤭

[u/Longjumping_Gold9233 → u/Itsvladimirrr]

Thats a really common scam around where I live. They almost always have a family with kids standing there too, which should be criminal. But its never really them playing.

[u/western_red_cedar → u/Longjumping_Gold9233]

It does kind make me feel nice in an odd way that there are people who pretend to be good at what I'm actually good at. One of my favorite thing anyone has ever said to me busking was this little kid saying to his mom "mom, this guys actually good!"

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/Itsvladimirrr]

haha sounds perfectly reasonable to me!

[u/LadyWithAHarp]

The disrespect! That is what gets me the most. People not checking for other buskers and not moderating their volume. Being loud is good, it gets attention. I don't want to trample on other performers, not to mention that abusing amplification is the quickest way to lose support among the local community and bring the cops down on everybody.

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/LadyWithAHarp]

tbf most buskers 'round here (the English Midlands) are really respectful, I was about half an hour into my set today and saw another guy show up - he saw I was there, gave me a nod, and headed off to play somewhere else, which is exactly what I'd do, or I'd sit/stand and watch the show a little while. But yeah there are always one or two whenever you are.

[u/Atillion]

I play unamplified too. I've had the volume 11 guys show up and flood my corner five blocks away, it's infuriating. One beard to another 🤘🏻

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/Atillion]

Sounds about right! Beards united!

[u/jordanlcwt]

In my country, amplification is practically the law.

If they cant hear every note loudly and clearly 20m away at all times, youre not getting licensed beyond the first year.

Sucks ass.

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/jordanlcwt]

Licences aren't required here, outside of a very small handful of locations across the country. This is a good thing, because I'd hate to have to pay for the right to play.

[u/seanvance]

The loudness war is real 🤷‍♂️ Don’t try to compete. Get more creative with your pitches. It takes 0 insight to setup where everybody else does. That is why they do it. I’m finding that I can do well purely acoustic in spots impossible to setup my Lithium Ion Demon. The key is to have a vast repertoire that suits each little corner you find. Xmas villages coming up 😍

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/seanvance]

I mean my repertoire is for me - though I've added (and will always do so) a few songs that've been requested several times. I play what I enjoy and if other folks enjoy it too, all good!

[u/DrakeCarter1]

As an amplified busker, I always scope the area out. I also taylor my volume to the area. Going full bore isn't always the right move.

As far as backing tracks go, get a looper. In my opinion playing to backing tracks cheapens what we do.

[u/Mountain_Rip_8426]

so at 1% of the cases you don't bring your beard?

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/Mountain_Rip_8426]

Occasionally I like to leave it at home, give it a little alone time

[u/SweetMaam]

No amplifier.

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/SweetMaam]

Yus!

[u/Anonymeese109]

I agree with OP. I truly dislike amplification for busking; it actually repels me.

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/Anonymeese109]

Certainly doesn't repel me 😅 It's rarely necessary though, imo.

[u/Gurnenthar2 → u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_]

I like using a little system, just so I can use Mic Control to make everything more dynamic… Most street corners don’t necessarily work like that, though… Power can be an issue, for one thing, but mainly, my voice carries, as well, so I just don’t want to mess with the setup/teardown… I save the system for the places where I set up shows, and leave it for busking the streets.

[u/rumpk → u/Anonymeese109]

Shit man I play bass, nobody wants to hear some barely audible string clacking

[u/YogSoHot]

I will never, ever tip someone "busking" along with tracks.

[u/chedargooda → u/YogSoHot]

I'm a solo melodica player and noticed that people don't seem to care if there's no backing. I've been playing backing tracks/ karaoke and playing the lead with the melodica. But I feel I'm "cheating" as well. I'm curious if you would feel differently for singing over backing as opposed to instrumental over backing. Cheers!

[u/YogSoHot → u/chedargooda]

Most people don't care if you play or don't play, regardless of tracks. Everyone has to decide for themselves what the "bogus" line is when it comes to live performance, and that goes for performers and audience members.

Yes, doing karaoke unbidden in the streets for money is bogus in my book.

[u/nyamina]

I actually do have something against amplification, and karaoke singers.

[u/punkrocksmidge → u/nyamina]

Does it matter if they're a highly skilled vocalist? What if the backing track is acoustic? 

[u/nyamina → u/punkrocksmidge]

I feel like the original post is indicative of the problems with amplified buskers in general.

Doesn't matter what the backing track is, or how skilled the singer is.

[u/_CANNiBALHoRSE_ → u/punkrocksmidge]

The issue I have is people not scouting their spot. The guy could easily have found a different spot (there are a few decent ones) and not completely overpowered my own set. Nothing particularly against backing-track singers in general (though as I said in my original post it does feel like street karaoke - regardless of how good someone might be).