A history of street music

Street acting has been around since, well, always! It has likely occurred since recorded history began, although there has been a remarkable evolution over the decades.

While it is impossible to know what the first acts of street acting involved (from hitting a rock to dancing), it is likely that they were performed to gain attention, for mating purposes, or to receive goods / services.

The minstrels performed songs with lyrics that told stories of real and imaginary events and places, however these became less popular as the courts became more sophisticated, forcing these minstrels to take to the streets and become wandering minstrels. This remained popular until the 20th century, when it became similar to modern busking.

So when did it start to be recognized as a potentially lucrative company?

There is no set date, but it was likely a common means of finding employment for artists, musicians and singers, before recording devices were established. As there were no music devices, except for organ rectifiers, piano rolls, and music boxes, music existed primarily in its live form, creating a high demand for performers.

Organ shredders were found performing on the streets on a regular basis, providing simple but stable work and income for unskilled workers. Unfortunately, the stereotypical image of an organ grinder and a dancing monkey is true, as these provided a means of visual entertainment, ensuring that passersby were wowed by the show. This came to a halt with the introduction of animal rights, increased use of audio devices, and a shrinking audience.

In the 1800s, street performers were seen advertising their wares and wares, as well as medicine shows selling ‘magic elixirs and potions’ that would improve your health. Towards the end of this century, one-man bands began to appear, using a series of instruments attached to parts of the body. This tradition continues even today, however MIDI instruments or samples are now used to achieve the effect.

In the 20th century, busking saw a great increase, as did the number of buskers who later became famous from it, such as Edith Piaf, The Blue Man Group, Robbie Williams, Joan Baez, and even Bob Dylan. This led to a counterculture in which bands and artists would meet in a public place and perform for free, similar to a street music festival, attracting names like the Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix. This still continues today, but in general it is more organized and official.

One of the most popular places for buskers is London, thanks to the heavy foot traffic and the excess of tourists who visit it, especially in Covent Garden. Often times, entrepreneurs can look out from their Covent Garden offices and see an “army” of buskers, such as jugglers, magicians, puppets, entertainers, living statues and singers.

Busking is not a glamorous profession, however it is not exclusively for the homeless or unemployed, as the stereotype might imply. Subjected to the public, buskers can be abused by passersby or competition from other buskers, as well as the theft of their donation pot.

Street music is likely to go on forever, evolving even further (some artists are now cyber-busk, posting their music / performing for free online) and while not universally appreciated, it can really help brighten a day and add some life to another. boring street.