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anyone ever busk with just a bass.

#21
From my experience (playing double bass while busking with 2-3 other folk musicians) a lot of what needs to be said has already been said:

First, the nuts and bolts:
Find out what the laws/rules are. Even if your city doesn't have laws/bylaws about busking, they might about other things like public performances, noise levels etc. You might need a permit, which in some cases is just filling out a form, or is sometimes much more involved. If you want to busk at/near public transit stations (a common one because there are a lot of people and they have to wait for a while) a lot of public transit systems regulate this somehow and require permits or you have to follow a schedule etc.
Electricity can be complicated. First, it's not as easy to find as you think it might be. Second, it might be "someone's" electricity, and they might not want/allow you to use it. Scope out your location, and solve that problem.
Location is critical. Just because there are a lot of people around, doesn't mean any of them are going to stop, listen, or give you money. Business areas are particularly bad for this because while they might have a lot of people, most of them are very absorbed in their own little world. Markets, parks, and other social areas where people aren't necessarily "on the clock" are good places because people are in a better frame of mind.

The actual busking:
Lyrics or catchy/popular/well known melodies get people's attention.
Something unique. If you're just some guy playing bass and singing (which isn't all that common, so you're halfway there) then it's easy to pass you up. If you've got a gimmick of some kind like a weird outfit, a big hat, humorous songs etc. Then people slow down or stop, and that's when the money happens.
Be on top of your game. A lot of buskers, especially the successful ones, are very good musicians. In the age of child prodigies and youtube videos of "check out this insane bass player" you need to play to impress. Monster chops definitely help, but if you groove really hard, you don't have to be crazy flashy.
Watch your volume. you want it to be loud enough that people can hear you, but you want to draw them in, not blast them away. You also have a lot better chance of keeping surrounding businesses happy, not having complaints/the police show up etc. if you are heard, but not invasive.
You don't necessarily need a lot of material. Make sure it's tight, and if something really "works" and something really doesn't, keep that in mind.

Your set:
Continuum and Cissy Strut might work in in the right space with the right crowd, but they're going to be hard sells. Mr. Cab Driver, Heard it Through the Grapevine, Ramble On and Purple Haze could work fairly well. I obviously can't comment on your originals.

Best of luck.
 
#23
Thanks for your feedback guys.

Gopherbassist:

I had my eye on a Roland Micro Cube but couldn't find one in Canada. The only ones available I'd have to order from the U.S. and this would have costed too much for my budget. So I ended up buying a used Pignose Hog 30. I think you're right that the roland is pretty ideal for busking given its size and features. Have you used one for busking?

MikeCanada:

Thanks for sharing your insights. I'm in Montreal so the metros are open to anyone, but playing in public spaces requires a permit. I don't mind this except the price seems a little high here at 125$ plus a 50$ fee for the audition.

I think you're probably right about the instrumentals being more risky compared to more popular songs with vocals. I guess there's only one way to find out. So do you busk much these days?
 
#24
A few years ago I use to busk all the time with a guitarist. We would do bass+guitar, guitar+acoustic guitar, or any combo there of.
At times my buddy would want to take a break when I would want to keep jamming so I would use a looper and play some guitar chords, add in some percussive sounds on the guitar, then plug my bass back in and just play solo while the chords/percussive looped.

Looper+battery powered amps+bass = bass buskers best friend.
 
#25
If you're gonna busk, and the only instrument is one that is almost always played within a group because it doesn't typically carry melody or chordal accompaniment on its own....you'd better be damned impressive on that instrument or else you're going to look like your band quit on you.

In the 90s I used to regularly see one of the Boston dudes mentioned in this thread and I can still envision it in my head because it was such amazing, memorable playing.
 
#26
PurplePurple said:
I've never busked alone, however busking with a guitarist in my experience has thought me a few things.

1. Singing while playing gets peoples attention and they open up their wallets faster

2.Cheezy tourist songs work. If the area you live doesn't have any well known cheezy tourist songs, make them up at sometime. While playing House of the Rising sun we made about $10 tottal for about three times of playing it. North too Alaska made us about $50 after about 3 times of playing it.
Click to expand...

+1

Singing always got us way more attention/money.
Often times singing even got us gigs.
(We got gig offers about every 2-3 times we would busk)
The biggest 'random' gig offer we got was when we were playing electric guitar+bass. We were playing a bunch of improv jazz/blues when we were approached and were offered to get added into a tour circuit through a chunk of California.

We never took the offer but how cool would that have been? Touring doing improve jazz/blues?
 
#27
It's a little cold where I am right now to bust out the double bass for some busking. I'm guessing it's not exactly warm in Montreal either this time of year. I busk in the summer time with a band I play with and occasionally some other folk musicians. While there are some people that do quite well on their own, I've also found that having more than one musician can help draw in a crowd.

I assumed they would have a similar system to Toronto when it came to permits. There are a few places in the city where you can get away with busking without a permit, but they do check at most of the "hot spots" that tend to be most successful.

The TTC holds auditions very rarely, they accept 74 acts, and you have to pay a $197.75 licence fee. From there, they have a schedule they have to follow (so you don't invade on someone else's time/space) and it's pretty closely monitored. With that said, if you do it right you can easily make that money and more back in a single day.

A lot of my friends that busk and travel have also pointed out that they are a lot more successful in Europe. Some of that is because there tends to be a different mentality when it comes to music/the arts/culture in Europe. It also largely has to do with the fact that very few people carry cash on them in North America anymore, and if they do it tends to be $20's from the bank machine. It's a whole lot harder to get people to part with their money when they aren't carrying it on them.
 
#30
So I just went for a busk tonight at a downtown metro station. It was pretty darn cold and I didn’t stay long. I was bit nervous and shakey, to be honest, but I guess it went ok, got a few tips.

The songs with vocals and bass definitely got more attention than the instrumentals. I felt a little shy singing, at times it felt a bit like I was invading people’s space. Weird. I guess that’s something you grow into as you gain confidence.

The drum machine pedal looks cool, thanks for the link Jennysuzuki.
 
#31
I have a Roland Micro Cube Bass amp. It might be fine for solo gigs or with an acoustic guitar, but in my experience, it does not make it over a drum kit or keyboards. Which honestly kinda sucks because that's the exact reason I bought it. Keep in mind I'm talking about playing NYC subway stations, obviously your mileage may vary.
 
#32
I've busked with just a bass and the above mentioned Roland Micro Cube, and a Boss loop pedal. Having some kind of drum machine or percussion is essential in my experience.

How much fun it is and how much money you make is obviously massively influenced by where you are. I played along with the drum machine in a square in Brighton (UK), which is a pretty arty city, and had a decent crowd and made enough to get drunk in the pub afterwards. A wandering guitarist even joined in for a jam of 'Good times'. Eventually though I was upstaged by a brass band with matching suits playing Michael Jackson numbers.
 
#33
Muttleybass said:
Last couple of times in Vegas there was a guy on Fremont Street. He seemed to be doing well for just noodling. That's all about location.

I suppose it could be good if you did the right songs, were decent and sang a bit. Not my thang, tho'.
Click to expand...

I was gonna mention this guy too, He'got some kind of battery operated amp on a cart w/ wheels. Saw a guy with a full drum kit flailing away down on the strip a few years ago. My favorite is still the two guys with the electric cello's, they're pretty good.
 
#34
I busked in NY Central Park with a cello one summer (I know I'm drifting from the topic).

The experience was dreadful and wonderful in so many ways. Some people loved me so out of proportion to what I was doing and some people hated me for reasons I'll never understand. Most people ignored me.

The money ranged from a few dollars for an afternoon to $80. Weather and day of the week was important factors. A beautiful Sunday afternoon was always payday.

I've thought about playing bass this time.
 
#35
Ive seen some on youtube and they were all virtuosos.... I certainly dont play well enough to interest people on a street corner. If you can play bass in a way that sounds like a song it itself, great. If you're just playing the bassline of well known songs...i don't think anyone would give a ****. Not unless you had some sort of recorded parts backing you up.
 
#36
jive1 said:
Check your local laws first.

For example in Boulder, CO you can busk as long as you don't use amplification. Loud obnoxious bagpipes that can be heard for miles is ok, but you'll get a ticket for bringing your 10W Gorilla amp.

In some large cities like Chicago, you need a permit. Panhandlers don't, but buskers do.

If you can't amplify, it's not worth it. I have yet to hear an acoustic bass that will project enough for busking. Not only are you competing with street noises, but with other buskers as well. Lord help you if there's a Mariachi band playing down the street.
Click to expand...

+1. Yep, even in many little cities, permits are required.
 
#37
Alex J said:
I've busked with just a bass and the above mentioned Roland Micro Cube, and a Boss loop pedal. Having some kind of drum machine or percussion is essential in my experience.

How much fun it is and how much money you make is obviously massively influenced by where you are. I played along with the drum machine in a square in Brighton (UK), which is a pretty arty city, and had a decent crowd and made enough to get drunk in the pub afterwards. A wandering guitarist even joined in for a jam of 'Good times'. Eventually though I was upstaged by a brass band with matching suits playing Michael Jackson numbers.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it depends on the location, day, time, and how good you are at working the street, some street performers can make pretty good money in a reasonably short amount of time.
 
#38
Milk said:
Ive seen some on youtube and they were all virtuosos.... I certainly dont play well enough to interest people on a street corner. If you can play bass in a way that sounds like a song it itself, great. If you're just playing the bassline of well known songs...i don't think anyone would give a ****. Not unless you had some sort of recorded parts backing you up.
Click to expand...

Food for thought - may be get a Ditto (looper) and after working out a few cool things, take it to the street.
 

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