Is It Christmas Yet?

I have to admit this month isn’t the best time of year for a busker to earn decent money. Only the hardcore still go out now. The weather has been quite mild lately which is good, but not many people have been out. It’s not quite time yet for Christmas shopping. So November and January/February are the best times for a busker to go on holiday really. Business is so slow it almost doesn’t seem worth going out some days. However, busking still creates a cheerful atmosphere for the people who are out and about.

Last time I went out a little boy kept dancing to every song and I got an applause for most of my songs as well from various listeners. At least I know they appreciated it and I managed to brighten up the day for a few people.

Know where to go

Although this isn’t the greatest time to be out busking, I’ve found that going to the right markets in the right towns can still be lucrative. You just have to pick and choose carefully and listen to any advice you can get from market traders. There aren’t many parents walking around with their children these days, so it’s best to go where wealthy retired people live.

It's so cold!

Another thing is (now that it is winter), it does get more difficult to stand outside and play for hours, especially on a violin. You can’t wear a glove on the hand that is holding the violin, so if it’s too cold you can’t feel your fingers against the strings. You can see from my picture that I wear a silk glove on my bowing hand, which does help. But it's definitely more important to go out on days when it is mild and the weather is nice. You never know how many good days you’ll get.

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat!

So I’m looking forward to seeing what the Christmas season will bring. The December opportunities seem to be endless, so it’s probably best that November is the time to rest. I plan to have the hand warmers ready for the busy time ahead.

What about you? Do you enjoy going to the Christmas markets? Are you ready for the holiday season to get into full swing?