How many of us on our daily commute walk by these people in the underground or on the streets busking? How many of us stop to listen? How many of us turn our noses up in disgust, looking at them like disease riddled vermin, infesting the public, poisoning us by ‘injecting’ their ‘music’ into our earholes? How many of us wish they’d stop that almighty racket? How many of us drop some money in their hats, cases, etc.?
People busk for different reasons. Many famous actors/actresses, magicians and musicians began their careers by busking in the streets. People busk perhaps because they want to be heard on a free, public stage with an ever-changing audience. Maybe someone might walk by and offer them a deal. Others busk because they need the money. They don’t have a job, or have a low paying job and they’re seeking to supplement their income by busking. Some people busk just for the hell of it.
Whatever their reasons, buskers add some ‘flavour’ to daily life and I have to admit I do find it quite refreshing walking through the underground listening to these talented musicians breaking up the monotonous drone of feet rushing to get from A to B. I enjoy stopping and watching them perform in the streets occasionally. They are a welcome distraction from the machine that is my mind running on overdrive.
This post is dedicated to the street performers who entertain us for whatever reason. Next time you walk past one, drop them a few coins. You don’t know their situation and those few pennies or pounds might be their meal for the day. It might help to fund a new instrument or repair it, or even help with their tuition. You never know. I’d rather see people busking, perfecting and sharing their art/skill/talent rather than robbing and stealing, or just doing nothing and taking our hard earned taxes to live on. One love.
Damiology 
I’m a busker, too. It takes a lot of guts to put up with all that rejection you get on the street. And you’re right, some of the greatest performers ever started out on the street. Bernie Mac, Jessica Lange, Hank Williams Sr., Orson Welles, Michael Davis, Penn & Teller, Franz Harary, Dixie Chicks, Harry Anderson, et al.
Here’s me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPmwVXh7sNg&list=PL4D2373606B9F01BB&index=2
I also just published a new novel about busking: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DSSN5SU
Toss in a couple pieces of lettuce, but keep the silver in your pocket.
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Thanks for stopping by. I just had a look at your videos. Impressive! How long have you been performing and why do you do it? The book sounds very interesting too. You are clearly a gifted man. One love.
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I busk because you only get good at something if you do it over and over again. The street is the only place where I can get that repetition. Musicians can perform in practice rooms and it’s nearly the same as playing Carnegie Hall. However, to get good at stage magic, you have to have a large audience in front of you. Last week, I came up with a very clever joke. However, it took a few performances to realize that it offended about 5% of the people. I don’t want that kind of audience offense, so I let it go. In a stage situation, it’s hard to tell when you’ve offended 5% of the audience. On the street, they just leave. Lots more to talk about on this topic, so I’ll just stop here. 🙂
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I guess you can’t please all the people all the time. Hope it works out for you and you’re right about there being a lot to talk about on the topic. Good luck brother. One love.
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Congratulations on a wonderful post. Your punchy black and white street lifes-I like your photo-style. I’ve never tried busking, but the world of being a musician is changing. Computerised backing and autotune has brought many to the stage, that before would have done something else. I love to listen to a great musician or be entertained. Plus the experience of performing in front of an audience for those who are new-where do they play? I didn’t realise Buskers were treated like that, thanks for opening my eyes. It must take enormous courage, every day.
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Thank you happy person 😀 ! I have a lot of respect for for buskers and in my experience they are very good at what they do. I suppose the only way we can understand is to explore their world, which I imagine can be quite challenging but gratifying as well. I totally agree with you that the world of music is changing. The whole synthesis of sounds and computerisation of arrangements take away so much from the music. This is why I enjoy live music – I see the musicians working their instruments, I can feel their emotions and almost taste their passion. Know what I mean? Thanks for stopping by and keep posting happy notes. One love 🙂
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That’s exactly it. The passion, feeling, and skill of talented live musicians is alive and a sensation, whether played on the street with a hat at your feet or on a stage in a gargantuan stadium. Thanks for dropping by and saying hi, and for your well-thought-out reply. Your blog is great. 😀
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