Quicksands' Busker Stage

 Getting a solid estimate on the earnings of street performers is a bit difficult since it can vary wildly and many buskers don't really say what they make. From what people say, an average day of busking can bring in about $50 during the weekdays, but that can easily go up to between $100 – $150 a day over weekends and depending on where you play and what region of the country. (or world for that matter)

 The term busking was first noted in the English language around the middle 1860s in Great Britain. The verb to busk, from the word busker, comes from the Spanish root word buscar, with the meaning "to seek". The Spanish word buscar in turn evolved from the Indo-European word *bhudh-skō ("to win, conquer"). 

 Busking enables a musician to get their music to audiences who may otherwise never hear about them. You are seen and heard by many people during a set, so it's easy to promote yourself and gain that valuable exposure as a blooming artist. Music builds confidence, it really does, and especially so when busking. 

 Some cities have no rules against busking. Others, you need a busking Permit / License, which is typically around $20-100 from City Hall. If you are caught busking without a license in a city that requires one, you can be shut down and fined - and trust me, it happens more than you think. 

  Here are 8 tips you can use to make the most money possible on your next busking session!

1. Be Different.
2. Know Your Audience.
3. Smile And Say Thank You.
4. Have Something To Sell.
5. Remove/Hide The Small Change.
6. Turn The Volume Down.
7. Prepare And Play To Your Strengths.
8. Talk To Other Buskers.

 Nearly every known civilization has a history that includes street performance of some kind, making it difficult to pinpoint when busking started. However, according to the book The Buskers: A History of Street Entertainment, the earliest record of street performers shows up in ancient Rome where buskers performed at agricultural festivals. 

 TODAY one could argue that shows like “America’s Got Talent” have their roots in the kinds of acts most often found on the streets, proving that despite society’s trend toward virtual entertainment, street performances won’t be going away any time soon.