Be a Street Musician

If you can play guitar, sing a little, or play some other instrument, you might be able to be a street musician. Earn a few bucks. Sharpen your performance skills. Feed your inner rock star.

Steps

  1. Find a place to play. While the term "street musician" implies playing on or near the street, don't actually do that unless you have to, or unless you're a drummer. Cars tend to drown out acoustic music, but if there are a lot of pedestrians on the sidewalks, it might be worth a try. Look for a farmers market with an open booth, a crafts fair, arts festival, or any other place people might appreciate your music floating by. In general, the more foot traffic the better, but if it looks so crowded that you might have trouble finding a spot at all, it might be harder than if there's a few open spaces here and there.
  2. Dress to character with music. This is more effective in retaining an audience. It also makes the statement that you are a serious musician. Also musician's that have movement in their act such as dancing, tap dance for percussion, a tambourine attached to a foot makes a much more interesting show.
  3. Ask permission if you can find someone to ask. It's a lot more comfortable to play somewhere if you don't have to worry about being run off by store owners, or worse, cops. That said, in the U.S. and many other countries, you're free to set up and play on public property as long as you're not obstructing passers-by or otherwise creating a nuisance. Typically the worst that can happen is that someone will ask you to leave. If you have to plug in an amp or something, however, you should ask permission first.
  4. Play so people can hear you. Stand up when you play, if at all possible. Standing up to play and/or sing projects the sound better. If you're kind of quiet and you sit down, you might not be heard. Sit down if you have to, though. Keep in mind that the sound of strumming chords on the guitar carries a lot better than finger picking does.
  5. Be gracious if someone asks you to leave. Smile. Maybe they'll suggest a better place to play. Police and store owners are almost always very nice about asking you to leave, and you should be nice, too..
  6. Collect tips. Remember to bring your hat or tip cup, or simply open your guitar case in front of you. People can't tip you if they don't know where to put the money. When someone gives you a tip, thank them with a smile or gesture, but keep playing.
  7. Don't play within earshot of other musicians. Give them their sonic space. If you cluster too close together, it will hurt everybody's earnings. In some situations, there are too many musicians in an area, so they'll take turns playing.
  8. Smile. A sour attitude drives away listeners. Don't get discouraged if you're not making a lot of money. Maybe you need to try another spot, or maybe it's just one of those days. Playing on the street can be very frustrating, but it can also be very rewarding, especially in terms of getting your music out there.

Tips

  • "Seed" your hat or instrument case with a few dollar bills and/or a handful of coins. This draws the eye of passersby and indicates where they should put the money. If you do not want coins, remove all coins from your case as quickly as possible - often, this will increase your income as more people will give you bills. If you want to be sneaky, put in a $5 or $10 bill, to make them think that other people before them have been very generous, so they should too!
  • If you have CDs for sale, bring them with you. Display them prominently and put up a sign with the price. You probably won't get a lot of sales, but it's a good way to bring in some extra cash and gain more exposure for your music. Note that in some cities you must have a permit to legally sell CDs on the street.
  • Be prepared for requests. People who request songs can be annoying, especially if you play originals, but they also tend to pay you. It's good to know some covers, and if you can't play the exact song someone requests, offer a similar tune or one by the same artist.
  • Acoustic instruments offer you a lot more flexibility in terms of where and when you can play than anything that requires electricity.
  • A nice, colorful costume will help attract attention and give your performance some intention. Strange hats are also a plus, or any clothing that grabs the attention people passing by.
  • It can be good to allow your body to move around a little (or a lot) while you perform, in a way that is expressive and/or beautiful, but not overly disturbing. If you perform with feeling, you will be more successful. It can be helpful to forget that you are performing for money or attention, and to play simply so that you can enjoy listening to the music yourself. Alternately, your audience may be a source of energy or inspiration to be drawn upon.
  • Wear interesting clothes! People will stop and wonder why you are dressed like that and also give you more money because it adds to the entertainment factor.
  • You may want to avoid areas with a lot of panhandlers. These spots generally have plenty of foot traffic, but people often get turned off by people asking for money and will be less likely to stop and give you some cash.
  • Some municipalities require a license. Check with the local City Clerk's office.
  • Do not sit down. Ever. People will think you're a panhandler and won't give you as much money.
  • Don't sit unless you're playing an instrument like the cello.

Warnings

  • Avoid confrontation with property owners, local officials, and police. Getting these people angry with you won't help you make any money, and it's a waste of time.

Things You'll Need

  • An instrument and / or a voice
  • A Good attitude and perseverance!
  • Don't give up your dreams..stay focused and keep on living your goals!

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