India

[dwyndle]

Hello all!

I was wondering if anyone here has been busking in India? I usually play my fiddle on any street corner but I feel like India's going to be a different experience. I sometimes also do puppets or clown but I'm not sure how much I'm going to bring to India with me at first.

My first few days will be in Delhi, but after that I'm going to do a collaborative dance theatre project in a tiny village north of there near Shimla. Some puppets that I would use later might come into existence through that. Afterwards I plan to travel for about two months, probably including Dharamshala, Agra, Jaipur, Rishikeish, Varanasi, and hopefully down to Mumbai at some point too. Any experiences of other buskers there would be great to hear about!

[Isabella]

I've performed in India at college festivals and traveled a lot in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Calcutta and Mumbai.

1) There is no money there. The rupee is not really worth anything. It may not be worth your time to busk.

1a) There is very little street performer culture there. There are beggars, and there are festival performers (college festivals, religious festivals, livestock festivals, carnivals), but there are not random places where people set up as they do in Europe or North America. Those who do perform on the street find it necessary to physically secure their tips (a lockbox chained to their body or seat) to prevent theft.

2) There is a beggar culture that is aggressive and organized. You may be interfered with or physically attacked by people who already "own" the pitch.

3) If you are a person with the means to travel to India, consider whether it is socially responsible to divert money from beggars or local performers whose ability to eat depends on an income stream that is to you a pittance.

4) The police force wavers between merely incompetent and utterly corrupt. You could be shaken down for bribes, arrested on real or fake charges, or physically beaten. If you're a white person who handles themselves well, this is less likely. If you look like a hippie (dreadlocks, tattoos, not dressed in compliance with local mores) this is more likely. If you use or carry drugs of any kind, that is extremely likely.

That said, India is one of the most wonderful places I've ever been. The kindness and generosity of Indians is unparalleled. People are warm, welcoming, pleasant and helpful. You will be frequently scammed on prices--consider it the tourist tax. It will still cost a lot less than at home. After a few days, check in with locals on what prices should be, and bargain kindly to something about halfway between what you can afford and what the locals can afford.

And by all means, take your instrument. Play for new friends. Play in your hotel lobby. Use it as a doorway to make acquaintances and meet people on a level beyond tourism. You might be able to trade restaurant meals, boat rides, even small tangible objects if you play as a barter or a gift.

Have a great trip!