So, I finally went out last night. This being my first time, I waited until rush hour was over, and found a sort of unobtrusive spot in a walkway part of the BART (that’s the San Fran subway). The acoustics were great, but I was also surprised.
My Chieftain A was nice & loud, of course, but my Dixon A, on the higher notes, was louder still. I found that if I really leaned into it, I could get some hefty volume on the Dix, which is odd because at home it’s one of my quieter whistles. I’m always hearing about how some people think Dixons are loud and some think they are quiet–I see now they are both, depending on how & where you play.
I was a little nervous at first and played some of the songs wrong, but once I (and the whistles) warmed up, we were both fine. I made $3, which was a lot for that time of day and my location. In general, people seemed to enjoy it. I plan to go out again in a more populated spot, now that I have some confidence.
Oh, the saddest part was when I finally got thru the 12th-day verse on the 12 Days of Christmas–and with no mistakes and just two breaths–and no one happened to be around to witness this minor miracle! Oh well. Maybe next time.
Anyone else been out there? How’s the caroling season going?
Good for you! Many happy returns.
Charles and I were out on Saturday
at the Soulard Market. I wish we
knew more Christmas carols, still
we did a fair number. Also we
played the blues, and lots
of American folk music and
some celtic tunes too. Mostly
whistle and banjo. I played
mostly my copeland G–my low
D Kerry was too cold. Wore my
silk long johns, a down coat.
Afterwards I bought roses for
my wife at a flower stall–six
bucks for a dozen! Best
I’ve been busking at the Civic Center BART, but last night there was a guitar player in one corridor and a guy with a wooden alto recorder (I think a street person) in the other corridor, so I may have to try busking at Glen Park tonight.
Alas, I’ve had to give up on any idea of busking this season. The city of Santa Cruz did indeed decide to extend its anti-panhandling rules to street performers, with only minor “softening” (buskers must maintain a distance of 10 feet, rather than 14, from all doorways and corners, and must move to a different location every hour). As a result, there are virtually no buskers on the Mall these days…a sad situation, in my opinion. I decided to leave the few “legal” spots (this is not a large city, and the only really worthwhile busking spots are downtown on the Mall) to the people who really need it…though it seems that even they are reluctant to venture out and risk getting fined or arrested. It’s a sad, sad, situation…downtown Santa Cruz without the many musicians and other performers that have always been a part of its charm .
I consoled myself somewhat by parking myself near the exit of my daughter’s school on the last day of the Winter quarter and sending the kids home to the strains of “The First Noel” and “It Came Upon The Midnight Clear.” There was a lot of positive response…from the parents as well as the kids. On the upside, several of the kids said to me “I have one of those, but I don’t know how to play it”…I encouraged them to bring their whistles when school starts again, and said that I would be more than happy to help them get started.
A BART station would be a nice place for a whistler, I think…good acoustics. Glad to hear your first experience was a positive one ($3 isn’t at all a bad take for that kind of location). It gets easier as you go on, doesn’t it? Which BART station did you say you were using? We may get up to The City in the days following Christmas…if we do, I’ll keep my ears open for the sound of a Dixon!
On 2002-12-18 14:39, blackhawk wrote:
Maybe if we get enough notice, some of us locals might come give some moral support, Kar. What time are you busking?
Oooh…there’s a thought! Post-Christmas busking party in The City, anyone? I’m swamped with the choir between now and the 25th, but Christmas does run for 12 days, after all
Redwolf, that is indeed sad. One would figure your in a great location for street performing, from Santa Cruz all the way down to Big Sur village. Including all the spots in between where no one would ever hear you. I think the key here is to remember that your playing outside in a different enviornment, as Kar points out. It can’t be about the money. By the way Kar don’t forget to file your earnings!! It is interesting how each of us musicly react to different locations and dare I say “energy zones”. Sorry folks, and I’m not turning new age. But as the pro’s know, it’s the name of the game. Calling it Busking is romantic but it carries social prejudices that can kill our god given right to play music, as Redwolf observes in his lovely part of the world. This brings up the point of intrusion. It’s up to yourself to decide if you are enhancing or anoying the &#^$ out of those around you.
way to go Kar! i haven’t gotten my courage up yet attempt to “busk.” i have thought about it, but not attempted. besides, here in TX, i’m not sure the “culture” is suited for it. maybe if I wore boots, spurs, vest and hat and played an irish version of achy breaky . . . then again maybe not.
The price of liberty is constant
vigilance–street musicians have
to be ready to exercise their
democratic rights to petition
for change of laws, to go to
city council meetings, to write
letters to papers, to organzie,etc. In New
Orleans, street musicians are mostly
always involved in an ongoing
tiff with merchants to shut them
down via various ordinances.
The City Council is the place
where competing interests meet;
so far the musicians have managed
to keep themselves in business by
being politically active.
Well, it isn’t being handed down
from Mt. Sinai, we can do something
about it. Options are available other
than merely lamenting the lost America we
loved. best, Jim
On 2002-12-18 15:52, jackorion wrote:
Redwolf, that is indeed sad. One would figure your in a great location for street performing, from Santa Cruz all the way down to Big Sur village. Including all the spots in between where no one would ever hear you. I think the key here is to remember that your playing outside in a different enviornment, as Kar points out. It can’t be about the money. By the way Kar don’t forget to file your earnings!! It is interesting how each of us musicly react to different locations and dare I say “energy zones”. Sorry folks, and I’m not turning new age. But as the pro’s know, it’s the name of the game. Calling it Busking is romantic but it carries social prejudices that can kill our god given right to play music, as Redwolf observes in his lovely part of the world. This brings up the point of intrusion. It’s up to yourself to decide if you are enhancing or anoying the ?^$ out of those around you.
Keep your senses keen out there.
Oh, one can play just about anywhere here…it’s putting out a hat that is regulated (and that’s what makes it busking). I had planned to do some busking for charity this Adventide, but the new laws put the kibosh on that…too many people here really do depend on that street money to survive.
The buskers here have been very involved in the city council meetings on the subject, and were even discussing forming a self-regulating guild, but the council just isn’t willing to deal.
Oh, it’s VERY nice that some of you said you might come offer moral support, but I think I’d be REALLY embarassed to play in front of another whistler! However, I shoot for between 4ish and 6ish, when I go, which has only been twice so far. I don’t think I will be out this weekend, but if I do go, I’ll try and find a shopping area rather than a BART.
And I’m not filing the earnings because I am giving away anything I make to the homeless people in the area (for which you don’t get receipts anyway). A sort of informal spreading around of the wealth. In fact, I’m happy to play for free, but people seem confused if you don’t have a hat out. Like, are they supposed to still enjoy it?
The real reason I do it: I have always wanted to be a street musician, and now I can sort of get away with it even though I really don’t play all that well. It’s festive, so it’s fun.
Go for it Kar, I tried busking at a stage of my whistling career when I wondered if I should indeed be busking at all, and found it was the best thing I ever did for my whistling. These days when I play on stage, I treat it as though I were busking, just sit down and start playing, the audience don’t worry me any more, it feels just like busking did when I was enjoying it.
The most experienced people in the
USA in fighting this sort of battle
probably are Roselyn and David Leonard, street singers in New Orleans and other places for 30 years or more. They recruited
me into the civil rights movement
in 1962–she’s black, he’s white,
and they are world-class veterans of continuing legal combat concerning busking.
They’ve been harassed by police,
arrested, you name it. Their
e mail is dayro@bellsouth.net
Suggest you contact them or give
their names to whoever is
directing the legal response
to the new ordinances where
you are. They’ve forgotten
more about how to deal with
this sort of thing than most
of us will ever know–and
they do care about your situation.
You’ve tried the rest,
now try the best–and if you
do, please give them my love. Best, Jim
Well, last night’s busking went very well. I started after rush hour (around 6:00p) and in about an hour, I made $15! The nicest thing about the money was it totally made me feel validated, like I actually can play.
Also, I don’t know if anyone else has experienced this, but when I try and make eye contact with someone while playing–like a thank you nod when they tip me–I lose concentration and can’t play! It’s very odd.
Oh yes, aventuria–I’ve also been playing that poor man’s Sindt you traded me. It’s one of my three main whistles now…
Also, I don’t know if anyone else has experienced this, but when I try and make eye contact with someone while playing–like a thank you nod when they tip me–I lose concentration and can’t play! It’s very odd.
I think most of us have had that happen…something distracts you (such as acknowledging a tip) and you kind of lose your place in the tune. It will go away, with time, although you may find it reappearing in odd places…for example, I find that I lose my place badly if I try to pay attention to the dancers when I’m playing for the Morris troupe…I can watch them, no problem (important for keeping the rythym going, but if I try to actually pay attention to what they’re doing, I get in a muddle.
.