Busking with your Uke

I recently started doing this a local farmer's market and its fun and I even make a few Euro and get free stuff from the people running the stalls! I thought I'd list my kit here to help anyone out who'd like to do the same thing.

1. Something to sit on



This is the one I got, it suits me, it is small and low, but I find that good. It's also light and folds up small, If you are lugging all your stuff to where you will busk, that is essential.

2. A music stand




This one can be set low as well because if you're sitting you'll need that. Quite heavy, but it has little wire things that stop the music blowing away, you might need to bring pegs or something though.

3. Stuff to play, and something to keep them in

I've printed out songs from sites like www.chordie.com I don't play many from memory mainly because I want to know too many and can't memorize them quickly enough! I put the music in folders with clear plastic pockets, keeps everything together for me. I get them cheap in Tesco in Ireland, I'm sure you can find the same thing wherever you are.

4. A playlist?

I generally play what I feel like playing rather than have a planned list. I'd never just play the same list over and over. Id rather chop and change, and I take requests. I can find the chords on my iPhone. The muffin man asked me to play "Sympathy For The Devil" by the Rolling Stones last week. For which, I received a free muffin!

5. An Amplifier

Playing in a crowded outdoor place, you'll need it. But be careful not to be so loud people can't ignore you if they choose to. Be considerate. But also not so quiet you can't be heard at all!




I got this one because it has a strap, can take batteries, is loud enough, and you can attach a mic and a uke pickup. It's also not too heavy to carry over one shoulder. It has effects and stuff but I don't use them.

6. A microphone

I got one like this:



It had an adapter to make the jack that plugs into the amp bigger, you'll need that too.

7. A mic stand?

I stick a wire coat hanger over my head, put a kazoo on the straightened hook end, then duct take the mic to the bottom of the kazoo, so it doubles as a mic stand and kazoo holder.

8. A pickup for your uke or a semi-acoustic uke

I got one of these initially:



But it occasionally fell off, so I eventually bought a Korala soprano ukulele with a built in pickup that was about €150, plus 20 for the cable. Can't find much about these online, but I really like it, the quality is very good for the money: http://www.koralaukuleles.com/

I wasn't planning to spend that much! But the few hours I spend in the market on a Saturday Morning/Afternoon does make me €20 or so. I also get free stuff and discounts from the stall holders in the market who appreciate the music. Not to mention to the smiles and happy reactions I get from passers by, little dancing kids (I also keep a pocket of cheap kazoos to give away) not to mention just enjoying playing for a real audience.

It doesn't feel as high-pressure as playing at an open mic even: I go when I want, play what I want, for a long as I want. It's more relaxed. I find I am learning though, and getting better, or at least trying to. It's a good way to see what songs work as well: some sound OK sitting at home, but not great in public and vice versa.

Also, I bring my daughter, and a friend of hers sometimes, and it's nice to have time with her at the end of the week and give my wife a break. So, it works out all round. My daughter happily chants and browses with her friend, or just wanders around asking for requests and browsing the stalls. She swoops on any money I get and buys bits and bobs with it, but I don't mind.

OK, I'll update this post if I think of anything else to add to this!

Erie Canal Song

Erie Canal Song

The canal connects New York to the Great Lakes and was hugely important for trade. Mules used to tow a barge 15 miles a day until steam power came in.

Suzanne Vaga's version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT78NL34k0c
Bruce Springsteen's version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhHWAyFFv9s

Dm F Gm A
Oh, I've got an old mule and her name is Sal
Dm Bb7 A7 Dm
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
F Gm A
She's a good old worker and a good old pal
Dm Bb7 A7 Dm
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
F C7
We've hauled some barges in our day
F Gm A
Filled with lumber, coal, and hay
Dm F Gm A
And every inch of the way we know
Dm Bb7 A7 Dm C7
From Albany to Buffalo

Chorus:
F C7
Low bridge, everybody down
Dm Gm7 A7
Low bridge for we're coming to a town
Dm C
And you'll always know your neighbor
Bb A7
And you'll always know your pal
Gm7 Bb7 A7 Dm
If you've ever navigated on the Erie Canal

We'd better look 'round for a job old gal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
'Cause you bet your life I'd never part with Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Git up there mule, here comes a lock
We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock
One more trip and back we'll go
Right back home to Buffalo

Chorus

Oh, where would I be if I lost my pal?
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Oh, I'd like to see a mule as good as Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
A friend of mine once got her sore
Now he's got a busted jaw,
'Cause she let fly with her iron toe,
And kicked him in to Buffalo.

Chorus

Don't have to call when I want my Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She trots from her stall like a good old gal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
I eat my meals with Sal each day
I eat beef and she eats hay
And she ain't so slow if you want to know
She put the "Buff" in Buffalo

Chorus

Enjoy yourself!

You can sing any of these verses in whatever order you like, I've not really decided which I prefer.

The song can be performed so many ways!
Country: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKthSbpnjYU&feature=related
Big band samba: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHKCPorcBvk&NR=1&feature=fvwp
Doris Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OOX7OOqZco
Ska: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iibpewIA_ik&feature=related & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH3QNSsWoeg&feature=related

Either way, enjoy yourself!

Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself It's later than you think.

Another birthday's here and gone,
you've turned another page,
And suddenly you realize you've reached middle age,
Just think of all the fun you've missed,
it makes you kind of sad,
It's better to have had your wish than to have wished you had.

Enjoy yourself it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink
The years go by as quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself
It's later than you think.

You're gonna take that ocean trip,
no matter come what may
You've got your reservations made,
but you just can't get away
Next year for sure, you'll see the world,
you'll really get around
But how far can you travel
when you're six feet underground?

Enjoy yourself it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink
The years go by as quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself
It's later than you think.

You worry when the weather's cold,
You worry when it's hot.
You worry when you're doing well,
You worry when you're doing not.
It's worry, worry all of the time,
You don't know how to laugh.
They'll think of something funny
When they write your epitaph.

Enjoy yourself it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink
The years go by as quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself
It's later than you think.

C
You work and work for years and years
Dm
You're always on the go

Never take a minute off
C
Too busy makin' dough

Some day, you say, you'll have your fun
C7 F
When you're a millionaire
C
Imagine all the fun you'll have
Dm G7 C
In your old rockin' chair


C C#dim G7
Enjoy yourself it's later than you think
C
Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink
C7 F
The years go by as quickly as a wink
C
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself
Dm G7 C
It's later than you think.

Your heart of hearts, your dream of dreams
Your ravishing brunette
Has left you now and she's become
Somebody else's pet
Lay down that gun, don't try my friend
To reach the great beyond
You'll have more fun by reaching
For a red-head or a blonde

Enjoy yourself it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink
The years go by as quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself
It's later than you think.

You never go to nightclubs
and you just don't care to dance;
You don't have time for silly things
like moonlight and romance.
You only think of dollar bills tied neatly in a stack;
But when you kiss a dollar bill, it doesn't kiss you back.

Enjoy yourself it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink
The years go by as quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself
It's later than you think.

You love somebody very much
You'd like to set the date
But money doesn't grow on trees
So you decide to wait
You're so afraid that you will bite off
More than you can chew
Don't be afraid, you won't have teeth
When you reach ninety two.

Enjoy yourself it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink