How To Make A Living Playing Blues Guitar On the Street
Blues Man Takes To The Streets!
It inevitably sounds incredibly romantic. Picture the scene - the traveling blues guitarist playing on the streets just like years gone by . Let's see what it's like practically and also what you need to make a go of it. Jim Bruce relates something about his occupation as a street blues man in Europe. Everything you need is below - the hardware, where to play, general tips and that vital ingredient - attitude!
Before We Begin To Play , Important Basics!
I recollect reading somewhere about the lives of the blues men who wandered around to play the blues on street corners and in parking spaces near tobacco storehouses to make a living . They might also entertain at 'house rent' gatherings and saloons, where often the recompense could have been a meal, some drinks and a pallet for the night.
As they traveled around from town to town, their playing improved and evolved according to the preferences of their audience. A street blues man was barely a distraction from a hard, monotonous life and at worst, a beggar, who should be pitied and treated badly.
In the folk boom of the sixties , the life of a street musician was romanticized too much maybe. What is the reality of making a living playing blues guitar, and what do we need to make it a success? (I'll take it that you can already play excellent blues guitar, or at least knock out an hour's worth of decent tunes!)
Does It Make A Difference How I Dress?
Without a doubt! Imagine yourself in the position of someone walking along a busy thoroughfare , confronted with a performer making music in the open air . The first impression is very important, no matter how great the performance. Of course, the music itself has to be top quality - just because it's street music doesn't mean it can be less than excellent. In fact , the music needs to be the highest quality, in order that listeners are attracted to the feeling .
The way you look at first glance says a lot . You're not a panhandler , but a musician, so give respect to yourself and this gives respect to the folks listening to you . It also helps a lot if you are a little different from the rest of the crowd . I put on a black suit, white shirt, black tie and a wide brimmed black hat.
This way of presenting myself reminds me of the old black and white studio photos of legendary blues men, and also looks a little different in our modern world. Give yourself a name ( possibly invent an alter ego) and display this name on a poster attached to your amp, possibly .
The Stuff You Need
Here's a short list of some things I think are indispensable for a street playing blues guitar man:
Guitar ( naturally ) - Chair- Amp and mic - Guitar tuner - Trolley - Sunglasses!
Of course, you could add any item you feel you could need , but bear in mind that you'll have to carry everything . I use a basic trolley and secure everything to it with elastic chords. I can have it ready to move in less than 5 minutes (if I have to!)
What Kind Of Amp Do I need?
A basic amplifier with two channels, assuming that you will be singing . I started with a mic on a stand, but it's a bit heavy and large . Nowadays I use a headset mic, which comes in at about fifty dollars for a reasonable sound.
My latest amp has 30 watts output power and was bought from Thomann. It has a lead acid battery inside which takes about six hours to charge, giving a playing period (both channels ) of between 6 to 8 hours, depending on the volume used. It's quite heavy at 10kg, which is why I use the trolley.
The first channel has simple tone and volume controls - use for the voice, and the other sports volume, gain, low, medium, and high gain controls. The second channel is perfect for balancing the string sounds of an acoustic guitar. Price is a very reasonable $120.
The Guitar
Keep in mind whereabouts you are taking your guitar . Ask yourself , could it be damaged ? It's quite likely ! Could someone steal it ? Of course - anything's possible. I once lost a favourite instrument on the metro in error , because I was feeling sleepy and distracted . It goes without saying that I never found it.
Of course , it's easy to buy a reasonably good guitar these days without it costing an arm and a leg . For a long time I performed with a Vintage parlor model, complete with on-board Shadow equalizer and tuner unit, for less than $200!
My present street guitar is a Martin 000X1AE, which hides a braided strip bug under the saddle and volume/tone controls inside the sound hole. The top is spruce, is not varnished (or hardly) and looks a little quite scratcheable , but the neck, and rest of the construction is artificial - it isn't wood at all!
Martin won't say what the material is, but do say that it's not plastic or a wood pulp product . No matter what it is , it's really resistant . I've banged it several times without any evident marking. I carry it in a soft case strapped to my back.
The sound is all Martin through and through, with very deep basses. This parlor size guitar is great for finger picking , which is what I play . Best price is under $500 - go for it ! (No, I don't have shares in the company.)
Choosing Some Where To Play
This is a tough one, as it depends on you and your town. Let me tell you how I approach it. Basically , if you see a few people playing in the street, then it's safe to assume that it's at least tolerated by the police. After this initial assessment, what's left to do but try it out!
I walk around a a fair bit and observe people when they traverse crossroads , etc, or near to a pedestrian shopping area . It'll help your cause a lot if people can stop and listen without impeding the movement of other pedestrians , or vehicles .
I almost always find a pitch near to market areas in the centre of a city - this is an ideal pitch for a street blues man .
Ready To Go !
I prefer to feel something at my back ( removing the possiblity of people doing something you don't like without you seeing it, or trying to rob something while you perform . Stay vigilant, it's the city!)
You will get some funny looks while setting up, as folks are really curious. It requires a little courage initially , but becomes easier over time. It helps if you bring an attitude to your activity . For example, I'm always smiling and chatting to people and try to give the feeling that I belong there. It's my city, it's where I make my living and I have a right to be there. In reality , you don't have any right to be there, but if you play OK, and not too loud, the police will (probably) let you stay as it brings a little interest to the community and to the overall ambiance.
Start with a song that's simple and attractive - it won't help your cause if you try and perform something very complicated and make a mess of it! Play up to seventy five per cent of your capabilities until you get into it. In this way , your playing will be sure.
Is It Possible To Make A Living ?
Living from playing blues guitar is always difficult and can only be managed by making relatively small amounts from several similar activities. For me, playing in the street has always delivered an important portion of my total income .
However, performing on the street just for tips won't make much . It's best to offer something tangible , such as an a CD at a cheap price. This often augments the earnings made on the street. My other activities may include live gigging and guitar tuition , and I get many contacts from the street. Sometimes musicians may ask me about blues guitar lessons and others give me gigs at private functions, parties and in their bars and cafes. I'm happy to say that music is the way I make my living.
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