Here are some suggestions that I have accumulated in my experiences on the streets. Additions and contradictions welcome. For what it’s worth, my act is to be there playing fiddle tunes – I don’t bottle (directly ask for tips) or joke around, and someone with more of a “show” type might need to do a few things differently.

CHOOSE A PLACE

1. Choose a place where it will be visible from as many directions as possible. People need time to recognize what you’re doing, decide to tip you, and find it in their pockets. If they can see you for a minute before they’re in front of you, they’re much more likely to give you a tip than if they suddenly find you hiding in a doorway and only have a few seconds to react.

2. Be very considerate of the place where it is installed, to avoid confrontations and avoid disturbing passers-by. Make sure you don’t block the smooth flow of traffic to any store, and make sure you don’t make it difficult for wheelchairs or baby strollers to get through or get on the sidewalk. Also, avoid captive audiences (ie playing right next to a restaurant with outdoor seating).

3. One exception to what I just said about captive audiences is stoplights: Choosing intersections that have stoplights is good, because being a brief captive audience gives them the time they need to decide to give you a lead.

4. Stores that are out of business or closed for the weekend are often a good place to play in front of them. There is no one there to oppose you and there is often an entrance where you can leave your backpack out of the way behind you, or an awning to protect you from the sun and rain. However, don’t stay too far back at his door; or you won’t be visible enough.

5. When choosing a part of town to busk in, don’t necessarily rule out areas with less traffic, because you can often still make a lot of money there, because finding yourself there is a pleasant surprise and you’re not competing with others. beggars and other buskers from the next block or who were there yesterday. In a place in my hometown where I constantly make a lot of money, it’s not unusual for me to play a series of songs without anyone passing by. But when they come, they give me something. But on the busier streets of the city, or in a market where street music is more common, a much lower percentage of passers-by give me something.

6. Many cities will have a city center and several smaller alternative centers, perhaps a district known for being artsy, hip, and college. I’ve found that minor city centers are generally better than major city centers: people are happier, it’s easier to get to a corner.

7. Keep a respectful distance from other buskers, especially other buskers, but don’t necessarily let a little background music push you around. Several times I tried places that seemed perfect except for an audible radio from a nearby business, but found that I could still overpower the sound waves in the immediate area and still did well with tips. Obviously, if the background music is too loud or you’re too quiet, this won’t work.

8. I would choose a less than perfect spot in the shade over a perfect spot in the sun. The real secret to making money busking is patience and stamina, and you will have more patience and stamina if you feel comfortable.

9. Keeping in mind that you shouldn’t get your legal advice from Mudcat: don’t ask permission to busk, don’t ask if it’s legal, just go ahead and do it. If someone confuses you, your line is a polite “Sorry, I didn’t know, I’ll go now.” The guerrilla approach (not to be confused with the bouncer approach; let’s leave that to the cops for hire) is simple and effective and I’ve never gotten into any real trouble with it, even in places where I knew it was illegal. (I’ve been kicked out of a lot of places, but that’s not a real problem; a real problem is getting fined, arrested, or beaten.)

The cliché that forgiveness is easier to obtain than permission is true. Besides, the only laws that matter are the ones that anyone cares to enforce. If you’re considerate where you play so you’re not likely to bother anyone, and you look good and sound good, chances are no one cares enough to enforce the law.

If you’re busking somewhere you suspect or know is illegal, remember the “running makes you look guilty” principle. So if there’s a cop around, he just keeps playing like there’s no problem, don’t close your case and try to pack quickly. If he does, saying “I didn’t know it wasn’t allowed” will be much less believable.

WHILE YOU SEARCH

10. Keeping in mind that you shouldn’t get your medical advice from Mudcat: Mild dehydration is your friend. Available public restrooms aren’t always easy to find, and it sucks having to interrupt a good busker session, possibly losing your good spot with another busker, because you have to go pee. You’ll need to bring a bottle of water with you, but don’t overdo it.

11. Coins dropped into their box from a height sometimes bounce back. So take a quick look at the ground for lost coins when you leave, and don’t leave your case next to a sewer grate (yes, I learned that the hard way). And while you’re at it, don’t drop your case anywhere you see a lot of pigeon droppings (no, you didn’t learn that the hard way).

>12. People will ask about the lessons, so if you don’t teach, consider bringing the phone number of your friend who does.

13. Be an opportunistic bastard. If Johnny Cash dies, he goes out and plays his hits. If the Blue Jays are in the Stanley Cup Final, wear something that implies you care.

14. Exploit children. If someone with a baby or toddler stops near you, play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” If he is a young child, ask him if he has a favorite song; it will probably say “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. If it’s a medium-sized child accompanied by an adult and he seems interested, consider offering to let him try his instrument (personally, I always keep one hand on the violin while letting a child try it, and check the cleanliness of their hands first).

Being kid-friendly has three advantages. One, it makes it more interesting for kids and their parents, and kids and parents are often your best customers. Two, it will attract the attention of unrelated passers-by who want to see the cute boy dance or try to play the violin. Three, it makes you feel like a popular missionary, giving kids a chance to hear and try live acoustic music.

15. It’s very common for someone to pass you by once and then give you advice on the way back, once they’ve had more time to think or gotten change at the store. What this means to you is that every time you start busking, you start with a slow stretch when everyone first passes by. And every time you stop busking, you lose tips from people who would have given you something on the way back. So try to start and stop less often: that is, if you’re going to play for three hours in a day, you’ll probably do better in two 90-minute shifts and three 60-minute shifts. Also, don’t be in a hurry to leave the place when you are tired of playing. Have your break close. It’s happened to me many times that people have come up to me with advice within fifteen minutes after I stopped playing, saying, “I heard you before.” On the other hand, sometimes people will say, “I’ll take you on the way back,” and sometimes they do, but don’t make any decisions based on these promises.

16. If there are people who stop when you finish a tune, ask them if they have a request. Even if you only know the chorus or listen to the song with some trial and error, people appreciate that you try to fulfill their requests.

17. Get out of your case (put some of your own money) with the type of currency you want to attract. Peer pressure is a powerful force; people will look at the example of others to see if they should tip you and, if so, how much. I’ve also noticed that tips often come in groups: I go ten minutes without a tip, then four people give me something in the space of 30 seconds. I suspect this is peer pressure; seeing the first person lets others know what to do.

18. If there’s an alternative to money you’d like to receive, consider using that as well (subway tokens, Canadian Tire money, even food if you’re at a market). Some people enjoy giving a specific gift instead of money, and some people may suspect that you will only buy drugs if they give you money. People will often offer a cigarette, but if you smoke, I don’t recommend putting cigarettes in the case to give people an idea, as it’s likely to put other customers off.

OTHER

19. Sometimes people steal from street musicians. There really isn’t much you can do about it except minimize your losses by limiting the amount of money you allow to collect on your case. Don’t go after a thief: to do so is to turn a non-violent encounter into a potentially violent one, and what are you going to do anyway, with a fragile and valuable instrument in your hands? Also, keep in mind that criminals sometimes work in teams: someone who gets some money may be trying to distract you so his friend can steal your entire briefcase, backpack, or spare instrument.

20. This is more of a long-term strategy, but remember that busking relies on a public and pedestrian-oriented scene. So shop at downtown storefront businesses instead of malls or retail stores where there is no public space or pedestrians, and help keep downtowns alive! Also, I think it’s polite and good PR to give your business to the stores you play in front of, if that’s practical.

21. Maybe this should have been tip number one: keep the faith. I know a lot of people have a lot of stage fright related to street music (sometimes it feels like more than giving concerts), and you’ll have good days and bad days and occasionally some encounters that aren’t so nice. Follow him!