Some people have a wrong idea about the phenomenon of street performance, which has spread around the globe. They believe that these people go out into hopeless situations and try to earn money somehow. However, in fact, the status of a street musician is rising every day in the modern world. These creative people not only make money but also have amazing talent and unparalleled skill. Such an activity is especially popular in cities that attract a large number of tourists. London is one of them. Walking down its streets, you can hear the music of different countries and nationalities. Learn more at london-trend.
THE ORGANISATION OF PERFORMANCES AND WHETHER SUCH A CREATIVE ACTIVITY ALLOWED IN LONDON
The professionalism and seriousness of buskers’ performances have not long been unquestioned by city residents and tourists. Musicians have gained so much popularity in London that they are already treated as representatives of ordinary professions, such as a programmer who goes to a London office every morning. It is also worth mentioning that a lot of world-famous bands and solo vocalists started their journey on the narrow streets of London and in cosy no name cafes. There, they not only gained experience and improved their skills but also had the opportunity to see the real reaction of people to their music and determine the most successful theme and genre of songs. The street helped many of them reveal their potential, believe in their own strength and reach new heights. Such experience also served as a good opportunity to feel the public mood and understand its psychology, which came in handy later.
Most London buskers dream of becoming famous and performing on the big stage, although some of them are satisfied with their current situation. They simply enjoy the moment, their work and have no desire to change anything. They like what they create, especially since it is an officially recognized profession. However, in the 1990s, such performances (especially in subway stations) were prohibited. The London authorities have long given the buskers official recognition and even established a certain tax to pay. In addition, musicians need to obtain a special licence. What’s more, we should not forget about the fierce competition among musicians, as London attracts thousands of tourists every day. You can always earn more performing in the most popular tourist locations, therefore, a whole system has been developed to distribute them among the performers and avoid unpleasant conflicts. You can also make online reservations for the performance lot in the subway.
WHY MUSICIANS PERFORM ON THE STREET?
At first glance, all the problems that a street musician needs to overcome seem quite difficult. After all, you even need to pass an audition, just to get a licence. Instead of starting a career on the street, you can, for example, take part in a popular show, where there are more chances to become famous. So why do so many musicians choose this path?
Usually, the busker’s goal is to find an audience, some of them just like music and don’t seek world fame. Moreover, this type of activity is constantly developing in London and along with it, related organisations, which are involved in the concerts and competitions arranging, are being created too. Busk In London is one of them. Every year, it organises a public Day of Street Music. Charlotte Campbell, a musician from London, said that by taking part in the competition, she won a scholarship for her study. She believes that it indicates the public demand even for imperfect music. The most important thing is that it improves our mood or touches our hearts, which is what listeners strive for. The girl also emphasises that this is an effective way to promote her page on social networks. However, many musicians just go out when they have free time from their main work. There is something soulful and romantic about it and the very process of playing an instrument or singing a song always gives people pleasant emotions. Source: The Institute of Contemporary.
TRANSFORMING YOUR HOBBY INTO BUSINESS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MODERN PAYMENT METHODS
Interesting street performances allow musicians to make money. Usually, the payment depends mostly on the place where the performance is shown (a more popular location can bring more money), but quite often the musician’s skill and his ability to attract the attention of passers-by play a significant role too.
It is probably hard to believe, but at some point, the development of modern technologies and cashless payments significantly worsened the level of buskers’ earnings. After all, many tourists and Londoners are used to paying with a bank card and sometimes simply don’t have cash in their pockets. However, the situation changed dramatically in 2018 when the city authorities introduced a new payment system, which was designed especially for buskers. The process of money transactions became as simple and quick as possible. Musicians should just connect a compact reading device to the phone, which allows them to get a fixed amount into their account. This method was created by local authorities and the Swedish company iZettle. London became the first city in the world to offer contactless payment for street performances. Both musicians and music lovers liked the idea so much. Street performers significantly increased their incomes since then.
THE BEST LOCATIONS AND VARIETY OF PERFORMANCES
The most attractive places for street musicians are those that are visited by a huge number of tourists every day, such as Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and Leicester Square. The competitiveness is the fiercest here, but the variety of performances is the richest too. However, those who live in London for more than one year know some better locations, which are not central but profitable as well. These are the subway stations with a constant crowd of passengers waiting for the train and cosy parks where people come to get away from routine life and enjoy music.
What about the variety of performances, London buskers can definitely fit any taste. Musicians offer a large number of unique and various compositions. Here, you can catch rock and lyrical motifs, traditional English songs, Latin American melodies, classical piano and pop music. In addition, wandering away from the city centre, you can come across something completely unusual, the representatives of Indian tribes playing their folk instruments. To sum up, London buskers will surprise everyone.
