Don't Hold Back
Hi my name is Beth Fridinger and I started busking in May 2008 in Boston, MA, USA.
Before this, I spent one year at open mic nights to get practice and overcome tremendous stage fright.
I finally got up the courage and the first time I busked, I set up near two outdoor restaurants. A man paid me $100 to move near his table then another $50 to buy my CDs. I went home with $190 the first night I busked… now that was encouraging!
Recently I busked for 4 hours in the subway and made $89 and got beautiful photos taken by a photographer. I’m also getting videos taken by a woman who is doing a story on me. I have learned not to overdo it, so I don't sing for more than four hours a day. I am working on adding instrumentals so I can play longer.
I picked up a guitar two years ago and began to sing and write songs about 1½ years ago so I’m fairly new at this, although I played guitar more than 20 years ago and had quit because I believed I couldn’t sing!
I was always a visual artist and always said in my next life I will be a musician. Well, after attending some local live music and some jam parties, I got the music bug and started relearning/learning the guitar. After singing at a party, to my surprise, two musicians came up and told me that I sing great, I started to sing!! Now I dabble with the harmonica, bass and mandolin as well and do my own home recording on my computer. I am thrilled to be able to make music and I now have my music posted online in MySpace and on 5 other websites.
I’m not a spring chicken, so I have come back to music at a later age. I have gotten great feedback on my performances. Overcoming stage fright was big step for me and it took persistence until I learned to focus on the music and then everything falls into place!!