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I am a country music singer/song writer/guitarist playing 3 to 4 nights a week at the Trail Dust Steak House in Dallas, as well as 1 day a week @ the Arlington, TX. Trail Dust. I am usually a solo act, just me, my sound system, and my acoustic/electric guitar. Before becoming a regular @ Trail Dust, I played alot of small bars and resaraunts in the area. I have been playing professionally for less than a year. A great "busking" experience is what prompted me to buy my own sound system. Since then I have had much success getting gigs. I love to sing and play for people, and I have gotten such a positive response from people that music is the only thing I want to do anymore. I want to perform for as many different people as I possibly can, I love the exposure. Seems everything I do leads to something else or makes me new contacts. That got me thinking about taking it to the streets. Until tonight, I had never even heard the term "busking". Can I take it to the streets in the DFW area? If so, where might be a good place? Should I just stand on a corner somewhere with just my guitar? I have played a few times (once @ a field party and once @ my son's boy scout camp out) powering my powered mixer head and speakers off of a power converter hooked up to my van's battery. This is what I would prefer to do, cause then I can be more clearly heard, and have my bass playing friend join in as well. Are there places I can take this set-up and have an instant concert and see if I can draw a crowd?
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Hi and welcome.
Most Americans have never heard the term 'busker'. They think I'm saying 'buster' or whatever...
Anyway, best bet would be to ring up the cops and ask if there's any restrictions. Make sure to mention exactly what you're going to do (amp, etc). Outdoor malls seem to be a safe bet. You may even want to ask them what places they recommend. -
ask the police?
hi. there is an old expression in street performing..."It is better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission." a lot of times the cops will have no idea what the restrictions are, but will puzzle it out for themselves along the following lines,..." whatever he is going to do might cause me trouble, but if i deny him the right to do it, them it won`t" just a thought. and one that has served me well over the years. Who i would talk to are the local vendors and shops that could be disturbed by it. I usually go up to them, explain the parameters of a circle show. and let them know that if the crowd is too large or too loud they can just give me a signal and i will bring the cowd in or quiet things down, so as not to disturb. here in europe the vendors first reaction to a disturbing show is to ring the police, so i let them know they have a direct and more workable option. in the states it may be different as americans seem better able to work out problems for themselves.Comment
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Busking the hustings
Hey, Barry ---...as americans seem better able to work out problems for themselves.
You must not have spent much time busking in America!
In my experience a cop's default answer is always going to be "no." One of the best ways to find out about the rules, regulations and the "hassle index" is to find the most professional-looking street performer already set up in the area, wait until he/she is about to take a break, drop a buck in the hat and ask.
If there are no street entertainers in the area you want to set up, hey, you're on your own. But talking with your neighbors is certainly the first step.
By the way, when an American seems puzzled by the term "busker," I explain that the unabridged dictionary defines the word simply as "a street performer," and then, in parentheses, "origin unknown," which may mean busking is the world's SECOND oldest profession!Comment
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Ha ha
Actually, this thread touches upon the 'educating the cops' theme. It's been discovered that a lot of beat cops don't even know the law.
They respond with the 'default' answer so they're covered.
By taking the time to find out and maybe even printing up a few pamphlets, you can then politely inform them of the law(s)...if any.
That's one solution anyway...Comment
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e-education
Hey, Zoobie and Country Boy ---
The best complilation of laws (both legal and illegal) in cities across the U.S. has been put together by Stephen Baird of the Cambridge (MA) based Community Arts Advocates:
This remarkable organization, and its website, provides a wealth of information for the busker community. If DFW has a street performance law it is probably there in its entirety.Comment
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