The problem with england

[Figo]

What has happened in England to make it such a difficult country to perform in?

i have been on tour in england for the last 3 weeks and have found it almost impossible to find anywhere decent.

i have been to around 12 different cities and only had 3 that were any good and even they lost there charm after a week.

i went to some big ass cities too, cardiff for example has such brilliant potential to be an amazing pitch with at least 5 different areas that would be great for circle shows plus smaller pitches for musicians it looks great, the problem is the people react like they have had their brain sucked out, they look at you in fear, they don't laugh and DO NOT TIP seriously i'm talking about 2/3 less than what i would average a show. then there are the places that would be good except for the council who clearly don't like buskers, check out portsmouth councils buskers policy, or in manchester where the cctv nazis make it almost impossible for someone even remotly damgerous perform (i do an escapology act and got shut down for putting a crowd line out)

don't get me wrong i'm sure there are some cracking pitches in england, bristol for example i'm sure would be great if it wasn't for the fact that it is a total building site at the moment.

but for me i'm heading off to europe to try my luck in other countries, that is unless i can find somewhere great in the next 2 weeks not even great but good, hell i'd settle for average just don't make me go back to liverpool, Capital of culture? i've seen more culture in a petry dish

[FireNix]

Bath or further South West

Head for the tourist destinations - its got relaxed people not so much in a rush to their own graves!
Good luck and us know if you find anywhere 1/2 decent

[jimmy talksalot]

i had the same problem, so now iīm in spain.

itīs not much better here or in france.

my friend went to ireland instead and he told me he has saved a huge bank roll.

have you tryed ireland?

i have worked europe before and this is the worst i have ever seen it.

itīs bad when itīs tuff to make money in england, thatīs where i did best last visit....of course that was 4 years ago.

[Doctor Eric]

anyone know the current story with England, and London?

[gav]

Just yesterday I read this article which mentions a new pitch opening up in London, but who knows if it will be good or not.

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/23682/street-performers-needed-to-enliven-londons

I worked at a busking festival in England last August, as did a few other members of pnet and the hats for some/most of my shows were smaller than what i could make in Croatia busking on the street.
Maybe things are better in London though.

[Steven Ragatz]

I just left London a couple weeks ago, but saw several folks working the streets while there. Most were musicians, and were in the tubes on licensed pitches, but there were a couple circle acts working Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden.

Two weeks ago there were few hippies working the mall in Liverpool, and last week, a couple of street musicians in Belfast. I've only just arrived in Newcastle, and given the weather, don't expect to see anything much here! Brrrrr....

Steven Ragatz

[vconaway]

I left Rome last week (I'm in Puglia, Italy right now), and it was fairly consistent with time I've spent there in March in the past. I'm crossing the Adriatic to Dubrovnik next week to give it a whirl in the off-season before heading up to Split and maybe Zadar.

Vince

[Doctor Eric]

fire?

Anyt one know the ins and outs of using fire ont he more sanctioned pitches there?

[Isabella]

Covent Garden is amps, no fire - my source, worked there last summer.

Trafalgar is technically illegal, but security depends on who's working that night - my source, Dr. Phil and Sparky Mark at Covent.

Near the London Eye is anything goes, but I haven't heard of anyone using fire. At the Eye, the security does NOT have jurisdiction, though the statues will tell you they do. They will also tell you you need a license, also not true - my source - the councils that own the public land stretch by the Eye, whom I called when I was there last summer.

The performers at Covent were incredibly warm, welcoming and helpful. Holler if you need contact info for someone there to find out the exact method and time of the draw.

[FireNix]

Other than Covent or 'private' pitches - im not sure there is anywhere in the UK that bans fire.
Having said that I havent worked the UK pitches much, so I maybe wrong.
But I think you'd be sweet anywhere other than the 'Best Pitch in the Country'!!

[Rusalka]

I'm new here, but I have been reading these forums for a bit.
I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, what with everyone talking about travelling all over Europe trying this spot, and that spot, it seems rather hit or miss. But you're all casually talking about moving around if something doesn't work, and I wonder how you find last-minute accomodations you can afford with your busking money? Is there some special trick?

[gav]

the trick is to make good busking money
or make good friends
or own a van you can sleep in

[jeep caillouet]

Ask Gazzo!

[Rusalka]

Gav, what, specifically do *you* do in a foreign city or country? Can you give some specific examples? My question is targeted towards those who fly around Europe without a plan.

[Lee Nelson]

you always have a plan
sometimes it is just very short term