Amazing Street Performers or Buskers of Europe
Street performers in their various attires make the tourist destinations fun filled and interesting. The other name for street performers is buskers.
Most popular tourist destinations of Europe allow buskers to earn their living by performing their acts and donning various costumes. Only factors the street performers have to keep in mind is not making too much noise, not pester tourists and not create road blocks.
Here are pictures of 12 amazing street performers or Buskers of Europe I clicked during my tour of different countries there.
Street performer in Rome
How much do the street performers earn?
It is hard to conclude on a single figure about the amount they earn Assuming 100 tourists offer 1 euro each then 100 euros per day and 3000 euros per month. Would that suffice to feed a family of 4. What seems a fun life outwardly must be a tough life in reality!
Street performer near Uffizi in Florence
Busker in Florence
Are there Women Street Performers?
If you thought these street performing roles are only for men you are wrong. There are female buskers too. Women too dress up as historic characters and attract equal attention from tourists.
The narrow stretch between Uffizi’s two wings buzzes with business. There were people who set up their small stalls selling their art, artistes in various costumes posing with tourists, musicians entertaining…
At one particular spot I felt I was crossing a statue, but he suddenly moved and I was completely taken aback. With so many statues around and his perfectly still pose, I couldn’t suspect him to be live. See the shot below of the artist.
Portrait of Street performer in Florence
This street performer in Barcelona was raking in good amount of money. There was a long queue of tourists waiting to click a picture with him.
Street performer busker in Barcelona
He is the Great Eagle. I spotted him during Las Ramblas walk in Barcelona.
Street Performers Buskers of Europe
These street artists perform various acts and pose with tourists to make money. Kids are the happiest lot when they pose as kings and warriors.
There is no clear guideline how much you should pay the street artists. However the ones with grand makeup often charge more. The charges can range from 1 euro to 50 euros. Some even accept gratuities like food, drinks, gifts, etc.
If you intend to pose with them check with their rates if they have any. The ones I have come across always said whatever you wish ma’am.
In my opinion they are fun to watch for the first time. Usually their acts are repetitive and it gets a bit boring after some time. They come up with naughty jokes, some family friendly acts… Just see and move on.
Roman Costume
Remember busking is not begging. They are providing some kind of entertainment/service and in return expect some form of gratuity which mostly is money. So if you pause to watch any of them it is normal for them to expect something in return.
Music buskers find it easier to attract an audience and earn decently from the crowds. But I sometimes wonder what about the street performers who stand or sit still. Sometimes they are still for a long time. They sit still but charge a lot for posing with tourists. On lucky days tourists give them 5 to 10 euros for the pictures.
(My last post on Uffizi evoked questions like ‘whether I saw the original David at Accademia museum’. I did see it and I managed to take a shot of the original David.
Photography is not permitted here too but there was no big board and as I entered the hall I clicked only to hear the security personnel shouting seconds later ‘No Photography!’
A couple of other photographers too managed shots before we neatly packed our cameras back in our bags.)
Busking in Bangalore
It is a sad story for Buskers in Bangalore. Authorities here categorise them as public nuisance, though it is not completely against the law to perform in streets they are not encouraged either.
India has a rich tradition of various performing arts from different states. But when it comes to street performers making a living through voluntary donations from public viewing their art, the local police shoo them away.
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Buskers! I just learnt a new word. Thank you Indrani. 🙂
That’s a great collection of photographs of street performers.
Such lovely photos! Buskers add flair to city squares and provide entertainment. You captured that perfectly.
My post features a hike at Mount Rainier Natl Park.
I have some great photos of European buskers, too.
Great shots! Buskers sure are creative!
That red lip stick, did some one paint it on?
lovely shots !
Fabulous!
Delightful images!
Very nice and interesting post with wonderful pictures.
What a wonderful and informative post. I do enjoy visiting your blog. I learn so much from your part of the world.
One day I would love to visit Italy, but I have enjoyed going there through your photos Indrani, thank you.
And I dreamed of Firenze just last night!
I love these statues, they are fun! The second shot is great.
LOL ! Those "Living statues can be really creepy ! I jumped out of my skin the first time I saw one wink !
Lovely pictures and account as usual.
Great pics, as usual… what is the first one making???
Interesting shots, Indrani.
The security personnel shouting ‘No Photography!’: the same thing in Turin's Cathedral for the Holy Shroud Exhibition.
i always wonder why they say "no photography" when we take them to appreciate it…?
p.s. i like your pic of lord ganesha reading a book on your main page 🙂
Nice photos and information about your trip. Thanks for sharing. Love the statues. I always love taking photos with them too. 🙂
Love this!!! Really made me smile! 🙂
My World
How interesting. Live statues. They last one does look like a real statue.
Great post.. Always fun to get some stealth photos LOL
How clever to pose like a statue! Aren't these people great actors!!LOL!
Your photos are excellent, but where is David? I mean the one you secretly took a photo of.
Have a great day!
sorry for the late reaction, but I had to do my job the whole day
Beautiful My World Tuesday posting
Have a nice week,
Greetings, Bram
Those street performers are really good actors! And the statutes are just so precious!
My goodness, that's not a statue?! Interesting. It must be hard to visit a place where photography is not allowed. I'm glad you managed to take some shots and showed them to us 🙂
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your trip in Italy dear Indrani. Thank you for sharing these lovely photos! 🙂
the living statues can be deceiving. ^0^
glad to hear you took an original of David, at least a foto for that matter, now it's priceless. ^0^
hope to see more of your trips.
We spent so much time at the Uffizi that we didn't get to the Accademia, I'm glad you didn't miss it. Too bad we can't take pictures but I supposed they want to sell them.
Utterly incredible, my friend. What an exciting trip.
being surrounded by living statues would be very entertaining, and a bit unnerving at first. then, it would just be fun to watch the next group of tourists being surprised!
Was hoping to see the shot of David here 🙂 Nice pix of street performers. Your posts are always a visual treat
Great shots and I am always surprised by living statues. I usually think they are statues and then start looking closer.
The second photo is very very funny, Indrani. I've seen those "statue" performers in Barcelona and found them rather creepy, but this one is funny, and the older man isn't the least bit creepy. I imagine it must have been rather scary for you when a statue suddenly moved, however!
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Beautiful shots of the place. The sculpture of artist is nice.
lovely images!
Terrific captures as always, Indrani! And the street performers are amazing!! I do hope your 'stealth' picture of 'The" David came out well! Great post and photos as always! Hope you have a beautiful week!
Sylvia
those street performers/live statues are so good at what they do, you would never ever think they're alive 🙂
i sometimes shoot too until i get yelled at 🙂
If you hadn't told us about the 'live' statue, I would never have guessed that he was a person. This section of your visit must have been fascinating. I hope your 'stealth' picture of the original David came out.
Wow – those statue artists are amazing.. just like your shots!
Its almost real 😉
First class artists …
I saw it also in Spain "Barcelona"
its so fantastic !!
Amazing shots Indrani
:))
Lovely pictures once again.
Good pics.
Yes, we sometimes steal a shot 🙂
Aloha from Waikiki 🙂
Comfort Spiral
><}}(°>
Interesting post and great pictures.Greetings Andrzej.
Hello Indrani
These pictures are again very nice, all your italy pictures are great , i like them.
greetings, Joop