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Double Bass Busking Alone

#2
I made a fair amount of money in SF Bay Area doing it. I'd play Mingus and Paul Chamber's tunes, some Standards like Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, sometimes a classical solo, Bach mostly. I'd improvise on them. Sometimes I would just improvise melodies.
The Bay Area has a good train system, When I would gig in SF, I would take the train in an hour or so early, I would cover my fare and a good dinner always, sometimes more.
Like any other gig, music you love will get the most attention.
It really helps your tone and ability to project, as well as your ability to carry the music alone and in a group. Sadly, it is doesn't seem to be remotely possible in Houston.
 
#3
A while ago, I saw a video on youtube of a girl busking, playing double bass and singing. The song was "Exactly Like You". Very effective. If you sing, with lyrics, it will get more attention. Many songs, are meant to be sung by people with ordinary voices. You can be an ordinary bassist, and an ordinary singer, and give a lot of impact. If you just play bass, I think you'd have to be an extraordinary bassist to give a similar impact.
 
#5
I don't think this is always the case. It would work well in a tourist area like a water front where crowds gather, but for commute foot traffic you are better off playing something where the listener defines their own focus. Instrumental music is better for that.


longfinger said:
A while ago, I saw a video on youtube of a girl busking, playing double bass and singing. The song was "Exactly Like You". Very effective. If you sing, with lyrics, it will get more attention. Many songs, are meant to be sung by people with ordinary voices. You can be an ordinary bassist, and an ordinary singer, and give a lot of impact. If you just play bass, I think you'd have to be an extraordinary bassist to give a similar impact.
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#7
A friend just moved to asheville, from what he's said, I doubt that you're going to make much, if any, money, but you are likely to have a bunch of other musical ashevillians join up with you randomly with ukuleles, banjos, panflutes and djembes.
 
#8
As with most things musical these days, do it cuz you love it and want to busk. You should play music that inspires you rather than something you think might garner yourself some attention. It's safer to assume that you won't get anymore out of it and that it's a labor of love.
 
#9
MattZilla said:
A friend just moved to asheville, from what he's said, I doubt that you're going to make much, if any, money, but you are likely to have a bunch of other musical ashevillians join up with you randomly with ukuleles, banjos, panflutes and djembes.
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You only find that with buskers who don't look professional in some way. I've seen it happen dozens of times, and everytime, it seems the person is sitting down, in some random corner, with a baseball cap or something. The most successful busker I've seen in the past few summer's is an accordion player with a gorgeous and grabs-your-attention-right-away, voice. And if someone tries to chat with her (something other than like, where can I get a cd?) She politely answers their question and says something that gets the point across that she is performing, essentially on a stage, and would like not to be interrupted.
 
#10
MattZilla said:
A friend just moved to asheville, from what he's said, I doubt that you're going to make much, if any, money, but you are likely to have a bunch of other musical ashevillians join up with you randomly with ukuleles, banjos, panflutes and djembes.
Click to expand...

LOL! Can't tell you how many drum circles you can pass on one weekend up there on a way to play a symphony gig!! :D

Love it!
BG
 

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