(ENGLAND) Robert Stredder has been a rootin'-tootin' gunslinger, clown, mime, plate-spinner, fire juggler, and several other characters making him Swindon, England's most popular busker.It's hard to believe he went to law school at Birmingham University to fulfill his father's wishes of becoming a lawyer. Then, a fateful day in 1963 led him down a totally different path in life. He's now been performing for almost 50 years.

At 71, Robert is without signs of slowing down. He now mostly focuses on fund-raisers for charities and organizing bicycle rides. He's rather old to be playing with fire but, as it turns out, that's what he likes doing best.

Rob fought the law and he actually won. There's now one less lawyer around these days. Be thankful for small favors.

According to Swindon Advertiser's reporter Barry Leighton,...

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Because I've learned already a lot about busking through reading and watching as much street performances as possible, I found out that a busking show is not created like any other formal show I created before. A busking show is more like a process, what works for the audience is kept in the show, what doesn't is kicked out or at least adjusted.
It's for those reasons I wanted to create an easy system to be able to follow up the creation / development of my show at any time.
This seemed possible to me by using the same system as software developers use. After all, we are both developing our product, isn't it?
So my first attempt to create a show will be called "Busking Show 1.0". Untill I will take this show out on the streets, the name will stay unchanged, but from that moment on will change as many times as there will be changes made in the structure of the show.
Depending on the "grade" of changes / adjustments made each time after performing the show on the...

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(SWITZERLAND) An interesting page at Swiss Info has many busking attractions, pictures, and related stories starting in the nation's capital with the Berne Buskers Festival.Celebrating its 12th year this summer, the three-day event featured 42 acts with 145 performers from 18 countries. Half of the acts were musical with the rest involving clowns, dancers, human statues, and other artists.

Related busking stories and pictures take us around Switzerland to Basel, Biel, and Montreux as well as podcast on what it's like to be a busker in Berne.

A reporter for Busker Central entered a Buskerfest contest in Luzern back in 1992. Unfortunately, the city was given a bad reputation when the contest was found to be "won" by a professional opera singer who had stumbled outside. Her father also happened...

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Hello all!

Artist registration is now open for the 2018 Fringe North International Theatre Festival in Sault Ste. Marie, ON.

Running from August 9 to 19, this small but mighty festival is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some time in beautiful Northern Ontario, enjoy the company of a fun and creative bunch, and bring the joys of busker entertainment to a city which does not usually get to enjoy street performance.

Check out our website www.fringenorth.ca to learn more, or to register your act. Questions? Email the Artistic Director Tova Arbus at ad@fringenorth.ca

We would love to have you join us!

See you on the Fringe side.....

An interesting article at American Songwriter has an in-depth interview of the successful and creative busker by the name of Ori Rakib.Ori is an energetic soul. He's been busking in the New York subway for years. One day after losing his jacket, Ori said to himself, "Alright - I’m going to start busking until I make enough money to buy myself a new winter coat." Survival comes first in busking. Some of us have already been there. At times, it can be hand-to-mouth with even experienced buskers.

"Once you’re past that first stage where it’s not really about being 'good' or 'bad' anymore, you start to realize how many lives you are able to touch by just going out there, opening your mouth, and singing."

"You’re not a brand - You’re just a guitar and a voice. People don’t know you, y...

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