Just a note to say that i finally made my debute
playing flute on the street and it worked very well.
The Seery is a great street flute, it’s loud,
it blends well with guitar and banjo. In the morning
the third octave D was flat, cause it was cold,
but by about one the sun warmed the flute
into tune. It’s much easier to play a very warm
polymer flute. Thanks to all
who recommended I do this–the low D
whistle wasn’t loud enough. This is.
The philosophy professor is busking? That’s great, Jim, I admire your courage. What did you play? How did people react?
Yes, I’m a proud member of The Bates Street Folk N’ Blues
Band here in St. Louis. We usually play at the Soulard
Farmer’s market–also we do rendezvous, weddings,
Eagle Scout ceremonies, and one funeral for a rooster.
We’re very well received and we’re constantly
drafting people into our act, especially children.
Usually it’s me, Charles Haller on banjo and guitar,
Charlie Poole on fiddle, and Matt on banjo, but mostly
it’s me (Dogtown Jimmy) and Charles. Sometimes
we actually make money.
We do mostly American folk music, blues,
and celtic. Also we sing Beethoven’s 9th symphony.
The flute is what’s new, you see.
I’ve done a fair amount of busking in Europe, especially
in Paris, where I learned to play ‘La Vie En Rose,’
on the whistle. I actually made a fair amount
of money in Ireland, before I realized how bad
I was. In Austria I was stopped by the police for
busking without a license. I decided to get one
and asked my colleagues at the Jesuit Theology
Faculty of the University of Innsbruck where to
apply, but they begged me not to. Said I would
be asked if I was working and it would embarrass
them if I explained that I was teaching there.
I offered to busk with a sign on my jar saying
‘Support the Jesuits!’ but they just wouldn’t listen
to reason. Best
Hey Jim,was it the Jesuits who said “Give the boy of 7 a whistle,and He is a Whistler for life.”? 
Jim,
I’m in St. Louis now, for the next 5-6 weeks. Shoot me the exact location, days, and times you usually play out on the street and I’ll try to stop by and say hi, might even bring my Olwell for you to try out (although I’ve been working so much my embouchure has gone to crap).
Directions would be extremely helpful as I don’t know St. Louis well at all. I’d becoming from Dorsett and 270 - the Maryland Heights area.
Loren
Missed you, Loren…
M
Hi Loren,
We’re out in front of the Soulard Farmer’s Market
on Saturdays, starting abou 9 till 2. The Market is
a square block, we’re in the vicinity of Lafayette and 9th,
we’re on the North-west corner. Soulard is south of downtown.
Sorry about these directions–I don’t know where things
are either–but you can get to us for sure; also it’s
a neat part of town.
Music Folk has a session each Weds nt at 7, all are welcome,
led by Jerry Mahoney. Music Folk is in Webster Groves,
which is a bit south of the downtown area, on Big Bend Blvd.
This is a very neat music store–314-961-2838.
If you call them they’ll give you better directions.
Highway 55 runs close by.
Focal Point is on Sutton Street just south of Manchester,
just east of Big Bend Blvd in Maplewood. A very good
acoustic jam on Thurs nts starting at 7–all sorts of
music, including celtic. 3 dollar admission waived
for first timers.
Hope to see you. Welcome to St. Louis, Jim