Busker Etiquette

One of the main problems we face as buskers is infighting. This is caused by a lack of busker etiquette. I have been busking since 2004 and fighting for buskers rights since 2008. In that time I have come across a lot of buskers and have heard stories and had plenty of experiences that could be helpful to other buskers. One of the problems buskers face is dealing with spots and how they are occupied. Some buskers follow a 1st come 1st serve rule, while others stake a claim on a spot and hold it down. Both principles are right to some extent. 1st come first serve generally works for the majority of spots, but there are spots and times it does not work. Some spots are nothing if it was not for the busker that occupies them. Literally they came every day and built an audience and made that spot into a thriving area. Then along comes newbie and newbie see's the money "Grandpa" made and thinks he/she should be making that money too. So they inch in, slowly day by day until they take over and run Grandpa out.  Then they fail miserably and scream at the crowd while they fail...
Why? 1 because Grandpa built that audience. Grandpa made that spot a space and it was literally grandpa's skills holding it together. Grandpa was pulling 25 an hour in the spot and you can't even pull 5 there. There are several reasons. 1 karma. believe it or not it applies to busking. You tried to move in on an established spot and expected the same results a seasoned busker was getting. 2 Grandpa has been there a while, he has a lot of return customers/ patrons. 3 Grandpa probably made peace with the businesses in the area and has a report with them. This gets more business his way because the businesses up talk him to their customers. 4 Grandpa has been at this for a while so chances are he knows a thing or two about advertising, and a web presence, which also helps patrons find him... He probably has social media and a good following as well.  5. The spot in question has been filled by Grandpa day by day, for years, and now here you come wanting to take it. His patrons wont be too keen on that. His friends also wont be too keen on that. A lot of passerby's that know him also wont be too happy about it. You just pissed off your audience, good job.  6. Chances are if Grandpa has an established spot, he earned it. More often than not, Grandpa went out and got special permission to occupy said spot. So expect a battle when you try and take his established spot.

When I go out and busk area's that are not in my set spot, I am well aware of others established spots and I make it a personal note to stay out of their spots. I can make any spot my own, I don't need to mess with the spaces others take up.  Now that being said when it comes to my personal spot I get territorial, but I also jumped through a lot of hoops and red tape to establish my spot. I also spend a lot of time and money on advertising that I will be in said spot.  I also know that if someone tries to take my spot I can set up right next to them and either the fumes from my paint, or the crowds I make will result in them leaving shortly after. I usually don't have to do much of anything to get competition to leave me be.

This, however, is not the case with all buskers.
Some musicians will set up next to a busker that has to pitch with their voice, and then blast music. Not even caring about how they are messing up the other buskers pitch/ ability to make money.
Some buskers will move into an already crowded area, and try and run off other buskers.
Buskers often will try and take other buskers established area, by rushing out hours before the busking times just to lay stake on a claim of a spot, then will waste the spot all day by drinking and socializing with people. They stake a claim so they can busk at 5 to 7 the prime time, meanwhile a productive busker would have been busking that spot the whole time they were there.

None of this is productive to the cause. It results in fighting and arguments, which leads to laws and regulations being created that puts further restrictions on our freedom of speech.
Often buskers will intimidate each other and threaten with physical violence or calling the police. Neither of these things are productive either. If you are fighting with another busker, that is two people losing out on money. You make yourself and the other person look bad and effectively ruin it for all the other buskers as well. This is what gives us a bad reputation.

If a busker offended you in some way, try and openly communicate with them first. Try to do it with respect even if you feel disrespected. Maybe they are blissfully unaware that they somehow offended you.  If communication doesn't solve the problem, move on over, let them have the spot and engage in fierce competition with them. Perhaps when they see they haven't moved you or that you are making all the money they will leave. If they over power you with sound, come back the next day with some sounds of your own to over power them. Or just step away, post to social media your spot is changing and take all the business with you... Karma will get them. Chances are if they are trying to take your spot they aren't very skilled and the crowd, and a lack of making money will result in them leaving a few days after taking your spot anyway... Stay close by so you can reestablish your spot.
If your spot is a special permission area, contact the person who gave you permission and have them deal with the other busker. No need to let it get dramatic.  If the spot is first come first serve and no one has any real claim over it, then who ever got there first that day has claim over it. You can share.

A lot of problems with busking is, buskers don't consider each others needs and feelings. A lot of buskers do it to make a living and that is all they have. So they may not only feel offended but also threatened that you are stepping on their toes and their livelihood.  So open communication is the key of dealing with these sorts of problems. Another key is the golden rule. Try and consider how you would feel if you had your toes stepped on by another busker. Try to think how it feels when you find a key spot that works well for you but some asshole thinks they should have it because they see you succeed but they haven't even established a skill set yet...  Instead of getting mad talk to them, maybe they just don't know. It took busking for you to establish your skills, maybe that is all they are trying to do... If you work it out with people chances are there wont be any reason for the police to show up..

So another problem we face as buskers is drugs and alcohol. Hey we all have our vices, but if you are performing live in front of an audience, maybe don't be stinking drunk.. Maybe save the shots for after you are done for the day... Smoke (that's fine, step away and take a break)  Medicate with MMJ that is OK too, step away and take a break.... Like flirting with women.... Also OK, but maybe consider saving that for the bars... Everything you do is reflecting not only on you, but on other buskers as well. You ogle women all day, they will start saying buskers are perverts... You show up stinking drunk and they will start talking about how buskers are alcoholics. Do drugs in front of people, well now we are all druggies... Consider these things when you are out in public. You can ruin the whole setup for everyone with your actions. Consider that.

Cops shouldn't be called unless there is danger.
 Busking spots can be shared.
Spots are 1st come 1st serve. (Unless a busker has special permissions which they gained by jumping through certain hoops and red tape. Or if the spots are assigned via a lottery or permit.)
 It is rude to crowd other buskers.
It is rude to perform a loud amplified pitch if near a busker that must use their voice to make their pitch.
 Fighting among each other results in police being called and sometimes regulations to be created resulting in the loss of rights.
 Buskers can be territorial.
: If you treat other buskers how you want to be treated chances are, you will never have problems.
 Be aware of the areas you busk, try to find a spot of your own rather than take a spot others busk.

Buskers Learn To talk things out. Work them out with your words, not with violence or calling the police. Remember everything you do in the public eye is a reflection on all of us. Your attitude and behavior dictates your ability to make money. You can not make money busking if you are busy fighting with others. You are there because you want to be free, have fun and make money try and remember that. Above all try not to take things so seriously.

Sometimes we must look past our own egos to see the full picture. If you don't look at the others reasoning all you are going to see is your own hurt. If you STOP and LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, you can see why each person is offended and be able to work it out in a way that benefits one another. There are lots of ways to make peace. PEACE takes a lot of work, but it is a lot easier than war!