Street performers

http://vinovo.magnify.net/video/One-...d-from-America
A solo musician from the San Francisco area, this guy plays over a hundred different instruments at once.

This specific clip was filmed during a performance in Seattle. When he tours around California, local news stations actually promote his shows as major "cultural events." link (Catch the walking musical spectacle by this solo musician at 10:15 PM)
He isn't just some tourist attraction, either; there’s genuine artistic substance here. He even had a guest spot on NBC once.

While you mostly see foreign street performers hitting the pavement in American cities—lots of South American groups playing Inca or Native American music—we still have our own unique performers who deserve some recognition (and I'm not even counting those guys on King Street who have basically become part of the musical establishment).

wicked 👍

So, there’s this one solo musician playing guitar over by the alleyway near King Street in Washington, D.C. The guy is absolutely killing it. If you’re passing through, seriously, stop and listen—the vocals and everything are just incredible.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/189010 😬Check this out...

There’s this solo musician down near the Savica-Folnegović family walkway—I see him there almost every morning lately, somewhere between 7 and 9 AM. Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't call him some virtuoso singer or a master instrumentalist, and even the tunes he picks aren't exactly hits, but there is something uniquely haunting about his interpretation of them 😍

He sings from the gut... it’s a bit ridiculous at times, honestly, but there's an undeniable sincerity to it
. It’s like watching someone perform in an empty theater when they think nobody is looking. I always make sure to drop a little something in his tin 🙂

Has anyone here ever busked? I’ve been dreaming about playing a street corner for a few days with a monkey sitting on my shoulder, but we'll see if that actually works out.
Lately, I've been stopping to listen to street performers almost every single day. Most of them actually have talent, though you definitely run into some people who think they can play when they really can't. There are these four young Russian guys who have been playing classical music on violin, harmonica, some obscure stringed instrument, and a type of woodwind for days now. Those guys are seriously good—you can tell just by looking at the crowds they draw.
A few years back, I listened to a Russian guy who just sang. Man, that was such an incredible experience.
Unfortunately, a lot of these musicians coming from former Eastern Bloc countries actually work as school teachers, but they find it way more profitable to pick up gigs on the streets of major Western cities.
So, what does the law specifically say here in the States regarding how long you're allowed to perform in one city?

I’ve never actually performed on a street corner myself... nor do I have any intention of starting (it’s just not really my genre of music) 😬... though, I must admit, I have a certain soft spot for those street performers. Even if I don't run into them all that often, whenever I happen to stumble upon one, I find myself pausing to listen for a bit (and usually tossing a few bucks their way)
I even heard that Ibrica is a regular fixture performing around the streets of San Francisco 😁

Street performers... hmm... I mean, you see them everywhere just having a blast and keeping everyone entertained, but if you look closely, those tip jars can actually get pretty heavy with cash. It could honestly be a pretty lucrative gig, I guess, provided you’ve actually got some serious talent...

If you're thinking about busking, honestly, just go for it. Don't overthink it too much because, I mean, what do you actually have to lose? If you've got the talent, what's stopping you from just getting out there, playing your heart out, having a blast, and—get this—actually making some decent cash? Like, if you're jamming for a couple of hours, you could easily walk away with a pretty solid tip in your pocket...

Does anyone know of any cities nearby—maybe somewhere in Canada, Austria, or even parts of the US—where you can actually perform with a small amp without drowning in paperwork or getting harassed by the police? It’s basically impossible in Washington, D.C., and the same goes for Vienna. I mean, how is a person supposed to play anything on an electric guitar? And honestly, I’m not talking about blasting ear-splitting volume; it wouldn't be any louder than someone playing an acoustic. There’s this one guy in the downtown area who just plays his keyboard out there, and it makes me wonder how he even gets away with it...

Emily Collins5 said:Does anyone know a city nearby—maybe somewhere in Canada, Austria, or even parts of America—where you can play with a small amp without drowning in paperwork or getting harassed by the cops? In Washington, D.C., it’s basically impossible, and it's the same story in Vienna. How is a guy supposed to perform on an electric guitar? It doesn't even have to be deafeningly loud; it could be quieter than an acoustic. There's this one guy downtown playing a drum kit, so I have to wonder how he gets away with it...

It's true. When they hand out those street performing permits, they specifically say no amps allowed. Is there a loophole to get an amp approved? Maybe...

I spent my whole summer playing in Washington, D.C. using an amp for both guitar and vocals. Only one cop ever bothered me, asking if I had a permit for the amp. I didn't have one, so I just played dumb. He told me to turn it off, so I did. That was it...

Honestly, it just depends on who you run into. Out of all the people walking by, only one person actually gave me trouble...

Just keep playing, man. 😉

If you happen to know any street performers, buskers, jugglers, or local entertainers looking to level up, feel free to pass along an invite to Lollapalooza. They can officially submit their application right here:

Just stand out on a street corner and strum a guitar for two hours. People will walk right by without ever realizing you can't actually play. Who knows? You might even end up with some spare change in your pocket.