What It's Like Performing in the NYC Subway: Busking
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: to.pbs.org/Dona...
↓ More info below ↓
Busking, also called street performance is the act of playing in public for donations. The tradition goes back to ancient history and has launched the careers of artists Robin Williams, Ed Sheeran, and Sheryl Crow.
Nahre Sol visits the amazing musicians of the New York City subway to learn about why they busk. Later she gets tips from the pro buskers and attempts busking herself with her friend Dotan Negrin from Piano Around.
Follow the musicians in this video!
Dee Who: / @thedeewho
Nessa Dove: / nessadovemusic
Yut Chia: / yutviolinist
Troy Weekes: / troyweekesmusic
Gabrielle Aldort: / @galdortmusic
Koku Gonza: / kokugonza
Emma Park-Hazel: / emmaphsings
Susan Keser: / susankeser
WATCH MORE SOUND FIELD
The Sound of NYC’s Underground Vogue Scene
• The Sound of NYC’s Und...
What Makes Black Gospel Musicians So Skilled?
• From the Church to the...
Please SUBSCRIBE! ►► tinyurl.com/So...
We like music. You like music. Let’s break it down. Sound Field is a PBS Digital Studios web series produced by Rewire.org. #SoundFieldPBS #Rewire #PBSDigitalStudios #documentary
SHOUT OUT to all the amazing musicians 🎶 featured in this video and you better go follow them! links in the description! 💞 💕 💞 As always if you like what you see, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE 🙃
this was an experience. Felt more like i was watching a minidocumentary than a youtube video. The editing and audio design especially stood out. Excellent job!
Thanks so much for having me as a part of this show, and for making such great content in general. All your shows are so well done and thoughtfully presented. Sound Field shows are some of the best content that TH-cam has to offer and I'm mad proud to be in one of them! 🙏🤘💖
Now that's epic without disrespect at all! Hands up & down!
I love your music ! soo chill reminds me of dublab LA. Would love to collab some time :)
If I turned a corner in the Subway to see Nahre busking, I would definitely fanboy at least slightly.
How slightly?
Native Engine Because the artists are constantly moving around and very rarely have a business card or time to keep written info handy. 🎼 🚊 That’s New York City for you!
@@SheWhoComesAtNight Thank you.
Okay not really slightly, that was just tongue-in-cheek lol. I'd probably freak out just as much as if I saw Kirk Hammett or Dave Grohl
Haha me too! Totally.
Soundfield ALWAYS come up with a new and interesting angle to study music, you guys are sick!
You're so kind thank you! We are having fun :)
No, they're perfectly healthy.
"Sorry I farted on your world. It's my idea of a nice smell."
Fancy seeing you here!
@@MisterAppleEsq Apple!!
🤣😂 I was a little embarrassed when that just flew out of my mouth, but um... 🤷♂️
@@TheDeeWho When you said it, I felt it! You're great!
N she be “wait what!!!”
4:56 was straight up police abuse of power. I can see if the person is bothering people , but most buskers are at the most entertaining and are the least annoying. No need for all of that.
That was uncalled for. By the police officer's reaction you would think that guy was brandishing a knife or something.
@@12012channel ACAB, ACAB forever and always
When the best music is the music you'll never hear.
That's the truth
The best music is the music you make bud
The London Underground has a similar system to the NY Subway. There are licensed buskers only playing the system. I'd like to say 'Thanks' to Trevor, a black musician of Carribean origins, wearing a hat and playing an amplified acoustic guitar. I used to encounter him at Liverpool Street Station in London when I workedin the City. I love his strumming which I always found uplifting. He made me a couple of cassettes of his music. If you come across him, please listen and donate if you like what he does. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I'll be looking out for Trevor. He sounds amazing.
@TruMusic89 I've seen those videos too of the piano that's set up down there!
@@SoundFieldPBS Lol. You'll have to come over to London (UK) to see him then. I'm sure he will be pleased to meet you..
@TruMusic89 There are upright pianos dotted around public areas all over London, for anyone to play. Sometimes they get hijacked by TH-camrs.
Hell yeah, the Tube has the raddest buskers. Also the upright pianos in stations rule... I usually play memes.
Clicked for Dotan and Nahre, stayed for the stories.
Dotan and Nahre are some of the most fun people to work with! This video almost didn't work out, but the optimism and excitement made it all happen.
@@SoundFieldPBS why, had trouble getting the footage as planned?
@@jasonlieberman4606 It was a very tight schedule and we had gear limitations, but Dotan came with a very excited energy and it helped us cross the finish line !
@@SoundFieldPBS wow I'm so glad. This is one of the best videos on this channel so far (and there are a lot of great videos)
Hey! I'm a student in ethnomusicology in Paris and i'm really passionate about busking in the Paris subway, so this video is just a treat for me! It's so interesting to see how this kind of musical performance is lived in an other major city and it's great to be able to see what's similar and what's different between the two! I hope I one day get the chance to experience the New York busking by myself!
You should post some of your performances to youtube I'd love to watch them.
John Nash Don't go to New York though. In a world where air pollution kills 8 million people a year, flying across the ocean for fun is a really bad idea.
i hope you don't... you guys are intruding on our quiet... nobody is on the subway to hear a music show... it's the absolute worst when you're trying to catch a nap because you'll be riding for an hour or just to enjoy some quiet because you're tired
please don't come to NY to do this... we have enough of these folks as it is
@@notimportant3686 you my friend are living in the wrong town. Best of luck to you, you gonna need it!
@@TheDeeWho doesn't everyone need luck?... what a stupid comment
Oh my god! Nahre is so amazing. She's so talented with keys and has the same talent in words.
She's a gift to this world
28 is a suspiciously low number, especially given that it's just a permit, not like, something that gives salary
That's what I'm saying!
incredibly low considering there are close to 500 subway stations and the busier ones could easily have a handful of performers in each.
@@christopherkotsopoulos701 ... So you're saying there isn't even enough applicants?
@Romaji - The most basic explanation is that bureaucracies expect to exercise tight control over their sphere of influence. They see the musicians as an unwanted and unwarranted intrusion on their turf.
Acab
I've asked this before on previous episodes but again, any chance more footage of Nahre busking will be released? They sound absolutely amazing together.
I could make that happen...
I'd love an episode on Noise/Ambient and Drone music. Just thought I'd throw this out here. Really loving this series.
It's incredible to know all the stories from this musicians, at some point of my life I busk, and recently I went to interview and colaborate with some busking musicians for a TH-cam video. Being able to be on the different sides of this activity gives you prespective. If you see a busking musician, give him/her your support by listening and donating. Nice work!
Busking: "Performing for someone in their space." Such a great definition and explains why it's so intimately difficult. Great video!
Hey Mike thank you!!
I can't believe someone gave a thumbs down to this wholesome content. The internet is a scary place
If that discourages you, you're doing it for the wrong reasons. :)
Brian McDonald
Joke ---->
Head
@@tiffy717 Right back at you.
Brian McDonald oh snap
@@unknownarchitect1 this is 3d chess
*new Sound Field video is up*
*AWWWWWWW YEAAAAAAA*
🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
🎵🎶🎻🎸🎷
It's a holiday!
@@SoundFieldPBS it is! 🙌😄✨
An additional issue is that there are not many venues to play at anymore and the business model for venues is to get butts in seats and sell drinks. There are so few places to play for younger musicians and musicians outside the mainstream that being able to play and generate some attention and $$ is a necessity. As the venues and opportunities disappear artists get more creative about creating windows of possibility. jacob Collier became well known for his innovative vocal arrangements and videos that he made in his bedroom. Also Nahre I always like how open minded and open hearted you are about exploring the process of sharing music. Thanks!
No way! I’ve seen the DeeWho on the 6 train! I got his card and told him I play bass too! Great guy and even greater music! Keep it up!
Dee is amazing! That’s so cool you’ve met him. He’s really getting out there
💖 💖 💖
Busking gave me freedom to explore the ideas I had on guitar in a live context. No one was listening more than a few minutes at most. So I could just make shit up on the fly. React to people walking by in song. Or explore variations on a song I already knew.
This Is amazing journalism. these people and their stories are so Important and Inspire me. Thank you!
I pass Susan Keser often on my commute, and even though I'm wearing headphones, I pause my music so I can hear her playing.
Gymnopédies always sounds like it has to be played with soft gloves!
Why would anyone say anything terrible about that young woman at 10:20, she has a very pleasant singing voice. :)
Great video. Nahre Sol videos are great. :)
BloggerMusicMan jealousy
People can be evil
Haters gonna hate! But like she said, most of the time haters actually motivate other people to give more money, so I appreciate the hell out of them. 👍
Cities have tons of crazy people just because they have tons of people.
Even if her voice wasn't all that great no one should ever do that as it's to me a form of assault or harassment when they keep repeating and interfering.
Karens, boomers etc.
Gabriel Aldort is the one that convinced me to buy a keyboard after seeing him demonstrate yamaha keyboards. What a god.
He's got such a big personality!
As confounded as the fart analogy was I feel that
i felt that dee who
Omg everyone loves the fart line... 🤦♂️🤣😂
this video made me tear up . I just love it when i get to see pure passion in people .
I'm crying with you! PURE PASSION
@@SoundFieldPBS thank you for doing what you do . I'm always inspired by your videos .
This brings to mind the vid Adam Neely and Mary Spender did on Busking. I'm truly tempted to try it in my own locality, after this Covid-19 business goes away.
As someone that lives in nyc and sees buskers on the daily... I think part of the discomfort as an audience member is the guilt of not being able to give or feeling like you HAVE to give, so it’s easier to not make eye contact or pretend you’re ignoring them
as a way to mitigate that issue. Also, people (homeless, performers, etc) ask for money all the time on trains.... sometimes I just wanna enjoy my own time on the train
Nonetheless, interesting to get their prospective
Who ever thought Fur Elise would be a good busking piece.
"Lot of people people are walls to talk at" lol
Dee Who is so wise
He drops a lot of quote bombs
Yes. The fart metaphor was gold
There’s a Yiddish expression about talking to people who you can't reach. It translates literally as “I talk to the wall.” Figuratively more like “I should talk to the wall” or “I might as well talk to the wall.”
🙏🙏🙏 I don't know about wise, but I guess I was apparently good for a quote bomb or 2...😂
Excellent story. I haven't had opportunity to spend a lot of time in NYC, even less on the subway. The buskers I saw weren't nearly as talented as these people. Koko Gonza in particular has a truly fascinating sound. Nice work as always, Sound Field.
Thanks for watching Brian, we appreciate you and your thoughtful responses
14:43 Für Elise as background with Jazz chords (I suppose?), and Dotan playing a melody over it ... all on Rhodes, with a melancholic vibe (and you smile). Oh man, you really know how to make my soul chime and my eyes get wet while I smile. 💞
Even the beautiful Canal St. tiles fit well as framing for this. 💞
16:31 And the view of New York at dusk over the Hudson 💕 ... sigh :) ... have you read my comment about this mental image on one of the other Soundfield videos? 🤔 :D
I live here in Barcelona where they have banned any kind of entertainment from public places except a few Spanish musicians who get to play regularly in certain spots by the Cathedral of Barcelona. When I first lived here in 2003, I loved all the variety of entertainment and stopped to watch or listen to them. I miss that now as I go on my walks. I'm hoping they allow musicians and performers of all kinds to perform in those public places again before I'm not able to walk anymore.
wait, Nahre and Dotan only made 2 dollars? I think you guys deserved more D:
These people are all so talented. It's good they are not singing to walls in their apartments.
I'm a traveling busker..
I'm currently busking in Savannah Georgia ... but they don't allow amps 😔
But Love this !
SPARKY SINN I’ve done Savannah, River Street and with a small portable amp... You’ve gotta keep your eyes peeled for the popo. If you can see them, they can hear you.
@@josephhocking4345 I was going to try it... because it's wayyy better with an amp... they just changed the laws amd made them stricter 😢...
I'm not as worried about cops caring as I am others reporting me because they are jealous that I'm using an amp .. or the stores... but I have microphones amd stuff so it's a lot harder to quickly hide that I'm using an amp....
Ditch the Mic, work on projection, I know 8ts difficult... You need to minimize any appearances that you are using any type of amp or speaker. If you play acoustic, you got a head start but, a Mic on a stand is a dead give away. Personally, I try to mask ANY indication that I'm ready to play at literally any moment, even my tip bag situation is on the real down low until absolutely necessary.
Good luck, mate!
I hope you guys explore all genres of Music cause music is music
all music is music!
@Arpicembalo wow, you must be incredibly naive to be so proudly and publicly wrong
@Arpicembalo
all music is music. especially playboi carti, he invented music
I love New York. When I go, Im going for the art scene. I defiantly will make a trip just to check the busking scene out, because when i was a kid i was a street performer, and circus kid. would be great to see and feel that energy agian.
I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!!!
PLEASE EXPLORE CONTEMPORARY REGGAE NEXT💖💖💗💞💞💞💞💞
Thanks for watching with us and that's a great idea! Any specific artists you'd like to hear us talk about?
@@SoundFieldPBS Oh wow! Thanks for Replying! First watch Koffe NPR tiny desk she just became the first female to win a Grammy in the reggae category. Other important artists would have to be : Damian Marley Protoje and Chronnixx. 😁😁😁
@@SoundFieldPBS Look at the Skints from London.
@@alexrose8900 yoooo I love the Skints!!!
“Protection from law enforcement”. Never thought I would here that in my life.
I've gotten so desensitized to abuse of power by the police that I didn't even notice the irony in that sentence until you pointed it out 😧
@@sabrinasmusic oh god that happened to me too
So awesome to be part of this!! To see more of my performance check my TH-cam Page. Honored to speak on the Busking Culture of NYC. It truly is amazing
Reminds me of the story I saw some time back of Joshua Bell busking in the subway and making no money.
Hats off to anyone who tries to reach out to a stranger, whether it’s through music or just saying ‘good morning’. Enjoyed the video. Thanks.
People busking on the platform is cool, and non amplified on the train cars is cool, but dear lord please don’t crank your amp on an enclosed train car at rush hour. That’s just rude.
That's very true. That's why I am always very aware of my volume. Very understandably, I often get the "oh God" eye roll when I walk onto a train car and people see my amp. But I've never woken a sleeping baby and old people love me. It's actually one of the ways I can tell if someone had never seen me play before, because the scowls almost always turn to smiles once I begin.
Also I try always to skip the crowded cars, I agree that's crazy. 👍
Wait a minute ... I didn't know Gabe was a busker! When I used to work at Guitar Center in Astoria, he was the sales rep for Yamaha. One of the coolest dudes I know.
Really fun nice guy!
I am disappointed in the amount of money Dotan & Nahre got in the end, because it does show how busking does favour louder approaches. Honestly, I would love listening to a busker play understated jazzy improv keys on a rainy day in the city
"Protection FROM law enforcement" OH WOW SO TRUE
I prefer to give money to a busker than to someone who just stands there with a hand out or with some lame excuse. I feel like I'm getting some value for my money.
Cold but true.
I’ve come across so many great subway performers in New York, can’t imagine the city without them
I especially like Koku Gonza.
Me too. Incredible voice. Incredible charisma.
I came across Dee Who for the first time on the 7 train a few weeks back and he was super dope. Living in NYC, especially riding the subway, can sometimes feel lonely because of how closed off we New Yorkers tend to be. In my opinion, these buskers bring back a bit of that human warmth and it wouldn't be the same without them.
💖💖💖🙏🙏🙏🤘👍💪
Wow, straight up starting with "Yo, this place smells like urine."
Awesome.
That had me laughing
0:15
15 seconds in and she roasts the entire city XD
Emma Park Hazel is amaaaazing 😍😍😍
You should check her out on instagram! emmaparkhazel :)
@@SoundFieldPBS Oh I'm already there ! Lol... Thank you so much for what you are doing for music! I love you guys! 😍😭
Oh and Koku Gonza is awesome
Just passing by to say Nahre’s last name “Sol” means sun in portuguese ☺️
Yeah. When I've been caught singing and playing my ukulele outdoors at my local park or the beach, the most frequent comments are:
- "If you quit picking it, maybe it will heal!"
- "You should sing solo. So low I can't hear you!"
But it did result in my meeting my music teacher, who gave me my first lesson free, on the spot!
Turned out I had a natural ability to "find the key", harmonize, then improvise, despite being unable to read music.
So now I will occasionally sing along with buskers I see, especially when they don't have a crowd, and sometimes they'll even invite me up to the mic!
Still need to work on the uke...
That handsome talented Asian bass player should be able to get into any band...he sings too.
Made $10 with my ukulele and I wasn't even busking.
This was beautiful. I feel like this could be a long form series of its own.
I agree it could easily be a traveling series! Nahre said she's going to try busking again on her own channel :)
Awwe yeahhh, this is gonna be lit!!
It's a big one!
This channel is like candy!
Shout out Gymnopédie No.1 at 12:57 🙌🏿
They're not supposed to perform in the trains, though. I actually find it annoying when people put on performances in the trains.
I feel you. I'm a New Yorker too and sometimes you just don't want "showtime" sweeping through your car. That's why I make it my policy to never wake a sleeping baby and to always try to please the old people. But on the "not supposed to" count, see my line about breaking the law at 6:35... 😂🤷♂️
You guys should make a video about acid house and the impact the roland tb-303 (bassline synth that was a commercial failure) had on dance music!!
I feel so inspired to be braver about my music. Kind of makes me wish I lived somewhere with more public spaces.
Hey Nahre- big fan. The last time that I tried busking in Manhattan, I made over $20, but when I got back to my car, there were several parking tickets, so had to pay the city over $100.
Nahre, this was a great piece! New York is full of so many types of musicians playing in the subways and Outside... There are so many different acts that you could actually do a few different segments. As an example, sometimes at 34th st. Penn Station there used to be the equivalent of a Jazz Band jamming... Please keep up the good work!!!!!!!!
Hey guys I found your Channel today because of a recommendation from The Art Assigment episode I have just watched, I got engage with your documentary and content, Hi from Honduras 🇭🇳
How can one busker not from the USA busk legally in Nyc for 2 weeks?I would love to come just during 2 weeks and busk there.Is it possible legally?
OK, I am going to get craped on for being a hater but I have mixed feelings about busking. On a platform I don't mind because the audience can just walk away freely without being noticed but I disagree with doing in a car train because the audience can not move freely. You are pretty much trapped. If you try remove yourself from the situation it becomes awkward because you disrupting the performance and that is where the tension comes from. Even if you don't need to move, talking to someone becomes awkward because now you are disrupting both the musician and the audience. You become like the person who talks at the movie theatre. On a platform, you can move to a place where you can freely talk without being disrupted or disrupting others. Also, as someone who takes public transportation, sometimes I just want silence. I can drown out others talking or the sound of the train and just becomes background noise but when a busker starts making music on an actual car train it becomes amplified and honestly sometimes becomes like an assault to the ears. Alright, musicians bring on the hate and thumbs down.
I love how "protection from law enforcement" has come to mean not that the enforcers will protect you, but that you are protected from the enforcers.
Personally I don't mind or even like busking in open spaces. But when I'm in the subway that I have to use to get around and cannot leave if I don't like the music I get really annoyed really fast.
I find it to be very interesting how buskers knowingly "impose" themselves on other people, trying to breach the walls that current society has created in supplying people with on-demand music any place any time. It takes a lot of courage to face these walls day in, day out. As a music lover of many genres and someone who loves his graphs and stats when it comes when it comes to research into a topic I'd be very interested in seeing what percentage of subway users the music actively reaches, what percentage engages with the music and how that engagement is divided into positive and negative interaction. As not all music can be pleasant to all people I'd fear the 1 negative interaction enough to not ever busk my music even if it stands against the 100 people who'd enjoy it, just because of the confontation. That's why the comment of "at a concert people almost guaranteed come for your music, whereas busking that's not the case" really spoke to me. Props to anyone willing to provide their music in public these days, I will always appreciate it.
I guess the benefit of playing the trombone is that it’s so loud without amplification so I could play and be heard from very far away without needing a permit.
I lived and busked in the subway for years, I have been stuck in Japan since January 2020 last year because of covid, I herd the money isnt good anymore to busk in NYC Subway without the tourest. I don't know if I should go back. That was my full time job.... What do you think?
Using the metaphor mentioned in the video, farting on the platform is one thing, farting inside the car is another. People use their commuting time in a lot of different ways. It’s hard to read when someone is in the car playing a saxophone. Playing off in one place is OK because you can walk away, standing in front of me in a café playing amplified music isn’t OK.
I’ll walk across a street to give money to someone playing, but get in my face and it’s like a mugging (busker + mugger = bugger). With that said, I hope to be good enough one day to be a busker, at least for a day.
I don't mind the performances at the stop, but on the train I have the right not to be bothered by these people. Same way when people come on and beg the car for money with their hard luck stories.
Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to appear in this video! Based on some of the great comments below, I created a video detailing my personal experience busking in the NYC subway. Check it out! th-cam.com/video/ffMGtg2S-MI/w-d-xo.html
What I learned from this is that Nahre Sol must be rather short.
Weird that you guys only made $2 though...
They didn't know the talent they were passing by....
In my humble opinion, the Canal Street subway stations are not profitable places in which to busk.
@@eaterdrinker000 That's a good opinion, unfortunately we didn't have a lot of time and had to go to the closest station to us at the moment.
@@SoundFieldPBS : Oh, I meant that as tongue-in-cheek humor, without malice. As both straphangers and buskers would attest (and which the video confirms), great performance locations are hard to come by!
@@eaterdrinker000 no malice received! I think you're very correct
Naturally, like everything else, it’s the police causing a problem to the city’s life.
the crossover I didn't know I needed! Been a fan of Dotan for a while!
Dotan is so kind and amazing.
He sure is!!!
An idea for a video or short series: Find an older person who loves music but has never played and see what they are able to learn in a fairly short time. First, explore a few instruments that they like to listen to. Select one. Hook them up with a good teacher. Someone who has experience teaching someone to play in a short period of time.
It would be an inspiration for those who have never played (young or old) to see what can be possible. I know great things are possible.
I've lived in NYC pretty much all my life, away for my freshman year at college now but I always respected buskers. Picked up guitar and taught myself just over two years ago but I've only ever performed in front of an audience once, was my first time singing in front of people too. God damn I was nervous as hell. This was a beautiful video, I wanna try and push myself and actually perform more. I love playing the guitar (although I'm not particularly great). One day when I'm back in NYC, I think I might try giving busking a shot just because why the hell not?
16:25 I think the reason why you only made $2 was because you looked like you were still setting up and just practicing.
I love Nahre's genuine interest and admiration..
I just sent my application in. I'm going to do it anyway in NYC
Thank you for another interesting video. Again, I have learned about am area of music that I know very little about. I have enjoyed street music in New Orleans but little else. I'm so glad I found you.
Love this! However, when you were playing at the end it didn't really feel like you were loving it. There wasn't much passion there. I give to street artists often but I first have to feel like they are loving what they are doing or if they're just doing for money or just going through the motions. There have been times where I gave a huge tip because the artist literally brought me to tears with the music.
Recently in Chicago a busker I know got stabbed by some lady then she smashed his guitar
Just learned a new word, busking. Talented musicians with sincere hearts.
"if one day i was to look back at these years as the best years of my life, i'd be okay with that"
damn.
That *superbly jazzy* improv over Für Elise really got me going. If I was walking through the subway on my old commute and heard that I would probably burst into silent tears.
This should be a series where each episode is it’s own profile of the various performers. Busking is a fascinating topic to examine and it’s very easy to have an uninformed opinion based on a short video, edited or not, or even 5 minutes of in-the-flesh observation...
I do like your video but, I wish it explored more of the social issues involved in busking and how we’re received. There was one thing specifically that I disagreed with; the white male keyboardist sitting at 125 St said something like, ‘if you’re not making money or the people don’t like you, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons’, something to that effect... Well, the anecdote told by the black female with a headless acoustic guitar, about being heckled by a mean person and then making more money as bystanders began to notice... The pianist’s theoretical equation doesn’t work out in that case.
I’m hoping that your next video will be a documentary on beggars/panhandlers. It could compliment this piece, add some incite into why ANYBODY would give money to a stranger, busker or beggar... What you learn may raise more questions...
I have always found the dichotomy of performing and operating in the same environment as beggars to be one of the compelling things about busking. The critical difference between begging and busking lies in the presentation; the energy you put forth. As a busker it's my job to elevate the energy of the space I perform in. I have seen decent musicians who amounted to beggars with how they presented themselves. And I have seen actual beggars who made everyone smile. I believe all people deserve respect regardless of their circumstance. Some people refuse to be elevated. Many people have a genuine fear of disorder and see buskers as the inch that became a mile. If some people see me as a beggar, I take no offense. Not everyone has the musical inclination to be able to tell the difference between a talented performer and a beggar with an instrument, and I make no judgements on them either way. I consider myself simply blessed to be able to do what I do, and I make it my occupation to share that blessing with others in whatever context I can.
Y'all look so awkward busking! But you also look like you're having so much fun. And of course your music was amazing, but the other buskers had a different level of stage presence and energy. I think it shows what you concluded: that busking is an art form all to itself. It's amazing how they manage to turn the space towards themselves.
Also, Amanda Palmer's book had some good stories about busking, though they're mainly filtered through the lens of being a living statue.
Probably my favorite episode thus far
A shout out to all street artists, you bright my day every time I see one of you!
I think it's because you guys didn't look like buskers, you probably looked like you were shooting a music video
Hahaa that's true, someone donated $2 to our music video
There truly is nothing else brings people together in such a way. Those hallways would be silent if not for the compulsion of these few people, well done.
Kind regards
LM
p.s. I made one dollar in New York, and that was after being told to give up everything here in Scotland, you should think yourselves lucky.
Thank you Lee!
Now for a tour of subways! You’ve done NYC, next up, YYZ! ;-)
I SAW DEE WHO IRL
I love New York. Not to live, but trip for endless music, and incredible talent. Just came back from Manhattan saw "X-Ray Love" was awesome! Like nothing I've heard before, great clean grunge! Never seen them before or heard of them. Was in a tiny bar, Desmonds tavern. Such a great show. And 2 out of 5 musicians on the subway we heard where amazing musicians. Thank you to all the musicians out there for the gift.