Sharing my accordion instruments

[Plinky]

I have always been a big fan of busking its great fun.

The term also has several connotations,busking on the street and another busking ones way through a tune and that's probably what 99% of musicians do

I'm not sure I would be quite as comfortable noways days.

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

Actually, it is untrue that you can just set up and play on any public street in the United States. Especially for money.

Nah, it is protected by the first amendment, as I said. Anyone saying otherwise is going against the constitution.

In Chicago they have that nonsense that you have to get a permit, ha! Unconstitutional, but expected from that state.

Funny thing is that I never asked for money (honestly, as a busker, you will never get that money back from what you invested in the instrument). I was doing it for the fun and social interaction, and it was quite rewarding having hot girls in swimsuits all around me, asking if they could try to play something with the accordion on me .

Good times.

In many if not most localities, at least in the big cities--yes, you absolutely must get a license. It is usually a bureaucratic formality and a nominal fee, but can be difficult when the street or walkway you desire has a lot of foot traffic and potential "paying audience" members--such as a "hot" shopping or restaurant district, or outside a desirable museum or auditorium or other tourist/sightseer site. Those spots are highly desired by buskers and if they're all taken you have to wait your turn to be authorized. If you do not have the license you can be cited and told to pack up and move along.

I heard ridiculous stories of business owners sending the cops against buskers with the excuse that they needed a permit, restrooms, insurance, and a lot of more nonsense if they wanted to keep playing at the streets! Ha ha.

Truth is that they were just jealous, somehow, that there are live musicians around them when they are paying for (often awful) prerecorded music to be played inside their business.

Of course, later on, they were all turned down when a non profit organization heard about this and initiated lawsuits against the city hall due to them violating the first amendment and freedom of artistic speech.

They all backed up quite quickly, and busking became a protected right in those areas, as how it always was.

This is also true in most of the big-city subway systems--in NYC you definitely must be registered and authorized to play in the underground.

I will never do that. It will totally destroy the point of busking by taking the simpleness of it out. If you can't do it casual, is not worth it.

Unless, of course, you are a professional musician without a job.

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

I have always been a big fan of busking its great fun.

The term also has several connotations,busking on the street and another busking ones way through a tune and that's probably what 99% of musicians do

I'm not sure I would be quite as comfortable noways days.

Rule 24 of busking: never try too hard!

If you do, people will think you are begging for attention, and will inevitably attract unwanted attention.

My recommendation? Find a public bench and enjoy the time for yourself. If you do, the music will attract desirable attention.

 

[Dingo40]

Nah, it is protected by the first amendment, as I said. Anyone saying otherwise is going against the constitution.

Very enlightening.
See here:

Street performing (U.S. case law) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And here:

https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/cac1d314-2e8b-44cb-b43b-fb5ffa98265e/content

 

[Dingo40]

This reminds me of a parallel situation regarding photography.
In Australia, regarding photography for personal (non commercial) enjoyment, except on private property (eg a shopping arcade), basically the law is: if you can see it, you can photograph it.
Unfortunately, every now and then you may fall foul of some petty official who sees it their duty to prevent you from doing just that!

 

[Plinky]

Rule 24 of busking: never try too hard!

If you do, people will think you are begging for attention, and will inevitably attract unwanted attention.

My recommendation? Find a public bench and enjoy the time for yourself. If you do, the music will attract desirable attention.

Hi Jaime I was a working musician for most of my adult life, So one plays whatever is required but busking you get to play
what you want.
We played sort of skiffle-esk ,big fan of Bob wills and the Texas Playboys sadly not a genre of music that anyone was really interested in those days and I got the chance to play my banjo

 

[Tom]

In my experience, it depends on your appearance and demeanor, your location, and the mood of Jonny Law. I, for one, would not busk outside an establishment without the owner’s blessing.

 

[Tom]

Hi Jaime I was a working musician for most of my adult life, So one plays whatever is required but busking you get to play
what you want.
We played sort of skiffle-esk ,big fan of Bob wills and the Texas Playboys sadly not a genre of music that anyone was really interested in those days and I got the chance to play my banjo

Wow! Good man! I’ve actually got Red Wing, Take Me Back to Tulsa and San Antonio Rose on my list…. As Merle Haggard once said, “Best dam fiddler in the world!”

 

[Plinky]

In my experience, it depends on your appearance and demeanor, your location, and the mood of Jonny Law. I, for one, would not busk outside an establishment without the owner’s blessing.

Tom this might be useful or uselessWe did numerous openings book shops ,restaurants etc,if you make yourself up some flyers and drop them into local businesses ,offering to play for some promotion or an opening any occasion you would be surprised at how many people will take you up on the offer.

 

[Plinky]

Wow! Good man! I’ve actually got Red Wing, Take Me Back to Tulsa and San Antonio Rose on my list…. As Merle Haggard once said, “Best dam fiddler in the world!”

Tom wonderful band and wonderful genre and it still really irritates me 40 years on people will pay you to play melody less, absolute dross ! but you couldn't find a single venue in London that wanted Western swing...................sorry for the rant

 

[Tom]

Tom this might be useful or uselessWe did numerous openings book shops ,restaurants etc,if you make yourself up some flyers and drop them into local businesses ,offering to play for some promotion or an opening any occasion you would be surprised at how many people will take you up on the offer.

Hey, great idea, thanks Plinky! Getting my promotional material going is part of this year’s goal. I’m planning on 10 - 15 farmers markets this season, plus whatever else happens along so I’m not really looking for new stuff but once I have my materials and a repertoire of 40 - 50 down, I can branch out…. So many opportunities, so little time….

 

[Tom]

Tom wonderful band and wonderful genre and it still really irritates me 40 years on people will pay you to play melody less, absolute dross ! but you couldn't find a single venue in London that wanted Western swing...................sorry for the rant

Absolutely! Can you even name a band who swings harder? Not! Way over the head of these mere mortals you mention. Way, way back in the prehistoric days I played fiddle so of course, Bob’s your man…. I switched to accordion because it’s easier. Not that I am anything special in accordion but violin/fiddle destroyed me.

 

[Plinky]

Absolutely! Can you even name a band who swings harder? Not! Way over the head of these mere mortals you mention. Way, way back in the prehistoric days I played fiddle so of course, Bob’s your man…. I switched to accordion because it’s easier. Not that I am anything special in accordion but violin/fiddle destroyed me.

Tom thats really funny ,I will post a picture of my music room its like a music shop ,and I,ve been playing various instruments from around 10 years old and I've got relatively competent on most of them,but I would throw them all in the trash to play my violins with anything like a decent level of competency.They have been the bane of my life since I took lessons at 14 years old ,and its a constant disappoint to me and i,m now in my 60s

Without doubt the most wonderful instrument ever created by man,but to me sisyphus rock !

This this little video not only shows excellence,but at 7.15 her wonderful interpretation of Ives trad tunes is simply breath taking

 

[Pipemajor]

Last year I averaged $10 / hour

WOW!!, I make that $87,600.
Gotta give it a try
Or maybe you mean, when you're busking

 

[dak]

and I,ve been playing various instruments from around 10 years old and I've got relatively competent on most of them,but I would throw them all in the trash to play my violins with anything like a decent level of competency.

I play violin with a decent level of competency and it doesn't keep me away from my accordion. I probably should try to multitrack something at some point of time, just to see how it fits.

 

[Tom]

WOW!!, I make that $87,600.
Gotta give it a try
Or maybe you mean, when you're busking

$87,000 / hour? What are you, a plumber or something!

 

[Tom]

Tom thats really funny ,I will post a picture of my music room its like a music shop ,and I,ve been playing various instruments from around 10 years old and I've got relatively competent on most of them,but I would throw them all in the trash to play my violins with anything like a decent level of competency.They have been the bane of my life since I took lessons at 14 years old ,and its a constant disappoint to me and i,m now in my 60s

Without doubt the most wonderful instrument ever created by man,but to me sisyphus rock !

This this little video not only shows excellence,but at 7.15 her wonderful interpretation of Ives trad tunes is simply breath taking

Thanks Plinky, I’ll watch this later on the big screen. She is definitely phenomenal. I went through the restoration thing on the strings too, and kept only my favorite viola and two violins. Some day I will get back to them, but with a new attitude of fun, not criticality. Looking forward to your picture!

 

[Tom]

I play violin with a decent level of competency and it doesn't keep me away from my accordion. I probably should try to multitrack something at some point of time, just to see how it fits.

Let’s do a combo! Some time I’m not working so hard, your violin and my accordion. Could be fun!

 

[Plinky]

I play violin with a decent level of competency and it doesn't keep me away from my accordion. I probably should try to multitrack something at some point of time, just to see how it fits.

Hi dak sounds great would love to hear it.
I have dipped in and out over the years hoping a sabbatical would somehow kick start the disciplines for grades ,but to me it's a truly horrible instrument you can hear and feel every imperfection.
I don't think I'm suited to an instrument that requires perfect intonationFrets or hard or soft is probably my limit,perhaps in the next life

 

[Tom]

Hi dak sounds great would love to hear it.
I have dipped in and out over the years hoping a sabbatical would somehow kick start the disciplines for grades ,but to me it's a truly horrible instrument you can hear and feel every imperfection.
I don't think I'm suited to an instrument that requires perfect intonationFrets or hard or soft is probably my limit,perhaps in the next life

My sentiments exactly. I know right where the off notes are on my accordion…. Wish my local tuner didn’t expire.