What it takes to be a Busker

Photo of Luna Faun courtesy Roman Iwasiwka

Colin Young

Summer is back in the Berkshires and so is Berkshire Busk. Every Friday and Saturday night for the next couple months, downtown Great Barrington will turn into a festival of artists, singers, musicians, dancers, poets, and storytellers alike. From guitarists to acrobats and everything in between, Berkshire Busk provides a chance to explore talent and entertainment in an accessible way.

This summer, I had my first experience with Berkshire Busk. While seeing such a variety of costumes, ages, and skillsets, the one thing I kept thinking was, “How does someone find their way into busking, and what does it take?”

The headliners of the first Saturday included drag queens, a beatboxer, and even a fire performer. None of these acts are usually associated with busking. It’s personalities like Tracy Chapman and Ed Sheeran who have defined what street performing meant as up and-coming singer-songwriters. It’s also natural to think of it as a precursor to fame rather than a destination of any sort. As I saw though, busking so much more.

It’s clear you need a certain type of bravery to perform in front of dozens of people who did not pay to be there and can leave whenever they please. It speaks to how much the artist loves the art, especially so when the art isn’t as traditional as music. I was lucky enough to grab a word with Galush, who is a music teacher and professional beatboxer, after his performance. I asked how on earth he got into beatboxing and managed to turn it into his career. He just said he loved it and wanted to share and pursue it as far as he could. He had gone to national beatboxing competitions when he was younger, and really found a great community there.

Photo of the Red Trouser Show courtesy Eltavious Johnson

In the following weeks, I met circus performers and stunt men who come annually to Berkshire Busk, as it's an exciting opportunity for them to showcase their passion, hard work, and ultimately their career. A stunt group known as “The Red Trouser Show” said something that stuck with me. “This is our livelihood, so please tip.” The idea of bravery returned to me after watching them. These performers are putting everything on the line to do what they love. They may be spending time away from home traveling or forgoing more lucrative job options, and all for the chance to bring the magic to downtown Great Barrington that we see weekly.

It was hard-hitting to realize that the industry of street performance is solely based on the passing audience. It’s the viewers who decide the value of the performance, not the other way around. People who turn to leave early or disregard the evening as something they can see another time are what’s hurting the performers. A few quiet shows and a busker might have to find a new direction, especially considering the time and practice that has to go into many of the shows.

So when you’re supporting a street act, you’re supporting an industry as a whole. You’re showing that the pioneers who are brave enough to pursue their passions that it is, in fact, worth it. Celebrate the courage of those who keep this age-old form of entertainment alive.

In a world of media that’s constantly catering to our interests and expectations, a night of fire-juggling and acrobatics reminds you how important it is to keep that kind of art continuing.