[Perform-Talk] The Exciting World of Busking and Other Performances!

[Daryl Swinson]

Marion,
Congratulations on your busking success! :) I only just started
playing guitar a year ago. Busking would be something cool to work
towards. Please continue with this conversation topic!

Also, what kind of Martin acoustic do you play? What other guitars do
you have? Could you share a website with your music? Are you on
youtube?
I'm still taking weekly guitar lessons, and will be getting back to
some singing lessons in March. I purchased an Orangewood guitar, the
least expensive solid-top model in mahogany as a starter guitar a year
ago. I'm looking at Taylors right now, the 517E and 614CE. But right
now those are aspirational purchases, once I feel like I've improved
enough to be worthy of such an instrument. *LOL*


On 2/19/23, Marion & Martin via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Dear All,
>
>
>
>                 My life has taken an unexpected turn and, in doing so, I
> have committed myself to doing more with my music. I have been performing
> professionally since I was 16 years old and most of that time has been as a
> solo entertainer. My stage name is what you see in my display name - Marion
> & Martin. (I play a Martin acoustic guitar.) I use a phrase a reporter who
> interviewed me once used to describe my music: Acoustic rock with a beach
> flair!
>
>
>
>                 I recently began busking in Tampa, Florida. For those who
> don't know what busking is, it is street performing.
>
> When I say "recently", I mean like on January 28! Tampa has an annual
> celebration of a mythical pirate invasion which draws more than 300,000
> people. It is a nod to this celebration as to why our football team is
> called Buccaneers! In one hour of performing, I made $91! My next busking
> experience was last Thursday! Tampa has an entertainment district much like
> the French Quarter of New Orleans called Ybor (pronounced "E-bore")City.
> Ybor has more than 80 bars in about a 10 square block area and you can find
> any style of music and lifestyle there. I didn't do quite as well then,
> coming home with $31.50! I learned a few lessons from this experience and
> want to share them with anyone who is busking or who is interested in
> busking, too.
>
>
>
>                 Unsure of how I would be received or, more accurately, if I
> was going to be told by law enforcement to move on, I kept it very simple.
> All I took was my guitar and a tip jar. My first advice is to have an
> actual
> tip jar. Lots of buskers use their instrument cases but one good breeze
> could distribute your tips along the sidewalk. I bought a clear plastic
> food
> container at Dollar Tree. Use a clear, uncolored container so people can
> see
> the money in it. Put a rock or some other heavy object in the bottom to
> keep
> the jar from blowing away, too! You can also put some flour or sand in a
> zip
> lock baggie to make it bottom-heavy! I feed my tip jar with $10 - two
> singles folded together, three singles folded together, and one $5.00 bill.
> I face the $5.00 bill open and facing outward so it can be seen. Again,
> this
> is a subtle subliminal message to your audience of the type of tip to give.
> When I perform in bars, I always have my business cards near my tip jar and
> make a few announcements about tipping the wait staff and the musician. One
> of the funny ways I use to solicit tips is to say, "You may not know this
> about me but I collect pictures of dead presidents, like Washington,
> Lincoln, and Jackson. One of my favorite presidents is Benjamin franklin!"
> (I have gotten several $100 tips in the past! I also say, "As you give a
> tip, take a card!" One thing I have learned from my years of performing is
> to put my cards near my tip jar. I have cut a hole in the top of the
> plastic
> jar and have attached a business card holder to it with Velcro. Their hands
> are inches from my business cards as they give me tips and they are more
> likely to take one. The vice versa is true, as well! If they want a
> business
> card, they are close to the tip jar and are more likely to drop some money
> in as they grab a card!
>
>
>
>                 My business cards are also ways to give tips! On the back
> of
> my business cards it says, "Please consider supporting my music by sending
> a
> tip via Zelle to the phone number on this card." Many people do not carry
> cash and the electronic format is a great way to facilitate their tipping.
> In addition, tips sent by Zelle are more generous than the ones given in
> person. Another little trick I use is to Braille my stage name on the
> cards.
> This minor detail gives my cards a life of their own, as people will share
> your card with others because of the uniqueness of Braille. One final word
> on business cards: Underneath the above invitation to tip via Zelle is an
> invitation to subscribe to my mailing list so they can find out where I
> will
> be performing. Many venues want to know if we have a following and telling
> them I have almost 200 people on my mailing list is an incentive to hire
> me!
> My NFB chapter friends often come out to my gigs, as do some of my church
> friends!
>
>
>
> This has been a very long message and, if you are still reading this, I
> appreciate your attention! My original idea was to share how I built a
> busking cart but I will do that later this week! If you have any questions
> or have some comments you would like to share about your performances,
> please do so! We are here to support each other in all our endeavors! I
> look
> forward to hearing from some of you!
>
>
>
> Fraternally yours,
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
> Marion & Martin
>
> SwampFox1833 at verizon.net <mailto:SwampFox1833 at verizon.net>
>
>
>
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-- 
       Regards,

       Daryl Swinson, M.S., M.A.