List: STREET MUSICIANS
It's hard enough standing on stage, pouring your heart out in front of a sea of strange faces. Try doing it while that sea is floating by (ie, on a street-corner). It takes guts, it takes balls, but, apparently, it also pays off. We checked in with a few of the metropolitan-maestros within walking distance of our office to get their stats. Consider the following as inspiration to get up, get out and do something. Sure, a gig at Madison Square Garden can buy you a mansion, but playing Union Square Station pays pretty good too.
Name: Tripp Dudley
Location: Union Square Park West
Tripp plays his bongo as backup for a tap dancer that refused to give her name. Could have something to do with the dough they’re pulling in.
Average Tips: $75 / hour
Name: The Broken Bottle Band
Location: Washington Square Park
These displaced Hurricane Katrina refugees get by traveling the country as musicians and clowns. Incredibly, when we asked about money, they said they’d “never really counted before going to the liquor store.”
Average Tips: $200 / day
Name: John H.
Location: Herald Square Subway Station
John H. couldn't give his last name due to “contractual obligations.” He is a professional drummer that uses the street as a “practice space.”
Average Tips: $150 / day
Name: Shogo Kubo
Location: Union Square Subway Station
Shogo claims to be “decently well-known” but still plays every chance he gets. Really, EVERY CHANCE HE GETS.
Average tips: $100 - $150 / day
Name: Andrew Duncan
Location: Union Square Park East
Andrew has only been playing in the park for two weeks. We’re assuming this is beer money or cash for new strings.
Average Tips: $75 - $150 / day
Name: Robert John Bucock aka The Naked Cowboy
Location: Times Square
The Naked Cowboy has been playing in a g-string and boots and a hat in Times Square for over 10 years, inspiring many to copy his nude success.
Average Tips: $1000 in ten hours
Nothing wrong with getting paid to play. End of story. But how do our guys compare to those in your neck of the woods? We’d like to know. Really. Send up some pics and stats, we’re going to compile a map and get back to you. And if you know you’re going to be playing on the street someday, let everyone know in your promoter.
Name: Tripp Dudley
Location: Union Square Park West
Tripp plays his bongo as backup for a tap dancer that refused to give her name. Could have something to do with the dough they’re pulling in.
Average Tips: $75 / hour
Name: The Broken Bottle Band
Location: Washington Square Park
These displaced Hurricane Katrina refugees get by traveling the country as musicians and clowns. Incredibly, when we asked about money, they said they’d “never really counted before going to the liquor store.”
Average Tips: $200 / day
Name: John H.
Location: Herald Square Subway Station
John H. couldn't give his last name due to “contractual obligations.” He is a professional drummer that uses the street as a “practice space.”
Average Tips: $150 / day
Name: Shogo Kubo
Location: Union Square Subway Station
Shogo claims to be “decently well-known” but still plays every chance he gets. Really, EVERY CHANCE HE GETS.
Average tips: $100 - $150 / day
Name: Andrew Duncan
Location: Union Square Park East
Andrew has only been playing in the park for two weeks. We’re assuming this is beer money or cash for new strings.
Average Tips: $75 - $150 / day
Name: Robert John Bucock aka The Naked Cowboy
Location: Times Square
The Naked Cowboy has been playing in a g-string and boots and a hat in Times Square for over 10 years, inspiring many to copy his nude success.
Average Tips: $1000 in ten hours
Nothing wrong with getting paid to play. End of story. But how do our guys compare to those in your neck of the woods? We’d like to know. Really. Send up some pics and stats, we’re going to compile a map and get back to you. And if you know you’re going to be playing on the street someday, let everyone know in your promoter.
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Cheryl B. Engelhardt says
I play monthly in Quincy Market in Boston. To perform, you have to audition, but once you're on the roster, it takes a few times to get used to passing crowds. After a few shows, it's a really good time- grab busy people's attention for a few moments, hopefully sell a CD or two (i usually sell about 10/hour at $10 a pop) and get some tips. Another bonus to the high audience-turnaround rate is that I can play my favorite songs more than once in a set and chances are people haven't heard it yet. Street performing is a great way for me to practice performing, with a lot of distractions and stuff to look at, it makes me focus so that when I get on a real stage, I feel SO relaxed and in my element.screaminrr says
The Naked Cowboy rocks. Check out his debut album "what the Naked Cowboy wants to hear" at Itunes. It rocks !!! Or check out his 24/7 webcam at nakedcowboy.tvSOLARMAGIC says
I've been contemplating it for some time...when I'm ready it will probably be at the St. Petersburg PierBent And Twisted says
Here in Denver, we have the 16th street mall downtown. All the way from Broadway to Market, at various times of the day there's about 30 different guys playing acoustic guitars or saxaphones, violins, there's even two brothers from Peru that play native instruments and songs. On the average, a guy can make $75-$100 per day. Myself, I started doing it daily in May of '99, and continued through December 2004. Now, since I've been working with Bent & Twisted, I only get down there once or twice a month, but it's alot of fun, great practice, and pretty good tips, too.I generally play classic rock from America to Zeppelin, (mostly 60's and 70's hits). The people strolling by always seem to enjoy it, but my best time seems to be between 10 PM and 2 AM. Best take ever: $650.00 on New Years eve 2001
Truett & the Traitors says
wow....location, location, location, that's all i have to say about that. here in springfield, MO, we don't have any regulars that i know of. the music industry is not too lucrative around these parts. there is a guy in St. Louis that is always playing his trombone after Cardinals games but i have no idea how much he makes.-chris
Kari Ann says
NYC baby! he also had a cameo (him or a look-alike) singing the spiderman song in one of the movies don't remember if it was 1 or 2mattyvan says
where does mr naked cowboy put all that dough?