street performer
Curbside act outdoors
A street performer is someone who entertains in public spaces—sidewalks, plazas, subway stations—for voluntary donations from passersby.
The acts range from music and magic to juggling, mime, and living statues.
Street performers work for tips, typically collecting in a hat, guitar case, or open instrument case: The street performer drew a crowd with her accordion.
Sequential toss-and-catch performance
- magic tricksFeats of apparent impossibility
- fire eatingIngesting flames performatively
- mimingWordless gestural performance
- human statuePerson posing motionlessly as art
living statue · puppetry · contortion · acrobatics · unicycling · ventriloquism · balancing · breakdancing
Gathered viewers collectively
- spectatorsThose who observe events
- passersbyPeople going past
- onlookersPeople observing an event
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
circle · tip jar · applause · cheers · heckling · requests · donations · interaction
Fretted stringed instrument
- accordionBellows-driven reed instrument
- saxophoneReed instrument, brass body
- harmonicaHandheld reed wind instrument
- violinBowed string instrument
pan flute · didgeridoo · banjo · steel drums · one-man band · erhu · sitar · amplifier
Paved pedestrian pathway
- plazaPublic open square
- squareRhombus with right angles
- subway stationUnderground railway platform
- boardwalkPlanked waterfront pathway
pedestrian zone · promenade · market · pier · town center · metro entrance · park · waterfront
Extras for servers
- buskingPublic performance for donations
- earningsMoney gained from work
- gig economyWork based on temporary contracts
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
permit · license · pitch · territory · seasonal · donations · PayPal · Venmo
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- freestyleWithout prescribed technique
- audience interactionExchange between performer and viewers
- unscriptedNot pre-written
unrehearsed · on-the-spot · call-and-response · unexpected · adaptable · surprise · playful · reactive
juggling
Sequential toss-and-catch performance
- magic tricksFeats of apparent impossibility
- fire eatingIngesting flames performatively
- mimingWordless gestural performance
human statue · living statue · puppetry · contortion · acrobatics · unicycling · ventriloquism · balancing · breakdancing · capoeira
audience
Gathered viewers collectively
- spectatorsThose who observe events
- passersbyPeople going past
- onlookersPeople observing an event
gathering · circle · tip jar · applause · cheers · heckling · requests · donations · interaction · volunteers
guitar
Fretted stringed instrument
- accordionBellows-driven reed instrument
- saxophoneReed instrument, brass body
- harmonicaHandheld reed wind instrument
violin · pan flute · didgeridoo · banjo · steel drums · one-man band · erhu · sitar · amplifier · tip jar
sidewalk
Paved pedestrian pathway
- plazaPublic open square
- squareRhombus with right angles
- subway stationUnderground railway platform
boardwalk · pedestrian zone · promenade · market · pier · town center · metro entrance · park · waterfront · arcade
tips
Extras for servers
- buskingPublic performance for donations
- earningsMoney gained from work
- gig economyWork based on temporary contracts
hustle · permit · license · pitch · territory · seasonal · donations · PayPal · Venmo · QR code
improvisation
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- freestyleWithout prescribed technique
- audience interactionExchange between performer and viewers
unscripted · unrehearsed · on-the-spot · call-and-response · unexpected · adaptable · surprise · playful · reactive
- traveling musicianstroubadour, minstrel, busker, bard, gleeman
- pastimeshobbies, amusement, puzzles, cards, crafting
- festival peoplefestivalgoer, attendee, vendor, volunteer, musician
- performersactor, dancer, actress, singer, musician
- public spectaclesparade, circus, fireworks, concert, festival
- Street Performersbusker, juggler, magician, fire breather, fire eater
street performertheater actor
Stage performance artist
opera singer · studio musician · ballet dancer · stage actor · recording artist
street, perform, performance, performer, performing, performed, performs, street performers, street performance