How I did it: Grabbed a guitar, and got a busking permit from the city council. Cost ten bucks. Convinced my friend to come along, we rehearsed for a day at home with about 10 songs. Then, just set up in the park, opened my guitar case, threw in a few dummy coins and started playing! We made forty bucks between us, minus twenty for the permits, that leaves ten each. We spent it all on lunch and ice cream anyway :D.

Lessons & tips: - The morning is the best time to go. My busking partner (let's just call her Lucy), reckons it's because in the morning nothing bad has happened yet. :). Plus, go early and you get a good spot.
- Go with a friend. It boosts morale, and you can also have someone to talk to, it makes you feel not so alone.
- Put some dummy money in the case, don't busk on an empty case
- Make sure you keep your valuables on you (you can't afford to make that huge a loss!)
- Hide any note money after the song's done.
- Make sure you've practised enough to sound decent. Lucy didn't practise for some songs and we didn't make any dough on those.
- Important tip: (I got this from a kid's book) Look as though you're enjoying what you're doing, rather than busking for money. 
- Choose a relaxed environment. We chose a park, which had families and people with prams, and young people. Often the parents will give the kids a couple of coins to toss in. It's much more enjoyable than busking on a city street, there you feel like you're in peoples' way, as they hurry to and fro doing their business. 
- Thank people when they give you money, even if it makes you stuff up a few notes    

Resources: Thankyou very much to the city council for providing busking permits, to my dad for finally digging up the old guitar case, to various anonymous authors of websites detailing guitar chords, and to my wonderful busking friend Lucy, where would I be without you. 

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Dec 28, 2008, 09:45PM PST | 1 comment | 4 cheers