After 3 weeks practice I took in $114 on my first busking gig!

[hnicoleanderson]

I dabbled a little with mandolin and fiddle decades ago pretty much only played in G and D. (really cheap mandolin not easy to play) I bought a Gretsch New Yorker and realized that after years of playing guitar and studying piano, I could potentially really play so I ordered (based on feedback here) an Eastman MD615. I was about to go out and gig with my guitar when the mandolin arrived a day early. I plugged it in to my portable PA and it sounded pretty good so I took it with me figuring I wasn't going to make as much money in tips but it would be good practice. I played a couple song son guitar then switched off to mandolin and people were digging it as much or more so I stuck with it for the balance of my three and a half hour gig. I think the mandolin might "sell" better than the guitar because of the novelty of hearing something different. Anyway, at this rate, the Eastman will be paid for within a month or so!

[MikeZito]

$114? I haven't made that much money in my whole music career!

Keep up the good work - and welcome to the Cafe.

[Mark Gunter]

Welcome to the forums hnicoleanderson (Nicole, I assume?)

Great story! The mandolin is a very cool fun-size instrument for sure! Sounds like you have a good busking location and know how to entertain folk, since you are doing well with tips.

I did some busking with the mandolin last year for the first time, no guitar at all, and had a blast. Kudos to you for jumping in feet first!

[Jill McAuley]

Well done! I think you're right re: the mandolin being more novel/unusual when busking, so it does lend itself to folks stopping to check out what you're doing a little more than the guitar does.

[Astro]

Could have just been more out of pity... "poor fellow can't even afford a real guitar"

[Frost]

I think if I saw someone busking with a mandolin I'd tip nicely on principle.

Depending on the situation, I could keep on walking by a guitar, excessively reverbed/chorused/delayed flute or electric violin, maybe pass on a sax or trumpet if they weren't doing anything interesting. But some things you just don't see much and I like to see folks trying something a little less common.

[Jeff Mando]

I think if I saw someone busking with a mandolin I'd tip nicely on principle.

Depending on the situation, I could keep on walking by a guitar, excessively reverbed/chorused/delayed flute or electric violin, maybe pass on a sax or trumpet if they weren't doing anything interesting. But some things you just don't see much and I like to see folks trying something a little less common.

delayed flute is common? not here is Mississippi.........................

[Frost]

Well no, good point it would be more likely the excessive reverb on windy instruments. A common enough hazard at times down the road a piece in Philly or a few hours away in NY.

[roysboy]

i dabbled a little with mandolin and fiddle decades ago pretty much only played in g and d. (really cheap mandolin not easy to play) i bought a gretsch new yorker and realized that after years of playing guitar and studying piano, i could potentially really play so i ordered (based on feedback here) an eastman md615. I was about to go out and gig with my guitar when the mandolin arrived a day early. I plugged it in to my portable pa and it sounded pretty good so i took it with me figuring i wasn't going to make as much money in tips but it would be good practice. I played a couple song son guitar then switched off to mandolin and people were digging it as much or more so i stuck with it for the balance of my three and a half hour gig. I think the mandolin might "sell" better than the guitar because of the novelty of hearing something different. Anyway, at this rate, the eastman will be paid for within a month or so!

right on !

[stevedenver]

I dabbled a little with mandolin and fiddle decades ago pretty much only played in G and D. (really cheap mandolin not easy to play) I bought a Gretsch New Yorker and realized that after years of playing guitar and studying piano, I could potentially really play so I ordered (based on feedback here) an Eastman MD615. I was about to go out and gig with my guitar when the mandolin arrived a day early. I plugged it in to my portable PA and it sounded pretty good so I took it with me figuring I wasn't going to make as much money in tips but it would be good practice. I played a couple song son guitar then switched off to mandolin and people were digging it as much or more so I stuck with it for the balance of my three and a half hour gig. I think the mandolin might "sell" better than the guitar because of the novelty of hearing something different. Anyway, at this rate, the Eastman will be paid for within a month or so!

Nice going.
My little band...practiced four hours weekly for seven months, at least.
And three of the five are well seasoned. One other a piano teacher, the other a jam leader.

We even have a bona fide rock star as a banjo player and fiddler.

Our first gig, a local earthie organic locavore hipster cafe, and downtown bar, 2 hour gig , grossed about $380.00, due to tickets. Should have been twice that.
Many didnt pay at the door.

After sound guy, each of us took away about $66.00....... geez. Hourly, with rehearsal, and not including gear acquisitions, 2 cents, if that....not to mention overall brain damage and band dis functionality.

Nicole, im very impressed.

[hnicoleanderson]

Thanks everyone, I went back to the same location the following Monday and took in $81. Since I ahve been giving away "free Cds" and upgraded to a Marantz Professional Voice Rover $249 @ Costco I have eben raking it in. Took in $183 the first day with the Marantz. Biggest income grabber is "God Bless America".

[hnicoleanderson]

Nice going.
My little band...practiced four hours weekly for seven months, at least.
And three of the five are well seasoned. One other a piano teacher, the other a jam leader.

We even have a bona fide rock star as a banjo player and fiddler.

Our first gig, a local earthie organic locavore hipster cafe, and downtown bar, 2 hour gig , grossed about $380.00, due to tickets. Should have been twice that.
Many didnt pay at the door.

After sound guy, each of us took away about $66.00....... geez. Hourly, with rehearsal, and not including gear acquisitions, 2 cents, if that....not to mention overall brain damage and band dis functionality.

Nicole, im very impressed.

When I lived in San Francisco, I knew alot of show people and the cabarert crowd. They would do their own shows (vocalists with the piano) Spend weeks promotingh them and were sometime lucky to break even. The only time I had luck keeping bands together and making serious money in clubs was playing beer joints in Texas back in the day.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Good job!

Good story: A friend of mine decided he needed a break from his demanding job. So he bought a ticket from the US to Paris and took off with his guitar. Two weeks later he came back, happy, rested, and in a great mood. He'd spent the whole two weeks busking in the Metro. It paid for his lodging, food, plane ticket, and - uh - incedentals.

[jaycat]

Good job!

Good story: A friend of mine decided he needed a break from his demanding job. So he bought a ticket from the US to Paris and took off with his guitar. Two weeks later he came back, happy, rested, and in a great mood. He'd spent the whole two weeks busking in the Metro. It paid for his lodging, food, plane ticket, and - uh - incedentals.

Not my idea of a Paris vacation, spending it entirely in the subway... Mais, chacun a son gout!

[Paul Busman]

That's great! Busking with your mandolin also gives you a chance to proselytize for our favorite little instrument.

[Jess L.]

... Busking with your mandolin also gives you a chance to proselytize for our favorite little instrument.

Y'all are always sending me scrambling for a dictionary to figure out what these words are.

In case there are any other vocabulary-challenged people reading this thread, here's the definition of proselytize from Mirriam-Webster:

proselytize; proselytized; proselytizing
intransitive verb

1. to induce someone to convert to one's faith
2. to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause

transitive verb

• to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution, or cause