If you have the soul of an artist, like to make people laugh or know a few magic tricks, here is an idea that could be made for you. Busking is one of the oldest jobs in the world, but it is still very successful. In this article, we’ll explore how to get started, the artistic disciplines that best suit this activity, and other important topics that will help you on your journey as a street artist.
- Here's the program
- What is a Street Artist?
- What are the Best Artistic Disciplines for the Street?
- How to Get Started
- Little Extra
- Tips and Tricks
- Conclusion
- EcoTips
- Pros and Cons
- Information recap
What is a Street Artist?
Also known as “buskers”, you’ve probably seen them—street artists are those men or women who captivate passersby at busy intersections or shopping streets with their talent and creativity. Jugglers, musicians, living statues, or magicians, these artists bring a touch of magic to our daily lives. Their art, often seen as fleeting, transforms urban spaces into open stages, inviting spectators to pause and admire unique performances.
Behind each show lies true dedication. Being a street artist means choosing a form of free expression without the constraints of a traditional stage. It’s also a way to share one’s passion while experiencing moments of connection with the audience.
For some, it’s a side income or a way to finance a project such as studies, for others, it’s a way of life. Whatever the motivation, these artists bring a warm, human element to our cities, reminding us that art can be accessible to everyone, anytime.
I a street performer make you stop walking, you owe him a buck.
– PinterestWhat are the Best Artistic Disciplines for the Street?
The world of street art is rich and diverse, offering a multitude of opportunities for those who wish to share their talent with the public. Whether you can make making people laugh, move them, or amaze them, the street can become your stage and your talents your means of expression. Here’s an overview of the different forms of street art capable of captivating passers-by:
- Jugglers and Acrobats: Master the art of juggling or acrobatic tricks, impressing spectators with their agility and coordination.
- Sketch Artists and Caricaturists: Capture the features of passersby with humor or realism, offering memorable portraits.
- Living Statues: Fascinate with their ability to remain motionless for long periods, surprising passersby when they suddenly come to life.
- Magicians: Amaze with captivating magic tricks that leave the audience in awe.
- Dancers: Transform the street into a dance floor, enchanting spectators with their rhythmic and graceful movements.
- Musicians: Delight with lively or moving melodies, adding a musical touch to urban life.
- Singers: Use their voice to attract the attention of passersby (with a speaker playing the accompanying music), creating a warm atmosphere.
- Clowns: Bring laughter and joy, often with interactive performances and colorful costumes.
- Puppeteers: Bring puppets to life with captivating stories that entertain both children and adults.
- Poets: Recite touching or humorous poems, inviting passersby to reflect or smile.
- Graffiti Artists: Create ephemeral artworks on urban surfaces, transforming the visual environment.
If you have one of these talents, or any other that can be performed on the street, you could easily make enough money to live on, just with your few daily representations. What will make the difference is, of course, the place where you perform but especially the quality of your performances. The more people are emotionally touched by your art, the more successful you will be.
Drawing, whether artistic or caricature, requires a little equipment and a lot of talent, but is perfectly suited to street performance. Photo by Roman KraftHow to Get Started
To successfully start as a street artist, it is essential to choose strategic locations with high foot traffic. Observe potential spots to identify the best times of day. Prepare your performances by considering the environment and the type of audience you want to reach. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different styles and refine your act based on the reactions of passersby. Each experience is an opportunity to learn and improve your performance.
Whatever you do, remember that talent and originality always pay off. So make sure you put on a show that passers-by won’t soon forget. And if you don’t have any talent but you like this idea, you can always disguise yourself (Charlie Chaplin is a classic) and walk the streets clowning around. Even if you feel awkward at first, you’ll eventually find a style that appeals and motivates onlookers to find a few coins in their pockets.
For nomadic souls, it can be a great way to travel the world and meet exciting people (many already do). And then, if the weather is not too good for your performances, you can always practice your art in the subway. Be aware, however, that this activity (street or subway) is regulated by law in many countries. First, find out if you need a permit or not.
The Importance of Interacting with Spectators
Interaction with the public is essential for a street artist. It transforms a simple performance into a shared experience, creating a connection between the artist and the spectators. A smile, a knowing glance, or a small anecdote can capture attention and encourage passersby to stop. By involving the audience in your show, you can make each performance unique and memorable, thereby increasing your chances of receiving donations.
To succeed in this interaction, be attentive to the public’s reactions and adapt to their expectations. Don’t hesitate to invite spectators to participate, whether by applauding, singing along, or even joining the performance. Create a friendly and engaging atmosphere. Show yourself to be accessible and open to dialogue; this will enhance your stage presence and leave a positive impression on passersby, encouraging them to drop a few coins.
Little Extra
UA way to earn more money would be to offer audio CDs of your music or songs, or DVDs containing videos of your best artistic performances. You could also sell other stuff like small musical instruments or any other goodies related to your art. It’s just an idea, but it’s worth exploring.
If you want to know more, I invite you to visit the excellent website busk.co which gathers the largest community of “Street performers” in the world. You will find a lot of useful information. Otherwise, there are other dedicated platforms that you can easily find via a simple Google search.
Also, think about your presence on social networks. This will allow you to keep in touch with the people you’ve met, to promote your goodies, but also to indicate the places of your next performances.
Animals in Street Art
It’s not uncommon to see street artists accompanied by a dog. These faithful companions can add a warm dimension to the performance, attracting attention and creating a bond with the public. However, it is essential to ensure the well-being of the animal, making sure it is comfortable in the noisy and busy street environment, and not forcing it to learn tricks it clearly does not want to perform.
On the other hand, using exotic animals in your performances is highly discouraged. Not only does this raise safety concerns for the public and yourself, but it also poses ethical issues related to the animal’s well-being. Additionally, regulations on the use of exotic animals are often strict, and violators can face severe penalties.
Unlike dogs and cats, which have been accustomed to living alongside humans for centuries, exotic animals are wild creatures. Their place is in nature, where they can live freely and follow their instincts without constraint, not with humans.
Tips and Tricks
Here are a few additional tips, some covering subjects I haven’t touched on, that can help you succeed as a street artist.
- Choose Strategic Hours: Favor peak hours or times during major local events to maximize your audience.
- Create a Unique Character: Develop a visual identity or distinctive costume that grabs the attention of passersby.
- Use Live social media: Share your performances in real-time on social media to reach a wider audience and attract spectators. Platforms like Twitch, Facebook and YouTube make this easy.
- Have an Eye-catching Sign: Use a creative sign with information about you, your performance, and your social media to encourage passersby to learn more.
- Prepare Multiple Sets: Have different performances ready to vary your show and surprise regular passersby.
- Accept Digital Payments: Offer modern payment methods like money transfer apps to facilitate donations. Make sure to clearly indicate this on your display board.
- Use the Environment: Integrate elements of the urban environment into your performance, like benches or lamp posts, to add an interactive dimension.
- Offer Spontaneous Workshops: Organize short workshops or demonstrations for interested passersby, which can encourage them to stay and contribute.
- Interact with Other Artists: Collaborate with other street artists for combined performances, creating an even more attractive show.
- Gather Testimonials: Ask spectators to leave comments or reviews that you can use to promote your future performances.
- Prepare Business Cards: Distribute cards with your contact information and social media links to encourage word-of-mouth.
- Be Attentive to Safety: Ensure the safety of spectators and your equipment to avoid any accidents during performances.
- Emphasize Authenticity: Share personal stories or anecdotes related to your art to generate empathy and create a stronger connection with your audience.
Conclusion
Becoming a street artist offers a unique freedom of expression and the opportunity to reach a wide audience. Authenticity, creativity, and engagement with spectators are key elements for success. By developing a personal style and staying open to improvement opportunities, you can transform each performance into a memorable experience. The important thing is to persevere, learn from each interaction, and continually refine your art.
The future of street art looks promising, with growing attention from communities and cities recognizing the cultural and social value of these performances. Street artists have the ability to enrich public spaces and bring people together, making our cities more lively and dynamic. By exploring new forms of expression and adapting to technological changes, this activity will continue to attract new talents.
What about you? What do you think about it? Have you ever considered becoming a street artist? What motivates or holds you back from starting such an activity? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
EcoTips
Environmental and climate change issues are more than ever at the heart of the concerns of this 21st century, which is why I am proposing a few ideas that will enable you to limit the negative impact that the implementation of this idea could have.
These solutions that I suggest are sometimes largely insufficient to compensate for these negative impacts, such as carbon offsetting. Unfortunately, there is not always an ideal and 100% efficient solution, far from it. And if you have others, please do not hesitate to share them in the comments below.
As far as greenhouse gas emissions are concerned, we are in the green here, so no particular advice. For your travels, just give preference to public transport or soft modes of transport, like cycling to limit your carbon footprint.
On the other hand, if you want to travel a long way, be sure to take the train instead of the plane or, if it’s not possible, you can offset your carbon emissions through carbonfund.org, purprojet.com or goodplanet.org.
Pros
- The freedom to practice your art anywhere
- The human contact
- The possibility to travel
- Flexible working hours
- Personal enrichment through encounters
Cons
- Income can be random
- Dependence on the weather conditions
- Strict regulations in certain areas
- A life not always made up of comfort
Info
- Location: The crowded places are of course the best ones.
- Investment: It depends greatly on the type of performance practiced but generally quite low.
- Earnings perspective: Variable but at least a complementary income if you have a minimum of talent.
- Required: Having talent and originality is a real advantage.
- Risk level: No big investment so no risk. If it doesn’t work out, you can always move and find a better place.
- Implementation time: Very fast. You can start tomorrow.
- Material needed: Depends on the art you practice.
I’d like to add a little testimonial from Jo, a very nice guy I met on Twitter who’s been a traveling musician for a few years. Here’s what he told me: “The little extra that made the hat take off was that on the road, I met two other people, and so we were able to put together a little show in which music was the medium but not the main attraction. We added burlesque, fire, juggling and a trick or two with the dogs (my dog Black, a white shepherd who passed the hat around, was a hit).”