Is Busking in London Actually Good?!

[@patchevansbrokencountry2583]

What do I get from ARP? Well, we all have the same kinda of issues. Play your heart out....nothing comes back. Then....then a guy walks past and suddenly does a double take, comments on the music's great quality and donates. Priceless. The fact that you share your "disappointments" is so reassuring to me. So thank you so much, Ben ARP.

[@AugustRadioProject]

Thank you Patch!! One of the joys of Busking is that it's humbling at times. It doesn't matter how much experience you have, there's always busks that are tough... but as you say, keep playing then all of a sudden that magic moment happens and makes it all worth it! 😃🙌

[@LuchStefano]

Mate so sick to see that reaction at the end when you played your own original song!! 🎉 busking in London is probably one of the hardest locations to get attention, especially during the day as most people are on a mission. Late afternoon or after work hours, making it a SHOW seems to be the only way to get a crowd, even then it’s still tough, keep going!!

[@AugustRadioProject]

Thank you Luch! I appreciate this dude! Loving the new songs and the consistency, it's inspiring! 😃 🙌

[@lukesilvamusic]

Thank you for sharing your journey! Really valuable informations :)

[@AugustRadioProject]

Thank you Dude!! I really appreciate this 😃🙌 Love watching your videos btw, let me know if you ever wanna collab!

[@trilbyadam9095]

🎶Tell me which way to the beach🎶⛱ a kick ass tune lad, good work agent ARP!

[@AugustRadioProject]

Yes!! More tunes on their way too! 😃🙌🏻

[@johnDBoone]

Definitely entertaining. Really enjoy the glimpse into your life as as a Busker. This video reenforces the fact that it's not a job but truly a way of life. Keep living your dream and thanks for sharing a bit of it with us.

[@AugustRadioProject]

Thank you John! I appreciate the support as always! New song is up on Patreon btw! 😃🙌

[@johnDBoone]

Great song. Really enjoyed it. I'm sure everyone will else will as well.

[@marshlanderdumarais264]

I’ve wondered, but never seriously, about busking in London. For me the best part about a trip to the city of my birth is reaching Ely on the train back from King’s Cross, to see Fen, waterway and sky knowing I’m nearly home and will soon be back on my boat. Thanks for confirming that for me. I’m glad the gig went well. x

[@AugustRadioProject]

I hear you Marshlander, London is a wild place and I do enjoy it but there is a certain amount of relief when I return back to Brighton! I've visited Ely once or twice and that area is beautiful, yet to busk there though but I'm sure I will at some point! 😃🙌

[@kite666G]

Great to see people start singing along to your lyrics. Big thumbs up dude!

[@AugustRadioProject]

What a feeling!! Thank you! 😃🙌

[@HotStepper-SongCast]

Inspirational .. Power to you A R.P Great Gig👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@AugustRadioProject]

Thank you!! 😃🙌

[@bestjuly13]

Thanks for the motivation!

[@AugustRadioProject]

No problem! 😃🙌🏻

[@cletussea-ray944]

The sound quality from the busk was awesome! Can’t wait for the new song. Cheers my dude!

[@AugustRadioProject]

Thank you man! 😃 🙌

[@victim246]

Nice video mate. Keep going along your journey. I appreciate when you cover both the lows and highs of busking. Because yeah, the lows can be a big struggle, but it's worth getting through them to get those highs 😎

[@AugustRadioProject]

So true and well put! Gotta have the lows in order to have the highs. What I do enjoy about busking is that the lows still feel worth it! 😃🙌

[@paulogaliluyo191]

August: Rushing for a train is hilarious. You're rushing. You're speeding along. You're in a hurry. **has time to set 3 different camera angles** 😂

[@AugustRadioProject]

🤣🤣🤣 Anything for the video!!

[@Sara-jd2025]

I love London and u did amazing ❤

[@AugustRadioProject]

It’s a cool (and very big) place! 😃🙌🏻

[@brianjones4026]

Great Stuff Ben, wow you were lucky there, as your camera almost got " Pissed Bulled " ! Keep on Trucking Brother, almost 3000 Subs now.... how Cool is that !

[@AugustRadioProject]

Thank you Brian!! Stoked that wasn't the camera's fate 🤣 always appreciate the support! 😃🙌

[@JollyWollyCollie]

So close to unwanted tip from that dog :) Interesting fun vid as usual. Nice.

[@AugustRadioProject]

A little too close eh... 🤣 thank you! 😃🙌

[@PaigeSingsSongs]

hoping we'll cross paths in Cambridge next time you're there so I can go "hey I've seen that guy on KZbin!" 😄

[@AugustRadioProject]

🙌🏻 I do like busking in Cambridge! I’m sure I’ll be that way at some point soon! 😃

[@jacktimermusic]

Hey man, thanks for this video and that you are sharing your feelings to us through the digital world. Every place is definitely different, and also every time on that specific place is different as well. I guess because people are moving from A to B all the time, so something I just realised right now, that is maybe it's never the place itself that defines whether it is a good busk or the opposite, it's more about our own individual mindsets and approach to the place itself. It depends on our own attitudes, energy and what our feelings tells us before, during and after. Also the people that is around on that day as well can have an impact on the entire experience of course. Then the weather is a different scenario again so we can leave that out for our imaginations. At least, this is how I feel about it and it helps me to move on forward without being too caught up in it. It can always change as you said, that's the beauty of this fantastic job. However, from my own experience, I can acknowledge that this can both lose or gain our own confidence. But I think the secret is always to continue because everything is just temporary and every moment can change. Is the journey that counts and there will always be people who loves and appreciate what we do. It's about tuning into that atmosphere. For now, I hope my comment is a pretty good novel, and now I think the time has arrived to continue the writing on a piece of paper. I'll leave another comment in another episode of yours. All the best, Jack Timer... And btw... I forgot to tell you, almost, in fact, in the end... I'm a Londoner myself, but I feel there is much more to this than the big ghurkin so this is what I'd like to discover in my next chapter starting soon...

[@AugustRadioProject]

This is so well said. You've absolutely nailed everything I try to get across in the videos! This reads a bit like a video script too! Busking is 99% all about the energy we put out there and therefore most busks depend on how we are feeling energetically. It's a good realisation to have as it means we try to have as positive as an attitude to it all as we can! Thank you Jack! 😃 🙌

[@jacktimermusic]

@@AugustRadioProject You are most welcome man and thank you as well. It's amazing to see your progress from where you are now to where you were when I first came across your channel. Well done.. That's just a few months back actually. Something I have realised is that, the energy we put in is so important and sometimes I'm thinking, the amount we earn is actually out of our control and it should be separated from the actual energy we put in to our work. Of course sometimes it can be well connected. but on the other hand, what we can do is to care less about the amount and focus more on our performance. At least this has been helping me a lot. Btw. I'm excited to see more of your videos and I'll let you know when I begin to document my journey as well. So many ideas under my umbrella at the moment.. Jack

[@maxmemos9390]

As Mackenzie Mackay put it: Man im in London, Brixton, Camden Sipping a can with a spliff in the hand London is busy this city is tricky This city is cold Wake up with a headache and im so poetic And life is a madness London is pretty This city is butters this city is both :)

[@AugustRadioProject]

Life really is a madness, or as I would say, "bonkers" 😃🙌

[@DMGProdructions]

those Curry tubs at the end of your vlog shows me that I need a curry now haha! an yes this video was awesome, Its always nice to see people still get by using their best passions as their career, thats the goal, if you can make your most passionate hobby your career then your a WINNER! give this guy a massive round right now!!!! :D

[@AugustRadioProject]

🤣🤣🤣 they’re actually giant tubs of peanut butter! But a curry sounds good 👌🏻 and you’re totally right! That’s always been the overall goal for me and I’m stoked to say I’m making it work! I guess that’s why I feel called to show others they can do the same! 😃

[@samuelashton5497]

Herne Hill Market on the weekend is a pretty decent busking spot. :)

[@AugustRadioProject]

I've heard Market Day is where it's at for Herne Hill... a proper pretty area too! 😃🙌

[@samuelashton5497]

@@AugustRadioProject Yeah my tip is to go in front of the station on market day. There's a loophole which takes the pressure off the Market if they get complaints from some of the residents (which they do) one of the best license free spots I've played in London :) Yeah I love Brockwell Park 😌

[@MrCheswickMusic]

If you ever come to Liverpool dude on your little tour, you're welcome to crash at ours, you'd LOVE Liverpool and you'd clean up I think

[@AugustRadioProject]

Rad! I'm actually planning a Liverpool/Manchester trip as my next adventure so I'll let you know when I have some dates. Just waiting on a good weather window! 😃 🙌

[@MrCheswickMusic]

@@AugustRadioProject Yeah, same here man, I'm not as tough as you, first bit of cold weather and I run back to the studio, I can only busk when the suns out ha ha

[@bryantbaum1964]

Greetings from the US.

[@AugustRadioProject]

YES! Stoked you're here for the journey! 😃🙌🇺🇸

[@JJCrimson]

If you come to Warsaw to busk i can lend you equipment (guitar, a mic-stand and a battery powered amp) for free. I know that flying with this stuff can be expensive, and I have 3 electroacoustics and two portable Amps.

[@AugustRadioProject]

This is rad and an offer I might just have to take you up on. 😃It costs more to get the rig on a plane than it does to get my ticket 🤣🙌

[@Luis_Magni_]

Hey Ben! I was wondering. Do you use a go pro to film yourself? And also, do you use like a selfie stick or something like that? I'm always amazed at how good your videos look 💯. Even the audio is very good 🙌

[@AugustRadioProject]

I appreciate this so much! Always trying to improve the video and edit so it’s rad to have this feedback! 😃 I use a Canon M50 on a Gorilla Pod, I have a wide angle lens on the camera as this is the best way to capture the busk. I did used to use a GoPro which works well too! 🙌🏻 the audio has improved immensely since I got the Mackie ShowBox!

[@Luis_Magni_]

Thank you brother! Videos looking good. Keep it going 💪

[@Jack-fs2im]

Imo Councils see buskers as a sorce of revenue.Mine wants £35 for a 6 month licence plus £10 a week and only an hour which must be booked per session,aaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhh

[@AugustRadioProject]

Dang! That's wild! I hope you find a way round it! 🙌

[@Jack-fs2im]

@@AugustRadioProject yeah ,so find other places ,and doing ok.Some givde big some small and. all are lovely,bless them.One lady gave a greggs bag with a large biscuit and £5 .Yeah always peoole os greggs,prime spot if could.haha

[@phdotsco]

what does "move on if you're asked to" even mean

[@AugustRadioProject]

🤣 it’s a good question! 🙌🏻

[@BassNSax628]

When you live in Brighton why would you go to London? Let alone busk there?

[@AugustRadioProject]

Brighton is the best but I am a little bias! 😃 🙌

[@j_divina717]

Hey Ben, happy Wednesday to ya! I had a question: would it be okay if I did a cover of your song on one of my busking days and filmed it? Giving you all the credit, of course. Please let me know how you'd feel about that! And keep jammin'. I love your vids. 💓

[@AugustRadioProject]

Of course!! I’d love that! It’s an honour that you want to cover a song 😃 definitely film it and send it my way if you can! Let me know if you need chords or tab! 🙌🏻

[@j_divina717]

@@AugustRadioProject The chords would be fantastic! I was going to watch your videos over and over to get the whole song down, so it would speed up the process for sure! I'm going to practice with my dad and we'll post a video in the next few weeks. We have a busking gig every Sunday, and I can't wait to play your song for everyone! Thank you, ARP!! 💜

[@AugustRadioProject]

@@j_divina717 that so cool! 😃🙌🏻 which song is it you’re playing? If you email me at [e-mail] I can send over a chord sheet/guitar tab!

[@JoshuaTheBard]

Hey ARP, consume any good books, TV or movies lately?

[@AugustRadioProject]

Great question!! 😃 🙌 I recently finished the Yes Theory book by Matt Dahlia "Talk to Strangers" and found it very inspiring. Currently reading a book called The Book of Form & Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki which I'm pretty hooked on. I don't watch any TV or do any series, just KZbin videos... 😂 As for films, I like anything with a good sound track! Got any recommendations?

[@JoshuaTheBard]

@@AugustRadioProject Have you seen Inside Llewyn Davis? I love the music in that and I think it has some themes relevant to buskers, as he's kind of a down on his luck musician and performs in pubs/clubs. He's a bit different to you though, quite miserable - a lot of his problems would've probably been sorted if he had your attitude! I really want to busk and sing folk songs one day.

[@AugustRadioProject]

@@JoshuaTheBard I haven’t seen this. I’ll definitely check it out! I love a film about a musician that’s relatable like this! Thank you for the recommendation and for the kind words. 😃🙌🏻