The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #36141   Message #524067
Posted By: GUEST,ghost
08-Aug-01 - 10:52 PM
Thread Name: Busking etiquette
Subject: RE: Busking etiquette
Wow, I can't believe how many of those who have posted here and at the previous site about busking have touched on the many things I would have to say. Of horror stories about this curious endeavor I could go on and on. The radio thing happened to me recently at the Pike Place Market in Seattle where I busk now not so regularly. It was a veggie vendor who cannot stand my musical saw playing, or so he says to his customers, loud enough for me to catch. Many of them tip me despite his comments. I'm a guitarist but most everyone there plays guitar and I find that there is too little response to my guitar work so about ten years ago I started tryin' to tame the unruly blade. I have, in the that amount of time, managed to advance my ability on that handtool significantly and I've found that playing this particular implement lends itself to many humorous asides. So much of what I do between tunes is silliness, trying to coax a smile from my listeners. As to the discomfort that my playing may have to 'some' within earshot I can only repeat that old line about how you can't please everyone. By far though the vast majority of folks are or seem by all accounts to be delighted with my efforts. So dial that one in to your radio mister veggie merchant. I know that trying to please everyone, even this annoying person, is or should be a proper goal if harmony on the planet is something you value but paying the bills is also a nagging habit that persists each month without fail. So where does one compromise? Yes the vendors enjoy my guitar and my songs but if I can't make enough $ doing that stuff am I to starve myself to accomodate their entertainment?

Thanks to all who have been posting on this subject. reggie miles