Friday, August 22, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Day Four
8/21/14 Day Four
The street musician creates a momentary refuge from errands, bills and traffic. Such respite appears desperately needed by many. In freely and joyfully giving away art, with only the opened-case suggestion that tips will be accepted, the busker opens an opportunity for kindness. And Tucsonans are nothing if not kind.
I had never been looked at so intently in my life. In her mother's embrace, one of Earth's newest souls was searching mine. I fiddled as soothingly as possible while her eyes, big as Chinese spinning plates, never looked away. She, more so than any other shopper that afternoon, really heard and saw me. And as my tired arms finally came to rest, her little ones came up...to sign "more" in baby sign language.
"Cheers!" said a cheerful cart roundup guy! I got cash back just for you, said another fine fellow. Then, to close the evening, an offer of sponsorship at the local sweat lodge.
Is this a peso or a centavo?
The street musician creates a momentary refuge from errands, bills and traffic. Such respite appears desperately needed by many. In freely and joyfully giving away art, with only the opened-case suggestion that tips will be accepted, the busker opens an opportunity for kindness. And Tucsonans are nothing if not kind.
I had never been looked at so intently in my life. In her mother's embrace, one of Earth's newest souls was searching mine. I fiddled as soothingly as possible while her eyes, big as Chinese spinning plates, never looked away. She, more so than any other shopper that afternoon, really heard and saw me. And as my tired arms finally came to rest, her little ones came up...to sign "more" in baby sign language.
"Cheers!" said a cheerful cart roundup guy! I got cash back just for you, said another fine fellow. Then, to close the evening, an offer of sponsorship at the local sweat lodge.
Is this a peso or a centavo?
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Day Three
Day Three exceeded expectations in the amount of spontaneous interactions. Within minutes a woman thanked me for playing two songs. "What, Amazing Grace and Simple Gifts?" I joshed. "That's half my day right there." A fellow assured me that the dude from '90s Hermosa Beach punk band Pennywise was indeed "his boy," before leaving me with advice that I look up 2Cellos (Sulic & Hauser).
Two University of Arizona music students asked me what my goal for the 365-Day Busking Project was. "Well, to busk every day for 365 days," I replied. And a little girl acted exasperated when I merely fiddled a familiar number. "You should sing!" she admonished me after a face-palm. From the mouths of babes. She'll hear my voice on my CD; the one her dad paid me double what I asked him for. Day Three's non-monetary tips also included both an apple pie-flavored L'Arabar and a chocolate mint protein thing.
Never be in a hurry to leave, we buskers know. Quite often as I pack up, a final tipper arrives who perhaps heard me several minutes earlier on their way past. Day Three's last gesture of generosity came by way of a novice fiddler, freshly back in lessons, who appeared bearing a $10 gift card good for use inside the store I play outside of. I silenced his apologies for not carrying cash with "This is better than cash," and then let him try my instrument. He gave me a few notes of Good King Wenceslas.
On the radio back in the car, along my way to my "job" job with special children, Terry Gross was interviewing the voice actors of The Simpsons: folks who, like me, make people smile for a living.
And then, said he, will come Year Two and this is how I want to spend the rest of my life. It makes me so happy ;9
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Two University of Arizona music students asked me what my goal for the 365-Day Busking Project was. "Well, to busk every day for 365 days," I replied. And a little girl acted exasperated when I merely fiddled a familiar number. "You should sing!" she admonished me after a face-palm. From the mouths of babes. She'll hear my voice on my CD; the one her dad paid me double what I asked him for. Day Three's non-monetary tips also included both an apple pie-flavored L'Arabar and a chocolate mint protein thing.
Never be in a hurry to leave, we buskers know. Quite often as I pack up, a final tipper arrives who perhaps heard me several minutes earlier on their way past. Day Three's last gesture of generosity came by way of a novice fiddler, freshly back in lessons, who appeared bearing a $10 gift card good for use inside the store I play outside of. I silenced his apologies for not carrying cash with "This is better than cash," and then let him try my instrument. He gave me a few notes of Good King Wenceslas.
On the radio back in the car, along my way to my "job" job with special children, Terry Gross was interviewing the voice actors of The Simpsons: folks who, like me, make people smile for a living.
And then, said he, will come Year Two and this is how I want to spend the rest of my life. It makes me so happy ;9
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Day Two
Day Two was great. A freckly little girl from the day before showed up, and as I launched into "You Are My Sunshine" I recognized her. She handed me a chocolate brownie Clif bar. "She was so happy to see you here again," mom smiled.
Kids have a way of naturally gravitating towards each other. Next thing I knew I had a group of 'em, mothers only too happy for a break from shopping and children having spied the glint in my eye; it takes one to know one. A blindingly blonde boy, sans front teeth, told me about the time he pretended to play fiddle using two sticks he found. "I'm not done with my story," said he. Nothing like a rousing rendition of "This Old Man" in front of strangers/new friends to get this old man going.
Freckle-face - her shy grin was priceless - also gave me a carrot juice on her way back around. And Ms. Somebody Else gave me chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds. Food is a fantastic tip, since I often operate on empty-stomach intelligence. Money too? Those coins and bills I find in my case after I perform, each one infused with an act of kindness, are adding up. I need new tires on my car.
"Take all initiative. More often than not, the only prohibition is inhibition. Fill a void. Respect the place. Be part of the place. And always be willing to give directions." - Jack Garvey, "Pay The Piper! A Street-Performer's Public Life in America's Privatized Times"
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/magazine/10section1C.t-1.html?_r=0
Kids have a way of naturally gravitating towards each other. Next thing I knew I had a group of 'em, mothers only too happy for a break from shopping and children having spied the glint in my eye; it takes one to know one. A blindingly blonde boy, sans front teeth, told me about the time he pretended to play fiddle using two sticks he found. "I'm not done with my story," said he. Nothing like a rousing rendition of "This Old Man" in front of strangers/new friends to get this old man going.
Freckle-face - her shy grin was priceless - also gave me a carrot juice on her way back around. And Ms. Somebody Else gave me chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds. Food is a fantastic tip, since I often operate on empty-stomach intelligence. Money too? Those coins and bills I find in my case after I perform, each one infused with an act of kindness, are adding up. I need new tires on my car.
"Take all initiative. More often than not, the only prohibition is inhibition. Fill a void. Respect the place. Be part of the place. And always be willing to give directions." - Jack Garvey, "Pay The Piper! A Street-Performer's Public Life in America's Privatized Times"
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/magazine/10section1C.t-1.html?_r=0
Day One
Today is Day Two of the 365-Day Busking Project (I'll come up with a better name later).
On day one I made $18.25, a bottle of frozen purified water and a song recommendation: "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by The Band. Musical advice is as valuable to me as the bills people toss. It feels like a compliment when folks are hear me play and it triggers a memory of some other great tune. Many of my best numbers have come as a result of such tips.
Smiles are always gratefully accepted as compensation too.
"The only prohibition is inhibition." - Jack Garvey, "Pay The Piper! A Street-Performer's Public Life in America's Privatized Times"
On day one I made $18.25, a bottle of frozen purified water and a song recommendation: "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by The Band. Musical advice is as valuable to me as the bills people toss. It feels like a compliment when folks are hear me play and it triggers a memory of some other great tune. Many of my best numbers have come as a result of such tips.
Smiles are always gratefully accepted as compensation too.
"The only prohibition is inhibition." - Jack Garvey, "Pay The Piper! A Street-Performer's Public Life in America's Privatized Times"
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