Message Board

Message Time: 27th of May 2008, at 12:05 am
From: Jez
Message: It was Churchill who said 'jaw jaw not war war'. Rather than report unsociable buskers to the Police it is far better to nicely ask them to be more considerate. I was specifically invited by Bath Festival organizers to entertain people at a "Street party" on the Opening night (23 May 2008) and I was disappointed that despite a really good atmosphere in the city centre (amongst the public who seemed to be having fun) that night an angry resident pitched into us really aggressively.Nobody complains about the church bells going off in the early hours or the yob culture that spills out of the clubs late at night. City centres are not quiet places. I am not making an excuse for noise but the issue of amplification has been raised. Really it should be noise level (decibels) rather than amplification. My acoustic guitar is simply not heard. Having said that the community police cautioned me about my small amplifier and yet were seen dancing to the extraordinarily noisy music of a ten piece electrified band that had cables trewn across the pavement outside WH Smith. Dont pick on the small guy.Everyone talks of regulation.
I do think the best regulation is self regulation because some buskers are homeless and it raises their spirits and people pay. You wont regulate them in a months of sundays. I am slightly wary about auditions as we dont want every busker in Bath just playing Vivaldi. I'm sorry but Bath is very conservative.
It is the variety I believe that makes Bath busking fairly special.
It is part of Bath Tourism and busking brings soul to an otherwise fairly
soul less city. On the point about repetition unfortunately most musicians have a limited set of tunes. I generally ask shopkeepers if they mind me playing if I pitch outside their shop. I won't mention the busker who only knows two or three songs and is out of tune but he probably works the crowds better than anyone else!. Busking is one of the last freedoms in Britain. I say lets talk and be aware that we need to co-exist but buskers regulate themselves by and large. Nobody is complaining about the fact that bath is now Britain's most polluted city because of traffic!
There is a protocol and there is a sense of community amongst buskers.It is a delicate balance. I hope all this makes sense. I stumbled across this site by chance and being a busker I thought I would add my half pence worth! I have met some wonderful musicians on the streets of Bath and made new friends including the fantastic Slovakian violinists Eva and Maria who put a smile on the face of Bathonians!

Message Time: 23rd of February 2008, at 7:36 pm
From: al johnson
Message: Is there anyone here who remembers Jorge Mabuza the sax player who died in 1999?

Message Time: 25th of January 2008, at 3:30 pm
From: webmaster
Message: This is a message for John - you sent me a message about your new website for performers, but the email didn't include your email or the website address, so I can't respond. Could you contact me again? I would like to have a look at your site.

Message Time: 30th of August 2007, at 11:17 am
From: jasper hardhat
Message: ya need some help on finding out about busking reg's in London can anyone help, cheers you'll find me at the synergy center thank you

Message Time: 22nd of August 2007, at 10:35 am
From: Your Neighbours
Message: To the grey-haired 'busker' who plays the same half a dozen Eagles songs over and over again every day in Abbey Churchyard.

1.) If we see you and your friends drinking alcohol in the square again we will report you to the Police.

2.) If we see your friend abusing his jack russell dog again we'll call the RSPCA and the Police.

Because of you and your friends' behaviour, the Council is considering banning busking from Abbey Churchyard.

You and your mates are spoiling things for everybody else.

GO AWAY.

Your neighbours

Message Time: 21st of August 2007, at 2:38 pm
From: Slomo
Message: Dear Bath Buskers

Here are some comments made in a spirit of helping you to get along with your neighbours.

Most buskers in Bath don't seem to be particularly aware that, while part of their audience may just be passing through, there are hundreds of people who live and work in earshot of your regular pitches who have to listen to you every day - often several times every day. It would be courteous and considerate to your captive audience to vary your repertoire a bit. Even those of us with a fairly high boredom threshold find several renditions a day, every day, of the same handful of tunes a little taxing.

Also, it’s a myth that drink or drugs enhance musical performance. I appreciate that it may seem that way to you, but you are SO wrong. Take it from your listeners that when you are drunk you are invariably dire and a nuisance.

On this topic, it might also be wise to persuade drunken friends and their sundry dogs to stay at home, too. They do rather tend to drive away or alienate a lot of the audience who might otherwise put money in the hat.

Tuning up your instrument is always helpful, as is singing somewhere roughly in the vicinity of the key that you are playing in. Transposing a song into a key that you are more comfortable singing in is not only better for your voice (its a tool of the trade so you really should respect it) but is also more enjoyable for your listeners.

Most of your captive audience will turn a blind eye to the use of amplification if it is quite obviously used to give a little reinforcement to a delicate and nuanced delivery which would otherwise be inaudible (Mr Classical Guitarist, take a bow). Anything else is OTT and is against the rules published elsewhere on your own site. Hiding your amp in a bag doesn't fool anyone either.

Yes, it's part of the rock 'n roll lifestyle to flaunt rules and be a rebel. However, your captive audience will not appreciate a flagrant disrespect for their comfort and hearing, and may well be tempted to shop you to Environmental Health or the Community Support Officers.

Lastly, do accept that putting money in the hat is discretionary, not compulsory. Some of your audience may just want to sit quietly and rest their bones whilst admiring the lovely view. However, they are compelled to listen to you and to have your selection of music thrust upon them. Strangely, some of them may not appreciate this.

Listening to a busker is not like attending a concert of one's choice. The punters didn't ask to hear you, so it is their prerogative NOT to pay you. Deal with it - don’t use your website to complain about it.

Also, have you considered that if very few people are giving you money it may be a hint that you’re just not very good?

The best way to get more money in the hat is to entertain people well and respect them, rather than to berate and alienate them.

Here's to an enjoyable summer

Slomo

Message Time: 17th of August 2007, at 12:31 pm
From: Grumpy 2
Message: The glockenspeil player played in Abbey Square this morning from 10am to 11am. He them moved around the corner (still in earshot of the square) and played for another hour. It is now 12 and he has just started up again in Abbey Square.
This is not fair to other buskers. I’m sure everyone wants to take advantage of every opportunity, but this does seem a little excessive not mention repetitive…

Message Time: 10th of August 2007, at 12:06 pm
From: George
Message: As there seems to be a rogue glockenspiel player around, let me just make it clear that I'm not the guilty party. I haven't busked with my glock in Bath for ages. Unless they've changed the rules, then it's one hour you're allowed, not thirty minutes. Usually though if you want a pitch you can come to some agreement with the person who's using it to take it over at the end of their hour. If you've approached this person, and he's refused to cooperate, you can always report him to the Council and get him banned altogether.
With regard amplification, the rules do prohibit it, but some quiet instruments would be useless without it. As long as you're not blasting away, and keeping a reasonable volume (i.e. no more than most buskers make without amplification), then I can't see that it should cause any problem.

Message Time: 3rd of August 2007, at 12:50 pm
From: Grumpy
Message: I would like to remind buskers - particularly the glockenspeil player that buskers are only supposed to stay 30mins in each pitch. At this stage it is 12.47 on Friday and he is just moving off after having been in the Abbey square since before 10am. Do you have anyway of monitoring yourselves because I think that one person flouting the rules and people's patience really detracts from our enjoyment of other buskers who respect the rules and doesn't seem very fair as doesn't give anyone else a go.

Message Time: 2nd of August 2007, at 2:33 pm
From: Ian Sings
Message: Whats all this about not allowing amplification equipment? Is it allowed to have a speaker playing background music which one then sings to? (no microphone) because if not then my Opera Jukebox is up the spout :-) .. ian