Buskers are Not Beggars!

Buskers are not Beggars, that it the first thing to remember when strolling down city streets ~ you are inadvertally entering a performance area, a stage if you will where men and women, old and young are showcasing their hard work and talents for your enjoyment.  Most of these people are genuine artisans from a historic and bohemian heritage providing shows for the masses without distinction or exclusion.  All too often the cries of “Get a real Job?” or “Stupid vagrant” are heard by passing ignorant and judgemental folk.  You must remember that despite the mockery and heckling, these entertainers still choose to work on the streets following an ancient tradition from antiquity and sourced all over the world.

The term “busking” was first cited in the English language in the 1860s and comes from the Indo-European word “bhudh-skō"” ~ to conquer and later to the Celtic “Boudi” ~ victory and finally to the Spanish “buscar” which means ~ to seek.  In this cynical, capitalist word you would join these together to form ~ someone who#s looking for recognition and money but there is also a spiritual and psychological impetus of such a raw, unpredictable and often peripetitic profession.  Street Performers encounter so many people and ideals from different walks of life and are often seeking a personal enlightenment that may be as simple as growing confidence or skills but they absently get a snap shot of society and global personality.

Yes, as in any job, these buskers are hoping to be paid and are NOT paid to be there by the ‘local banks, government authorities or any other corrupt organistations’!  (typical street hat line!)  Even whatout the mastering of entertainment skills, performance techique and presence, these people have to conquer self-confidence, belief and endurance.  It is not a stable profession and is constantly changing and evolving.

When it first began it was the only way for many people to be heard.  The world was not technologically advanced as it is today where artists can self-promote through social networking, audio recording and you tube videos.  Scaling millenia of history, there has always been a public voice whether they were oral story tellers before civilisations could commit works to paper or read the results, or perhaps sharing public announcements or views in ‘speaker’s corners’.  It is a noble and hard profession which takes courage to undertake and many years to master fully.

There are two main types of street theatre, walk-by and shows.  The first are less demonstrative but no less talented engaging onlookers for a few moments as they pass by with no start or end to their offerings like human stautues, musicans, balloon artistics, dancers, some jugglers.  Shows will have a ‘build’ where the public are encouraged to actually stop and watch a mini ‘production’ from start to finish ~ a magic show, a danger show, a uni-cycle show ~ these shows will have a theme, a vague outline for dialogue and a progression from warm up tricks to the more startling and climatic visual skills (however the ‘big finale’ isn’t always the hardest trick or offer, just attracts the biggest crowd reaction, for example – it’s a lot harder to juggle seven small balls than to juggle three flaming, fire torches – in this way you have to learn what’s ‘marketable’ and let go of some of the ideas and skills sets that you’re ‘married to’ because they won’t work in front of an audience).  The other main difference is that a show will have a ‘hat line’ when the performers encourage the spectators to pay them for their time spent entertaining and engaging with them whereas a ‘walk by’ will simply have a hat or other recepical placed in a prominent position to collect money as folk pass.

What you don’t realise when you think of the ‘freedom’ and self employment of the street is that there are often rules.  Firstly you must consider where the law stands on busking ~ do you need a permit?  Is it tolerated for tourism?  Then where to busk? ~ Are you going to block a shop door or street, are your audience going to be safe?  Are you drowning out some other poor performer by turning up an amp right beside them?  The bigger shows also often have to contend with the fact that they’re not the only show in town and there is revelry and pettiness and everyone’s an artist with a touch of bi-polar and attention needs!  There are few cities and areas in those cities where firstly busking is allowed and secondly receives enough people traffic to make the biggest impact and so often there is a rota or auction set up for participating performers that provides a running order for ‘the pitch’ ~ the stage you’ll be working.

In the end of the end you’re relying on the honesty and good nature of the public which is often a precarious thing but also a beauty thing and connecting a way that most folk now avoid!  It can takes years, even decades to learn the skills, the performance techniques and prepare a show so NO these people are NOT beggars and this is their JOB and you are only intimidated by their courage, risk taking and confidence as you skulk back to your office cubicle!