It’s been 12 years that I’m doing music semi-professionally. I say semi because though I try to be professional in all I do, the truth is I never managed to make a living of my music until I started busking.
Being a singer/songwriter accompanying herself on a piano for years, I had never thought of busking (the keyboard being a little bit of a problem to transport).
When I moved to London, I saw that you could busk in the Tube. There there’s power to plug a keyboard onto and I thought that maybe it could be a great way to promote myself.
I sent an email in 2009 asking when I could pass an audition. 3 years later, I’m still waiting to hear from TFL (Transport for London). Then I started learning guitar in 2010 with busking at the back of my mind. But lack of time and practice made me realize how hard it would be learn an hour of repertoire. In 2011, I started The A Cappella Sessions project. An EP and then an album completely A Cappella. And I bought a loop pedal with batteries that meant I could busk in the streets. I already had a small battery powered amp, a microphone, a jack and an XLR cable.
With a friend of mine I had busked once with covers she was playing on the guitar while I sang. We made £4.20 in an hour before a security guard told us to go. I also did 15 minutes of busking in Sheffield but I used a small amp with an horrible sound so it didn’t last very long but still someone gave me £0.50.
These two experiences didn’t deter me from going busking. On the contrary, they showed me that people were willing to reward someone entertaining with a few bucks. Also, it was a soothing experience, seeing for the first time these few bucks come into my hat, when I never get paid to do open mics and rarely am to do concerts too.
Fast forward to 2012, I’m hurrying to finish my album The A Cappella Sessions to sell it on my busking tour of Australia. I’m rehearsing like mad on my loop pedal to have an hour worth of music. I have decided on a whim I would go busking in Australia for 2 months and film the adventure.
May 14, 2012: It’s my first day busking in Sydney. I don’t know the city. I’ve got a busking permit, and walk from pitch to pitch to end up with $10.85 at the end of the day. My feet are full of blisters, I’m tired and I tell myself: “what the hell were you thinking?”
July 17, 2012: I’m on the plane back to Paris and I’ve made it! A little bit more than 2 months surviving uniquely on the generosity of people in the street. I’ve met fabulous people and spent incredible moments during this busking tour of Australia.
What’s in between? My blog that you can read day by day here: www.junecaravel.com
The videos of the documentary that you can see here: Busking in Australia (ENG)
I’m returning home with the conviction that busking is an exchange, a fabulous experience. I made much more money in 2 months with my music than I did in the last 3 years. And I feel so much more confident that I can live from my music now.
Best,
June