The business behind busking: An insider's view

As a busker who has been busking for 2 years, I have my own personal experiences of quite a few highs and definitely a few lows. But how many positives outweigh the negatives? There are many sides to busking and I’m here to tell you all about them. For new musicians that are just starting out or just have a passion to perform busking is an amazing way to show off your talents.

The opportunities that come with busking can be incredible, during an interview with a busker named Brandon Fletcher, had said “performing at restaurants, singing at pride events and meeting people in the industry like artist development, event managers and other musicians”, were a list of opportunities he had been given due to being a busker.

For those who are wanting to enter the music industry, busking can open doors and help lead you to becoming the next Adele or Ed Sheeran. Busking is also about the memories created the feeling of having a crowd standing there making you feel like you will make it in the industry and that your good enough to become something.

However, there are many negatives that come along with busking, being hurled abuse at randomly while you’re singing and being told that your rubbish and not good enough to sing. Money can vary depending on what day of the week it is and if it’s a sunny day you can make from £20 to 100 odd, who knows what a normal day is.

A busking day can be so unpredictable, arguing with other buskers about having a certain spot or rain starting so you have to pack up for the day, anything can happen and you must be prepared for it all.

Overall Busking can be a way to start your career but you must be equipped a ready for anything that may happen. With people like, Brandon Fletcher experiencing being slapped by an intoxicated female in the middle of Leeds as they thought he wasn’t very good but you never know you could be the next Ed Sheeran