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what do i need to have to play on streets? helppp

#2
Hi.

"Talking 'bout my generation..."

:).

When playing on the street, the first thing to find out is whether You have a permission to use any kind of amplification. The regulations are pretty strict, and usually prohibit the use of amplification.

I'm 95% sure that a gnerator is absolutely out of the question in the majority of the places, and a silent/powerful enough one will break both the bank, and Your back.

Ask Your local police, they know ;).



I haven't played bass on the street, but I used to play acoustic guitar, unamplified.

If I was asked to play bass, I couldn't consider anything other than a DB (a CCB is perfect for it) for that task.

On the kind of music I played: folk/rock/blues, a backing track would've been super cheesy. Depends on the kind of music You're playing I guess.

Have fun.

Regards
Sam
 
#3
I play latin,funk,traditional etc. my question is to get sound on street (that people can hear) what do i need for that? If i just get a battery powered amplifier is that enough? or maybe somebody offers me anything else. I want drum loops or something like that on the back and I'll play on that with my bass. that's all.

thanks for any help from anybody.
 
#6
In general people use the Crates here in NYC. Where are you planning to busk? It depends where you are-but the Subway stations here are a good way of "playing in the streets" and have some walls around to have sound bounce back from. Also, what are you planning to play? from hearing people play all the time: doing grooves is not necessarily working in the street. People are on the move, they will maybe stop for half a minute to listen. The succesful street musicians bring songs, IME.
 
#8
theretheyare said:
the Subway stations here are a good way of "playing in the streets" and have some walls around to have sound bounce back from.
Click to expand...

How 'bout the Jimi Hendrix dude with the boom microphone and back pack amp setup? He goes car to car holding people hostage in the train playing songs for money. Brilliant, but I think people were starting to copy him big time when I left NYC. Not including the mariachi bands on the weekends!
 
#11
JehuJava said:
How 'bout the Jimi Hendrix dude with the boom microphone and back pack amp setup? He goes car to car holding people hostage in the train playing songs for money. Brilliant, but I think people were starting to copy him big time when I left NYC. Not including the mariachi bands on the weekends!
Click to expand...

I see that guy every afternoon in the Astor Place uptown station on the 4/5/6 line. He jams along to backing tracks on his Ipod.
 
#12
I'm going to say it because everybody is thinking it. Believe it or not but the following comes from a place of benevolence and caring for you as an artist and fellow bass player:

Bass is all about support and being the anchor of the band. Making it swing and groove. Nobody wants to hear you playing solo to a drum machine on the street through a crappy battery powered amp with cheesy electronic drum loops. I'm a bass player and even I dont want to hear that. I repeat, nobody wants to hear that. Most people wont even know its a bass. They will just think you are the worst sounding guitarist ever. Please find some people to start a band with and do that. This is the best advice I can give you. Just dont get upset and think this through.
 
#14
StrangerDanger said:
I'm going to say it because everybody is thinking it. Believe it or not but the following comes from a place of benevolence and caring for you as an artist and fellow bass player:

Bass is all about support and being the anchor of the band. Making it swing and groove. Nobody wants to hear you playing solo to a drum machine on the street through a crappy battery powered amp with cheesy electronic drum loops. I'm a bass player and even I dont want to hear that. I repeat, nobody wants to hear that. Most people wont even know its a bass. They will just think you are the worst sounding guitarist ever. Please find some people to start a band with and do that. This is the best advice I can give you. Just dont get upset and think this through.
Click to expand...

Yea.. Most people that could pull it off wouldn't spend their time asking about it on talkbass
But maybe I'm a dick
*hides*
 
#16
a.provider,m.119738,mod.media,th.thumbs3,s.pictures.jpg


Fender Can Amp
15W
Lithium Ion Battery (Rechargeable)


Pretty cheap but pretty hard to find...
 
#18
String Theory said:
You could use the Roland Micro Cube RX. It uses batteries and has a built in drum machine. You can also plug in a ipod. I have not used mine outside so I am not sure how loud it would be. I keep mine on my night stand.
Click to expand...
I have one of those. It's perfect for sitting in in acoustic guitar circles. I didn't remember that it has a drum machine in it; I had to go look at it to see. I've never used it.
 

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