Hey everyone, and welcome back to my new post about my musical experiences in London! As a perfomer, I am constantly on the lookout for new things to do in music. In February of this year, the ''Busk in London'' organisation started advertising their busking scheme around London's Underground and major train stations. However, it is not as simple as it may appear; while busking can be done by anyone on public land, and in most cases, no licence is required, there are different regulations on the Underground and at train stations.
First, you submit an online application; if they like your online performance, they invite you to a live audition (similar to an X Factor audition, haha) in front of three judges. You present a setlist of at least ten songs/pieces, and then they choose two for you to perform. Following this, you will be either accepted or rejected. And I got in! Woohoo!!
After a long process of getting my licences, I am now officially in their database, and while I have not yet had the opportunity to perform on the actual Underground, I have already busked 5 times at train stations, so I thought I would share some of my thoughts!
The first time I busked, it was a little crazy... My first busking session was supposed to be at Victoria train station, but when I arrived at the reception desk, I realised I had forgotten my passport and was turned down that day. I was really annoyed because I had to carry all this huge luggage with my speaker, chair, the instrument on my back, and all the other equipment. When I was about to leave the station, I realised I had everything I needed for busking, even if it was not in the station, so I made the bold decision (haha) to sit down opposite Trafalgar Square (next to the Crypt) and do my very first busking session in that famous location. Honestly, it was a great experience! I am still experimenting with my equipment, music programme, and sound, but I think I am becoming more comfortable with this new way of performing music.
My busking equipment includes:
S1 Pro Portable Bluetooth Speaker System
Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone (unfortunately, did not work that well for the kanklės)
Find it here: https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/shure-sm57-vocal-microphone
Fishman SBT-HP Pick-Up for Harp/Piano
iZetlle Card Reader
Get it here: https://www.zettle.com/gb/payments/card-reader
Folding Trolley
P.S. Obviously, nobody pays me for this, (haha) so I am just sharing what exact equipment I got for myself!
Looking at the equipment above, I am no longer using the Shure mic because it was not picking up my instrument's sound well. I would turn up the speaker as loud as possible, but then I would get really bad feedback, which nobody wants, right? It is my second time busking with the Fishman pick-up, and I'm really enjoying it; you safely attach it to the base of the instrument and let that tiny microphone pick up all of the vibrations, including the highest ones! The fact that people could not hear me before was the biggest issue, and I expect it could have had an impact on my donations..
I've already played at the following stations: Waterloo, Victoria, Liverpool, Charing Cross, and London Bridge. It's difficult to say which one is best because it depends on a variety of factors such as time, music, weekday/weekend, etc. If I had to pick a station, I think Victoria and Charing Cross are my favourites. It's not just about the amount of donations you receive, but also about the interactions you have with different people. I believe that stations like London Bridge and Waterloo are very busy and people are always in a hurry, so there aren't many opportunities for people to stop and listen to music for longer periods of time. However, people feel more relaxed at Victoria or Charing Cross stations because they arrive earlier before their trains, giving them time to grab a coffee and listen to some music, or even come and chat for a bit.
I've already met some interesting people who come and ask questions about the kanklės. They also share about their own countries' instruments, which is always a pleasure to learn about other cultures. People take photos and videos, and even if they only listen to music for a minute, the majority of them agree that it brightened their day.
I was concerned that busking with a gentle instrument in a crowded environment like train stations would not be the best idea. But some people come and say it's exactly what they needed in such a rushed environment.
Probably everyone's most intriguing question is how much money you can make while busking, haha! Busking sessions under the ''Busk in London'' scheme always last two hours per station, with donations ranging from £20 to £80 per those two hours. Of course, it depends! Every day is different. And this is only my personal experience; other musicians might be earning much more!
It is helps not to rely on busking as the main source of income because not all days are the same. I am looking at this as a way to meet new people, possibly new musicians friends, who would like to collaborate on future projects. This is an excellent way to get your name out there and promote your music services, whether someone is looking for a solo musician for a solo event, a musician for their wedding, or for any other event. Basically, one of the most effective marketing strategies!
My next step is to explore underground stations, which may have a completely different vibe, but we'll see how things go! I'll keep you updated :)
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