hee, singalong

[solarbird]

Folklife is really difficult to play - it's so busy that as a street performer at this particular event you more or less need to be either a clown, a loud drummer, or in a large band just to get attention. The noise level is quite high - from all fronts - so even I'm hard to hear.

So I went and found a low-traffic but semi-isolated side path and played there for a while. Money wasn't very good (and I was told by another musician that this was generally true that day but it would improve over the weekend) but I did get people listening, and I even had some sing-along on the chorus of Outbirds, and it was pretty neat when that started happening. And on Popcorn - one of my flutes, not usually the star of this show - and to a lesser degree on Scar (another flute), I was able keep my space when Drum Kit Guy started performing across the way. I handed out a few cards, including one to this guy who was fascinated by Splinter, and who also buys flutes from Romy Benton, who is a much better flutemaker than me.

No performance today. Anna and Paul and I are going to head down there just to attend - I really want to see some of the AYP stuff in particular - and tomorrow I'll play again.

Comments

[westrider.livejournal.com]

I kept an eye out while I was wandering around today, but didn't see you. Hope you had a good time!

[shadesofmauve]

Folklife is *very* tough to play, unless you have the child-prodigy-cute-factor going for you. There's just too darn much going on. If you had people singing along on choruses, you did a FANTASTIC job!

I like playing lower-traffic areas at Folklife, because of the obvious noise competition issue, but also because it gives people time to stop and take in what you're doing. Mostly, I keep in mind that I'm only expecting to have busking pay for the food I eat. It's mostly for fun, and because busking near an entrance gives you a great view of the comings and goings.

[shadesofmauve]

I should add that Baby, my fiddle, is LOUD. I could play in more intense areas, but it's exhausting and less rewarding.

[solarbird]

Well, two people, on one song. I never had sustained crowds - the most I managed was a little group of two-four people. At other gigs, that means they'd always tip - at Folklife, most of them didn't. I guess because they figure they tipped coming in, why should they tip again?

[shadesofmauve]

I think it's partly that, but mostly the sheer number of buskers, and the sheer number of people. They've already tipped five other buskers, and they assume that with a thousand people streaming by, you'll be tipped well too. Of course, the other 999 people are thinking the same thing... it's a *great* festival for making contacts, but it's terrible for making money. Stick to the markets for that!

This year Dad and I measured our take in beers, which were $5 in the garden. "Look, we're up to a beer and a half each!"

The best money I've ever made busking was at Tall Ships, where people were trapped in lines for up to two hours and dying for any entertainment whatsoever. It only happens ever three years and it's not an arts festival, so I think there were *maybe* five of us busking. It was a brutally hot weekend -- work, not play -- but I bought my lovely new bow the next weekend with the proceeds.

For folklife even two people singing along is doing great, unless you're a four piece band or something. They can hold bigger crowds -- solos and duets, not so much.

[solarbird]

If you had people singing along on choruses, you did a FANTASTIC job! ... For folklife even two people singing along is doing great
Just, you know, btw - I really needed to hear that. Musically, May has been kind of rough. Thanks.