Secondly, my parents would be worried that I could not provide for myself well. The equipment needed for busking can be around $1200 as musical instruments like a guitar cost a hefty sum of money. An average day of busking can bring in about $50 during the weekends, but that can easily go up to between $100 and $150. Even on a good week, street performers can earn up to $550 and that is only a fraction of the equipment cost. We also have to include living expenses such as food, transportation, clothes and more. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living 2021 report, Singapore stands second on the list of the costliest cities in the world. Furthermore, Singapore is the most expensive city in Asia. Not only is expensive to live in Singapore, street performers also have to consider retirement savings and compared to adults having job salaries around $5000 per month, street performers are at a disadvantage as on average, they are earning up to $2000 per month. On the other spectrum, not only money is a concern but also the amount of time spent into busking is well over any corporate jobs. Before being able to busk in Singapore, street performers have to apply for a busking license. Not only does it take a while for the National Arts Council (NAC) to acknowledge, but also buskers have to attend a workshop and pass an audition first. On the NAC website, it states that “Buskers in Singapore are required to attend an audition to ensure consistency in the quality of busking activities” hence the need of an audition. Hence, time and money are spent in busking and the reward from it may be underwhelming.

However, some may argue that people are able to make a living as a street artist. Some performers’ parents could already be in the entertainment industry, and had earned a good reputation which thus being reputable, it gives them a leverage in the street performance industry, and earn a higher income than the average street performers. Like a wise person once quote said, ’Money means nothing without having passion, purpose and dedication behind it’ Means that their passion in street arts will be able to make a living as they have a motivation to always going no matter how rough this path may be for them. It is a very extraordinary and unique life craft / career that one must commit to that few are fortunate enough to experience and when the commitment is there, they will figure out the rest to their art and their goal, nothing will stand in their way. They  and they would persevere. Which as a full-time artist, they know where the income is coming from allowing them to make a living. 

2)State your (reason) Point #1– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link

3)State your (reason) Point #2– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link 

4)Provide alternative POV: However, others may argue that…(PEEEL)

5)Next, talk about your own Personal experience (current or past) using 5W1H, talk about what happened after the experience. Did it change your outlook or perspective on the issue or theme? Did it make you change something about yourself?

6)Restate your point: Therefore, I agree / disagree that...and end off with personal reflection, predictions for future etc

2)State your Friends’ stand: yes or no. Include your (reason) Point #2– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link *

2)State your (reason) Point #1– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link *

3)State your (reason) Point #2– Example, Explain, Elaborate, Link *

4)Provide alternative POV: However, others may argue that…(PEEEL)

5)*Always include your own Personal experience (current or past) using 5W1H, talk about what happened after the experience. Did it change your outlook or perspective on the issue or theme? Did it make you change something about yourself?

6)Global outlook: Link to what is happening in the current society, nation, global news and trends e.g. COVID-19...

7)Restate your point: Therefore, I agree / disagree that...and end off with personal reflection, predictions for future etc

Art is a popular and powerful avenue for people’s self-expression, which can convey anything from personal feelings to socio-political commentary. They are able to pursue their talents and interests , allowing their pieces to speak to a wider audience as well . Those who are born with a natural flair for their specific areas of interests , are able to  to showcase their gift through various forms , while profiting from it at the same time . Thus , it can definitely offer a more satisfying and fulfilling experience for street artists and performers , as well as their audience . 

Although , it can be difficult for street artists or street performers to make a name for themselves and stand out amongst their competition .

Overall , making a living as a street artist or street performer certainly does not appeal to me as it does not provide income stability and it is physically demanding in many aspects 

 

Firstly, Singaporeans spend a lot of their time working or studying and hence lead to less time for them to appreciate art activities. For example, according to a survey on mental health and wellness conducted by Rakuten Insight in Singapore in May 2022, 63 percent of the respondents aged between 16 and 24 years indicated that they had a higher level of stress or anxiety in the past 12 months. This suggests that a lot of people in Singapore have a lot of stress piled up inside them which leads to no time for them to find a hobby like appreciating arts. Even with time on their hands, Singaporeans tend to use their leisure time exercising, sleeping or even touching up on their workload. 

Secondly, Singapore’s education system places a strong emphasis on mathematics and sciences rather than the arts causing the lack of interest and passion in the young generation.  Since the education system does not focus on arts, this leads to the lack of exposure towards arts, youngsters are unable to develop interests in the arts. For example, in Singapore only 2 hours is dedicated to music lessons and art lessons per week in lower secondary unlike the 7 hours in Mathematics or Science. Even when students have a strong calling towards arts, generations in our society have been taught that we need to work hard to get good grades on the core subjects like languages, mathematics and science. Those who are more creative by nature would somewhat conform to the science-maths based education system.Hence Singaporeans do not have a strong interest and passion towards arts.

However, some people would argue that the people in my country are interested in art activities. Singapore has a lot of vibrant arts and culture scenes as there are many museums, galleries and performing arts venues attracting large crowds. For example, The National Gallery Singapore is a popular destination for locals and tourists to hangout with their friends and allow hosts to host many exhibitions. In these places there are always a lot of people around and crowds crowding for the beautiful scene in the venue. A 2017 Singapore Cultural Statistics Report showed that the number of visitors to national museums and heritage institutes increased by nearly 1,370,000 between 2015 and 2016. This rise in the number of Singaporeans going to these venues shows that there is an increasing support and interest in art activities.

Now in the 21st century, these aren’t many Singaporeans who work as artist of any kind. Most Singaporeans work in the computing or engineering field. This can be supported by the number of students who chose to study those fields in the various polytechnics or universities. This proves that not a lot of Singaporeans are interested in the arts industry. And Singaporeans who does work in the arts industries also seem to be struggling apart from a selected few who are successful.

Therefore, Singaporeans are mostly not interested in the arts. As someone who comes from a very small country, we are blessed with good education, however that education is directed to the maths and sciences and those from other countries will only recognise degrees in the various science field and not arts. Hence it is hard to become successful as an artist in Singapore.

Firstly, street performers are less likely to ensure stable income due to factors such as audience engagement. Audience engagement is a key requisite for street performances of which they rely heavily on. Street performers that choose to perform using more interactive segments with their audience are more likely to harness more attention due to their uniqueness. Street performers who employ such approaches often make themselves stand out from their competitors. For example, a street musician who simply plays their instrument without engaging the audience is less likely to receive tips than one who asks for song requests or makes jokes. Engaging with the audience creates relationships and fosters a community. Audiences become invested in the performers because of this, creating loyal fans who provide a guaranteed income for performers. A memorable impression increases the likelihood of the audience returning for more captivating performances that await them. All in all, street performers have to get creative and think outside the box to ensure optimal attention is garnered. This prevents financial problems and ensure a stable income. 

Secondly, the type of art showcased by street artists or performers is another significant factor. Artists' income potential can be gravely affected by the type of art they showcase. Art that is relatable to the audience and looks visually appealing has a higher chance of earning money. The manner in which the art is presented is just as significant as the art itself. Street artists and performers must develop a method of showcasing their art that appeals to their audience to maximize their earning potential. For example, a street artist that creates small, intricate trinkets or artwork on a small canvas may appeal to a wider audience such as tourists. Tourists have a propensity to buy these types of artwork as souvenirs. Artists who create such artwork benefit, especially during the holiday season. A street artist who sells substantial art murals has a lower likelihood of selling their work as it tends to be pricier. Thus, the public's attention gravitates towards other attractions, making artists have a challenging time earning a living from such a venture. Thus, to maximize success, street artists must know their target audience and adjust their artworks accordingly to maximize income.

However, some may argue that making a living as a street artist appeals to them. Street performing serves as a way for people who are passionate about performing to showcase their talents to fellow members of the public. When they see that the audience are enjoying their performance, it ensues a sense of joy in the performer as they feel that their passion and hard work are being spread around and appreciated by others. This not only benefits the performer by gaining invaluable experiences by putting themselves out into the public, but also the audience who can enjoy the performances of street artists or performers as a form of relaxation. This mutual exchange of happiness and joy is what makes street art and performances so special. Thus, it can bring people with similar interests together and connect the artist and their audience.

Secondly basking contradicts the culture or the idea of success in singapore. being an asian society our parents always emphasise the importance of success and would always stress on the 3 big Cs Career,Cash and Car. This materialist outlook towards ones worth and success opposes the idea of basking. For example, on friday the video ms maizura showed shows young basker facing the stigma of being a beggar. Therefore being a basker does not appeal to me as it really opposes the ide of success in sg 

However, I do understand that some may find street performing or busking particularly interesting due to the freedom it permits. Buskers can set their own hours and perform at their own pace, without being tied to any bosses and employers. The autonomy and full creative freedom is something that can be very appealing to some in Singapore, which I feel is more academically focused. Furthermore, busking can provide a thrill like no other. Every day of busking has the potential for a new and unique experience. The nature of busking is such that the audience is a little more than a few meters away, which can lead to more engaging, satisfactory and fulfilling performances. For many street performers, the joy of the performance itself and the full freedom of your own salary is enough to keep them coming back to perform again
A vivid experience was when I attended a performance by a street performer in Ang Mo Kio. The lighthearted tunes and songs intrigued me and hence I strolled over to take a look. I saw a guy with a walnut coloured guitar where had a microphone stand. Mostly, he was singing mandopop songs with a soothing and a passionate voice. I looked into his guitar bag where donations are made and saw a few $2 notes lying about in the bag. This made it look like he is very poor or he is a beggar

Firstly, I am not enticed to be a street performer. In the western countries baskers are usually beggars or drug addicts who restored to performing in order to make end meets or fund their drug habits. This culminated in baskers having a negative connotation as beggars and drug addicts. For example, sometimes when I walk along orchid Road I'll see some baskers and sometimes mothers would tell their child to study harder so 

Being someone who rarely comes across and is not appealed by performing arts, I do not appreciate it as much as others. Growing up, my parents tend to sign me up for sports-related and educational tuitions as they found it more important and useful in helping me to find a career in the future as compared to performing courses like ballet or piano. Therefore, i am not as well-versed or in touch with arts or performances. Besides, the mentality of being a street artist or performer is usually deemed as someone who is poor or uneducated in the older generations. Therefore, being a street artist or performer is believed to earn unstable incomes and unable to support themselves or their family. Hence, i feel that my parents would share the same views as me.

However, some of my classmates may not share my views. I have heard from them that the performing arts industry was getting popular amongst our generation. Although the past where most families would look down at the performing arts industry, some parents nowadays do not have that mentality and are rather open to their children aiming for their interest. This change in opinion of performing arts has allowed students to be more daring, attend to performing arts CCAs and pursue the performing art industry. Hence, I think that my classmates might not share my views.

Generally , I do understand where my friends are coming from. They are considering this field to be a successful one. Looking at famous celebrities, many of them are well paid. However, with my parents continuous repetition about being easily replaced in the arts industry ingrained in me, I also share similar views as my parents. My parents and i both agree that in order to succeed in the arts industry,  a perfect body, image and reputation is required. However, this is extremely difficult to attain. For example, Gigi Hadid, the rich model had to starve herself for three days before the Victoria secret runway with just surviving on just a apple a day. In the arts industry we are forced to forgo our health in the process of succeeding. Therefore, after comparing both views, I would still agree with my parents.