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.

Comments

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

Wonder if he actually makes any money at all? My experience with the economics of street performing was similar to that old theory about asking everyone at the party to sleep with you; if you keep putting yourself out there, eventually you'll find *someone* who's willing to reward you for it. :)

[androidqueen.livejournal.com]

really? that's terrible. busking has this great tradition of giving you the product and allowing you to pay for it if you like it. it irritates me that people would actually encourage this other way.

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

Maybe I was trying to be too cute, but that was my point. When we were doing public performances (I was part of a madrigal singer group that wandered around singing carols during Christmastime) we didn't even ask for money, but at the end of a day of non-stop singing, we'd usually had a few people who tried to give us some. I suspect if we'd walked around with a sign saying "Give us 25 cents or we'll just stand here looking sullen", our daily receipts wouldn't have totalled much.

[tahnan.livejournal.com]

You know, I suddenly have this strong desire to get together a small group of people and stand around with a sign saying "Give us 25 cents or we'll just stand here looking sullen." With no intention of singing; just of standing around looking sullen.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Oh, I would totally give you a quarter for that!

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

You should stand next to the sullen guitar guy when you do that. :)

[androidqueen.livejournal.com]

oh, yeah. i misinterpreted "put yourself out there" as "stand there with a sign that says 'no money, no music'," so i thought you were saying that people would actually give the guy money.

it all becomes clear . . . .