MichaelAndrewLo
377 posts
May 15, 2010
8:54 PM
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So this June 14th I'm taking off to go to France and "couchsurf" and stay in hostels. Basically living the wandering life for a little while. I'm flying into Paris and gonna make my way down to Toulouse to visit with an old girlfriend :) Of course I'll be bringing my harps and besides to share my excitement about my trip, I was wondering if anybody could give pointers about where to busk in Paris, or around, or even in Toulouse! Any tips/difference/opinions are appreciated. Thanks!
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EddieT
4 posts
May 15, 2010
11:09 PM
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Hi Michael,
I had to look up busking, so I am not sure if I am a good source, but there is always a huge crowd at the Eiffel Tower. People are standing around waiting in line to get to the elevator. So I think a bunch of bored tourists might work out well for you. There is also a huge park outside of the Louvre. Although I can't remember seeing any performers at either place. I would recommend going to the Latin Quarter. It is a prime location to stay if you want to see the city, but it is also has little cafes (bars) and some have live music (jazz etc.).
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-Edward Tomaine
http://www.youtube.com/user/HungTaoChoyMei
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mikolune
24 posts
May 15, 2010
11:38 PM
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Hi MAL,
Beaubourg, in Paris, is definitely a buskers favorite. many tourists come to the exhibits, students to the library, all hang around and sit on the cobble stone plaza in front of it. Check it out!
google map view here
Last Edited by on May 15, 2010 11:39 PM
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Ev630
441 posts
May 16, 2010
3:31 AM
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MAL - my advice is, remember, you don't have to win every argument.
Enjoy FRance.
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MichaelAndrewLo
378 posts
May 16, 2010
6:42 AM
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thanks for the tips so far. And Ev630 I don't argue in my real daily life. I save all that energy for here ;)
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Ev630
444 posts
May 16, 2010
8:51 AM
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Hey, me too!
;)
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EddieT
5 posts
May 16, 2010
8:53 AM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq89sp7r2hw&feature=digest
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-Edward Tomaine
http://www.youtube.com/user/HungTaoChoyMei
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EddieT
6 posts
May 16, 2010
8:53 AM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq89sp7r2hw&feature=digest
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-Edward Tomaine
http://www.youtube.com/user/HungTaoChoyMei
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kudzurunner
1459 posts
May 16, 2010
9:38 AM
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I don't know if you were planning on bringing an amp, but they're a mixed blessing. French cops don't like amps. If you bring one, make it a small one. If it recharges using electricity from a wall outlet, you'll need the adapters to match voltage, obviously.
Busking is about
1) the cops
2) the weather
3) finding a spot with enough pedestrian traffic to make it worth your while.
1 and 3 often conflict.
Europe has a fair number of old archways that frame pedestrian foot-traffic; they'll enable you to play without an amp and yet be heard.
You may well hook up with a guitarist who will then ask you to bottle (pass the hat) for him while you play harp with one hand and he backs you up on guitar. Usually this involves working the cafe crowds. There's a lot of money to be made this way.
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MichaelAndrewLo
405 posts
May 27, 2010
9:24 AM
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Thanks for that Adam! I am bringing my set of harps and am contemplating whether to bring my microcube with batteries. The lady I'm staying with is a gigging danish singer playing primarily folk music, but she said she knows a few good blues guitarists she can hook me up with.
@ EddieT yeah, thanks for that link! Interesting to hear that Adam went to Paris because of a broken heart. Good to bring that passion to Europe. Did you get any beautiful Parisian women I wonder with that harp. That's the KEY question! for me at least hahaha..
And I WILL try to record some of my public playing if at all possible. I just don't have a camera or anything but maybe will get one to record my trip.
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EddieT
9 posts
May 27, 2010
9:34 AM
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Good luck Michael. Paris is great. You'll have a blast!
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-Edward Tomaine
http://www.youtube.com/user/HungTaoChoyMei
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harmonicanick
768 posts
May 27, 2010
10:06 AM
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Michael,
Fantastic music instrument shop just off the main strip in Pigalle.
Huge selection of harps in am interesting area; I am married to a Parisien and love the city though have never busked. The quality of musicians is very high on the street I would add. Also the blues is very big in Paris and harmonica players abound..
Oh, one more thing, try speaking French as much as you can, they really appreciate if visitors make that effort.
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kudzurunner
1500 posts
May 27, 2010
11:13 AM
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There's a huge buskers festival in Ferrara, Italy during the summer. You couldn't get an official spot, but you could insinuate yourself into the mix, so to speak, by setting up in some abandoned archway.
http://www.ferrarabuskers.com/en/
Satan and Adam played Ferrara in 1991. We also played a buskers festival in Neuchatel, Switzerland:
http://www.libre.ch/buskers.php
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