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Post by jbone on Dec 15, 2019 0:36:42 GMT -5
We did good playing on the street even though Jo was hurting- her back bothered her the whole time and she chose to tough it out. A $5 and a $20 plus some singles. That's a good hour! Tomorrow we'll use our chairs instead of the bench we found there. Weather is about to get too cool to busk.
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Post by jbone on Dec 16, 2019 8:14:54 GMT -5
Yesterday we headed back down onto Main St. Not as many folks out and about but we did get a few tips! And played well. My voice is acting up. I think I may need to give up the Altoids mints I am so fond of.
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Post by whitefang on Dec 16, 2019 10:26:11 GMT -5
Maybe back to the old hot tea and honey standby? Works with iced tea too I'm told..... Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Dec 16, 2019 22:27:44 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2019 11:37:48 GMT -5
jbone. Neat looking place. Have fun and make some bread too..
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Post by jbone on Dec 17, 2019 14:15:40 GMT -5
YEAH baby! They didn't blink on our price point.
And my voice is feeling better too. When I get out on a street scene and we're playing I tend to get louder and it strains my vocal cords. I'm recommitted to singing at a treasonable level.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2019 18:17:12 GMT -5
Hopefully the word will get around after a few gigs, and you two may be in demand at other places nearby as well as regular returns to that place..
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Post by jbone on Dec 17, 2019 23:04:17 GMT -5
Yeah DB, that's what we're hoping for. We have at least 2 more possible/probables but we have to wait a few days and check back. Considering the time of year I'm pretty surprised we even have 2 dates locked for next month and maybe 2 more.
Be nice to get in a month cycle. We could range farther out to say Kerrville, Boerne, and Fredericksburg, but then there's travel and all. These venues are all within about 10 minutes of home base!
I'm hoping Saturday will be warm enough to get back down on Main Street for one more busking trip this year. Next couple of days are pretty cold but we can hope.
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Post by whitefang on Dec 18, 2019 10:43:03 GMT -5
I'm a bit amused with the term you use, "busking". Never having been a pro musician I wasn't familiar with it. And a few of the pros I do know claim to have never used it either, as they tell me the term usually refers to people who perform "on the spot", as on street corners or other public places with no set agreement with any authority and set pay rate. More or less like "passing the hat".
Seems more like something I'd rather do to augment my regular income. Like my wedding photography was. At the time, it( and my Santa Claus gig thirty years ago this month) was a way to help pay down the expenses racked up from the divorce from my first wife. And too, have a bit of extra jack in my wallet. But I was(for both) under the employ of 1.-- A long established photography studio based in Chicago, and(for Santa) the management of an established retail shopping center.
Takes guts to do what you're doing. More than I could muster anyway, and I wish you the best. Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Dec 18, 2019 22:20:04 GMT -5
I think it's an old English term.
That is exactly what we do many times. People do dig it when they are going from point A to point B, or walking around a farmers market. It's never been hugely lucrative but we've done ok sometimes. It will definitely help you get a hide if you don't have one! But the point is to turn on everybody we can from 1 to 101.
If a venue wants a free show we just won't do that. If they bring in some we want some!
I was once playing pretty much for the tip jar with a blues rock band, and I talked the band leader out of $30 as well. During the 2nd and 3rd sets a gal came and grabbed the tip jar and took it around. It ended up with like $90 in it and it was all mine plus the other $30! Nearly had a fight with the bass guy after the show over that. A deal is a deal though. After that gig I was hired on as an equal partner though. Tips were split 4 ways.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2019 14:47:14 GMT -5
I only gigged a few times at a local bar back in the late 60's. We were doing originals in an Avant Garde style, needless to say it did not go over well at a drinking club. They all wanted to hear familiar tunes which I understand. At that time I recognized that I did not want to perform for the public for pennies when I earned enough in my day job to equal what the venue paid the whole band per night. I never really wanted to deal with the public anyways. So playing music became a beloved hobby for me. To this day I do not want to perform for the public. But I practice like I want to be ready if a gig ever comes up.
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Post by whitefang on Dec 20, 2019 10:23:05 GMT -5
At the very least it pays better than playing "air guitar" in the shower! Whitefang
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Post by jbone on Dec 23, 2019 20:45:31 GMT -5
We got gas $$ plus. Going back tomorrow I think.
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Post by jbone on Dec 28, 2019 23:27:26 GMT -5
We're stepping up our efforts to book dates. Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and Boerne, all within an hour of here, Jo found several events and fests that I just sent feelers out to. The time of year it is makes quick replies unlikely but I wanted to get a foot in the door if possible.
Fredericksburg has a lot of wineries and restaurants so there's more to do there, along with the smaller towns of Kerrville and Boerne.
As for Bandera there is maybe one or two more places to hit up, otherwise it's about waiting, or checking back after the New Year.
Not retired. ReCAREERED.
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Post by jbone on Dec 30, 2019 16:43:31 GMT -5
We're throwing the net a bit wider to communities within about 30 minutes of here. Fests and farmers markets, and we did hit up some local fests right here too. So far we have an open ended invite to busk at a farmers market 25 miles away, which we will do when the temps are agreeable. It's just a bit too cool now. If it would get up to 70 we'd be all set, but it's hovering in the 50's and 60's, not conducive to Jolene playing outdoors.
The beat goes on....
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