No Money, No Music

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Did anyone else notice the non-busking busker at the Davis T this morning? I guess he decided to employ a new business model, because the sign in his guitar case said NO MONEY, NO MUSIC. Sure enough, his case was empty, and he was pacing and grumbling "f*ck, man, f*ck" and reading a newspaper, not playing at all. I saw him lash out his arm at an elderly person who stepped too close to his case.

I busked for a year with a folk trio, and I have to say, that's just not how it works. We sang and had a great time, and people gave us money if they enjoyed the music. Sometimes candy or T tokens too. Most Boston buskers do it in their spare time and don't attempt to make a full living at it, and it's more about getting exposure for their music or their CDs, and making a few bucks for sharing music.

All I can say is I hope this guy isn't planning to take up regular residence in that busking spot. Coming down the stairs I noticed the unusual absence of music, then this surly, swearing guy taking up a spot that another busker could have been using.

Buskers and Performers -- I need your help!

[prosicated.livejournal.com]

I noticed in the last post (No Money, No Music) that several of you are, or have been, buskers in the Boston metro area (Cambridge included).

I'm working on an ethnography of street/subway/public performance pre- and post- lawsuit (by the Community Arts Advocates, etc.) on performance spaces and performance regulations, and am seeking some people who'd be willing to talk with me about their experiences performing in the city. Whether you performed for years or just for months, whether you always played at the same spot, or travelled over the whole area, your experience will be helpful.

Ideally, we'd have 2-4 conversations, scheduled and located at your convenience, in which you'd talk with me, annotate a map of the Boston & Cambridge areas with your experience, and then narrate/explain the changes you made to the map for me.

If you're interested in helping out, or just have more questions about my work, reply to this post, or send me an email at prosicated(at)livejournal.com.