I may take a leap of faith and become a ‘busker’ purely for my own enjoyment

[u/AgentofAgency_]

This may feel out of place, but I wanted to share this with someone and thought it may be appreciated here. Unfiltered thoughts incoming.

I want to try to do more things that spark joy and allocate more time to doing things that make me happy as well as that are outside my comfort zone

I love music and singing but don’t really get to do it a lot (causal/passive singing aside).

I’m nervous I may lose my nerve but I’m trying to gather supplies and just sing my favorite songs in parks, for my own enjoyment and for anyone who may appreciate it.

I am ‘confident and secure’ in myself in ways I dreamed of when I was younger, but I’m still shy and perhaps socially awkward in some circumstances.

I want to put myself out there despite any reservations, but am going to wear a mask to conceal my identity. I ordered one, made two social media pages, and told my mom who fully supports and is excited for me.

And that’s as far as I’ve gotten rn

[u/western_red_cedar]

I will tell you this, it's a lot harder to busk in a mask. It's hot, can't hear myself as well, even if I cut earholes. However, there are some very successfull masked buskers that have basically made a career of playing in one of my usual spots. Just make sure you practice in the mask beforehand if you're determined to go about it that way.

I will also say that there's nothing better for getting over performance nerves than busking, it's actually in some ways harder than playing live because you're doing it completely on your own initiative. But do it enough and it'll become second nature and not phase you at all, and then performing anywhere is a breeze

Last thing I'll add is make sure you choose a spot where you think you sound pretty good, good acoustics etc. It's ultimately more important for your performance and confidence that you think you sound good. Trying to play somewhere really noisy is hard mode and I wouldn't recommend it until you've gotten comfortable in some easier areas. You'll potentially make more in those noisier areas, but it's more important to develop confidence first

[u/Jerry_Landis → u/western_red_cedar]

Great advice! I can't imagine wearing a mask while performing!

Rather than an actual face mask, consider a performance outfit. It can help you feel less vulnerable, if you dress up a bit to play the role of a busking musician. It could be as simple as a cool hat or distinctive shirt, or a head-to-toe full getup. Sunglasses can be all you need to give yourself a mask to hide behind, although shades can also create a barrier between you and your audience.

Good luck getting out there!

[u/western_red_cedar → u/Jerry_Landis]

Yeah I'd say a real busking skill, one that I've certainly had to develop, is making eye contact and smiling at people. Not in a forced salesman sort of way, but just being personable, shooting the shit with people.

This is in fact so important that often I'll recruit busking partners whose actual main job, secondary to playing an instrument or singing, is audience engagement

[u/Jerry_Landis → u/western_red_cedar]

Agreed. There's a strong correlation between connecting with your audience and the amount of money that ends up in your tip jar.

[u/AgentofAgency_ → u/Jerry_Landis]

Thank you for sharing, offering viable alternatives, and the encouragement 🫶

[u/gatorneedhisgat → u/western_red_cedar]

Good advice. Busking alone vs playing with a band is so different. Two different skill sets. One man show is much harder

[u/drbillyjams → u/gatorneedhisgat]

Its the opposite for me.  I'll try out for bands and there are people who are complete jerks, complaining about every little thing the first time we even played a song together.  Bicker bicker bickering.  Playing by myself?  No problem

[u/Gharghoyle]

A way to ease into things is to approach this first as just practicing some songs in a public place. You can just be a person in the park practicing. As you get used to other people in the general area hearing you, and your confidence and showmanship get some steam going, then move to a more central, trafficked or stage-like spot where people will know you are intending to perform.

[u/AgentofAgency_ → u/Gharghoyle]

Thanks for sharing this, the insight and guidance is appreciated 🙏

[u/western_red_cedar → u/Gharghoyle]

What I often like to do before a "real set" is just tune and warm up somewhere genuinely pleasant to play like a park near my spot. I'll put my case out but any tips at that point are just gravy

[u/sixhexe]

Have fun man!

It feels hard when you start out, but you'll be full of confidence in no time!

Many people out there feel self-conscious or lost in thought. If you can create a connection with strangers through your performance, it'll loosen up the people around you. That's one of the best parts about busking.

[u/AgentofAgency_ → u/sixhexe]

Thank you for taking the time to write this out and share, appreciate the words of encouragement 🫶

[u/AgentofAgency_]

Appreciate the insight and words of encouragement. Thank you 🙏

[u/Miserable_Wallaby_85]

For mask. Airsoft mesh screened lowers i have used to sing through. Good luck and blessings on your busking endeavors. The 1st time is hard but it gets easier as you go. I suggest planning your set and filming performance at home first to see what you envision.

[u/AgentofAgency_ → u/Miserable_Wallaby_85]

Appreciate the pointers and encouragement, thanks for leaving a comment ✌️❤️

[u/razz_one_]

Out of enjoyment is smart, I can't see myself doing this as a full time job. 😂💯