To Oggie: know the work of Ed Alleyne Johnson well & can honestly say that he is the NO.1 inspiration for me to not only take up busking to help support my relocation to Toulouse (also plan to teach spoken English out there) but also Ed's work inspired me to use LOOPING of phrases ... which ultimately would not be possible without some kind of (small) amplifier.
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I'm an electric violin player like Ed by the way. Can understand that things can get TOO LOUD sometimes with some acts >> but then i know acoustic musicians who are loud to the point of SHOUTING almost.
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Interesting point about the selling of CDs Oggie ... good potential in that if allowed to do so >>> & like any other aspect of busking life it requires the public ultimately to "buy" the entertainment value of your act; so maybe it's time to get our act together then ? But we shouldn't forget that we live in modern /or technological times i feel ...