After 20 years of casual research I have come to the conclusion that if you want to be a real playing original musician your best option is “well thought out touring” (sometimes its a good idea to do covers) .
You also have to be prepared to be a Singer. (horror I know) only because trying to sustain a band on the road is costly; at least until you get a crowd. Soloists (to begin with) I found get paid $100 – $200 a show; (The award minimum is $160) . So if you do 5 shows a week plus busking & merchandise you should earn $600-$1100 a week with 2 days off.
I have included 7 cities that you would revisit every 7 weeks unless you want to take a holiday.
You can buy an affordable van on gumtree at
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-cars-vans-utes/carbodytype-vanmini/c18320?sort=price_asc
And a cheap PA (Ebay) to get you started at
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_nkw=pa+system
This blog space will try and continually improve I have not tested it myself so please if you have any information on this subject comment or message me with anything!
Cheers Heath
Sydney – Busking License $47/12mth
The Union – info@unionnewtown.com.au – Website – unionnewtown.com.au
Sly Fox – hello@slyfox.sydney – Website –www.slyfox.sydney
Oxford Art Factory – tom@oxfordartfactory.com – Website – oxfordartfactory.com
Marlborough Hotel – katie@marlboroughhotel.com.au –
Website – marlboroughhotel.com.au
Brighten Up Bar – support@musicglue.email – Website – brightonupbar.com.au
(UNI) Manning/Hermanns Bar – dave@custommade.com.au – Website – www.manningbar.com www.hermannsbar.com
Community Radio
2SER – info@2ser.com – Website – www.2ser.com
2RRR – office@2rrr.org.au – Website – www.2rrr.org.au
Newcastle – Free busking no permit needed
The Cambridge – andrew@bigapachee.com.au (booking agent) – Website – thecambridgehotel.com.au
The Lass – bands@lassogowrie.net.au – Website – www.lassogowriehotel.com.au
The Lucky – hayley@theluckyhotel.com.au – Website – theluckyhotel.com.au
The Great Northern – Ph – (02) 4925 3551 or website contact form – Website – www.thegreatnorthern.com.au
Lizottes – gra@eao.com.au (booking agent) – Website – www.newcastle.lizottes.com.au
Bar On the Hill (UNI) – gra@eao.com.au (booking agent) – Website – https://www.facebook.com/baronthehill
Community Radio
Lake Maquarie FM – lakemacquariefm@outlook.com – Website – www.97-3FM.com
2NURFM – Ph – 02 4921 5555 – Website – www.2nurfm.com
Melbourne – NEED busking permit $20/12mth per area NEED to book your spot
Star Bar – star@opendoorpubco.com.au – Website – www.starhotelsouthmelbourne.com.au
Matthew Flinders – matthewflinders.hotel@alhgroup.com.au – Website – www.matthewflindershotel.com.au
Blue Diamond – info@bluediamondclub.com.au – www.bluediamondclub.com.au
Northcote Social Club – bar@northcotesocialclub.com – Website – northcotesocialclub.com
The Prince of Wales – Ph – +613 9536 1168 or wesite contact form – Website – http://www.princebandroom.com.au
Community Radio
Triple R – 3rrr@rrr.org.au – Website – www.rrr.org.au
3PBS – Website – www.pbsfm.org.au
Brisbane/Gold-Coast – Busking free in GoldCoast CBD but NEED permit
Ric’s Bar – bookings@ricsbar.com.au – Website – www.ricsbar.com.au
Grand Central Hotel – functions@grandcentralhotel.com.au – Website – www.grandcentralhotel.com.au
Soundlounge –
The Miami Tavern – miami.tavern@alhgroup.com.au – Website – www.miamitavern.com.au
Sufers Beer Garden – surfersparadisetavern@alhgroup.com.au – Website – www.surfersbeergarden.com.au
The Dowse Bar – Ph – (07) 3367 9800 or website contact form – Website – https://www.facebook.com/dowsebar
Waxy Irish Pub – functions@tbhotels.com.au – Website – www.waxysirishpub.com.au
Beetle Bar – Ph – beetlebarbookings@gmail.com – Website – https://www.facebook.com/beetlebar
Black Bear Lodge – bookings@blackbearlodge.com.au – Website – www.blackbearlodge.com.au
Community Radio
4ZZZ – interviews@4zzz.org.au – Website – www.4zzz.org.au
101FM – Ph – 07 3808 8101 – Website – www.101fm.asn.au
Canberra – Busking free & no permit needed
The Phoenix – bookings@lovethephoenix.com – Website – lovethephoenix.com
Transit Bar – BOOKINGS@TRANSITBAR.COM.AU – Website – transitbar.com.au
The Front (in Lyneham) – info@frontgallerycafe.com – Website – www.frontgallerycafe.com
King O’Malley’s Pub – Ph-(02) 62570111 or website contact form – Website – kingomalleys.com.au
The Basement – (02) 6156 1562 or website contact form – Website – thebasementcanberra.com.au/aboutus.php
Pot Belly – info@potbellybar.com.au – Website – www.potbellybar.com.au
Community Radio
2XXfm – Ph – 6230 0100 – Website – www.2xxfm.org.au
QBN FM – contact on website – Website – www.qbn967.com.au
Geelong -Busking permit needed/small fee
The Workers Club – info@spinninghalf.com.au – Website – http://theworkersclubgeelong.com.au
The Barwon Club – al @ mindriotagency.com – Website – http://www.barwonclub.com.au
The Wool Exchange – Ph; (03) 5222 2322 or Contact form on website – Website – http://thewoolexchange.com.au
Unwined (acoustic) – Ph; (03) 5244 5900 or Contact form on website – Website – http://www.unwined.com.au
Saints and Sailors – admin@saintsandsailors.com.au – Website – http://www.saintsandsailors.com.au
Martians Café – admin@martianscafe.com.au – Website – http://www.martianscafe.com.au
Community Radio
The Pulse – Ph; (03)5222 5947 or contact form on website – Website – http://947thepulse.com
Byron Bay – busking fee $15/yr + $25 joining fee
The Northern Hotel – info@byronbayentertainment.com – Website – http://www.thenorthern.com.au
Bangalow Hotel – bangalowhotel@bigpond.com – Website – http://bangalowhotel.com.au
Nimbin Hotel – info@nimbinhotel.com.au – Website – http://nimbinhotel.com.au
The Rails Hotel – (02) 66857662 /or contact Facebook page provided – Website – https://www.facebook.com/rails.bay
Woody’s Surf Shack – surfsup@woodysbyronbay.com – Website- http://woodysbyronbay.com
Community Radio
Bay FM – (02) 6680 7999 or contact form on website – Website – http://bayfm.org
Paradise FM – (02) 6686 0101 or message Facebook on site provided – Website – https://www.facebook.com/paradise1019
Also Check Out
Home Made Jam – Website – http://homemadejam.net.au
Festival of Small Halls – Website – http://festivalofsmallhalls.com
MHS Facebook Group – Link – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1506327676247763
House Concerts Australia – http://houseconcertsaustralia.ning.com
MHSmusicblogblogger 
You have done extremely well collecting this information to help musicians, you have a bow from me and I am sure other musicians will find your information very helpful. Thankyou
Cheers
Bertie
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Thanks Bert for your support on the subject!
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Melbourne Busking Permit is around $20 for 12 months for a new permit, $10 for a renewal and an additional $50 if you want to sell -Merch/ CDs – you also have to book in to a compliance session and they have specific dates for these.
Gold Coast you can only get permits for Broadbeach Mall and Surfers Paradise and they are expensive (around $75 for 12 months from memory) and you have to attend an audition. *They are seperate permits for each one.
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Thanks for the extra Information Racheal! There trialing a new permit on the Gold Coast it’s still in trial period I think?
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Thanks Bertie I just couldn’t find anything on it? It was my duty!
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Your research will be of tremendous help to many an aspiring musician/singer-songwriter. The work you put into this is great. Thanks Heath.
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Thanks Kerri!
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Add house concerts to this and you just might cover all your petrol costs too! Check out Home-made Jam and Parlour Gigs websites.
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Will do!
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http://homemadejam.net.au
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How amazing and generous of you to share.. also Festival of Small Halls is building new touring circuits throughout regional and rural Australia! If you’re looking for additional touring venues check out: festivalofsmallhalls.com.
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Will do!
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You could always hire a Nomad Touring van instead of buy one, it has enough seats to accommodate normally 2 bands and you can split the driving and cost.
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Geelong, VIC has a thriving music scene – feel free to contact me on mpethy92@gmail.com for further info.
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What venues would you recommend Meg?
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Reblogged this on MHSmusicblogblogger.
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