 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-06-01 23:34
Today, a group of friends and I played fiddle tunes (jigs and reels, mostly) in the blazing heat in the trendy Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA, the city in which I live. We had two guitars, an accordion, a fiddle, an oboe, and me on my Patricola "C". This is the first time I have ever busked.
The pot (i.e., the fiddle case) came to an amount that allowed each of us two dollars. Of course, we only did it for fun, but it appears I can't quit my day job yet:-)
Anyone else wish to share their experiences?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-06-02 06:27
I've never heard the term "busk(ed)" used in this context before, but it's easy to get the meaning from your narration.
Eons ago while living in Germany I played occasionally at the local train station and at parks for the fun of it with a six piece 'Dixieland' group. The only restriction was, we couldn't draw too large a crowd (common sense). Sometimes we did Then we'd have to move to a new location.
In States (CA) I remember a few times playing with a couple other guys, guitar, trumpet, at local laundromat during our weekly visit to that facility. Many a time in parks at picnics and such but never in blazing direct heat - always found a shady spot. I don't recall putting out a pot but that would've been a nice touch I guess (offset the cost of reeds and strings). We did it for the fun of playing. Impromptu, more or less, just because we felt like it.
I certainly identify with your playing for the fun of it, Steve. I feel that's how music should be enjoyed - free and easy :]
I think that's one reason the casual informality of community band concerts in local parks are so popular.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-06-02 13:00
Ron says it very well! Our Tulsa comm. band is of that character, we all try to play our best, but some passages [as in Victory At Sea and Night on Bald Mountain] are TOUGH. In times past we have had German Band "gatherings" at "Sunfests" etc, to appreciative audiences, no "kitty" tho. My personal [senior] philosophy is that I will play free with any group who will have me! Don
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-06-02 13:44
Re: Ron b - Yes, the term "busking" is often applied only to true street performers, e.g., magicians, fire eaters and sword swallowers, et al, but I've also heard it used in reference to musicians. And we did have a shady spot, but it was still hot.
Re: Don Berger - It's fun to watch some people as they pause by the kitty and decide what to do:-)
Re: Clairgirl - interested in joining an open, non-auditioned folk dance band?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-06-02 20:23
ron b wrote:
>
> I've never heard the term "busk(ed)" used in this context
> before, but it's easy to get the meaning from your narration.
What other context is there? A busker is a street musician (from the M-W dictionary) ...
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-06-03 04:23
I spent a considerable part of my student days busking in a string quartet - I also, occasionally took my clarinet, but the transposing was a drag. We played a lot of "arrangements" of popular classics for string quartet and we made a FORtune.
The whole idea with busking is to be young (I was at the time), good looking (which I'm not), and be able to play convincingly. One Christmas "we" busked in Pitt Street Mall (was a traffic thoroughfare in those days - it's now a pedestrian mall) and we made around $800 for the day - that was $200 each and in 1979 was a lot of money - plus, we had great fun!
I reckon a clarinet quartet busking would be a fine thing, you may need to check with your local councils/authorities to get permits to do it - we didn't, but nowa-a-days it's different.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-06-03 06:04
Mark -
I meant to convey that *I*, a guy jes down out th' California sticks, never heard the term 'busker' before. That's why I hang around here; I've a lot to learn and this is the best place I know
Thanks for keeping it going, Mark
I remember as a kid watching and listening to country western outfits playing on the sidewalks in front of bars and such. I guess they were busking. Whatever, they sounded good. I loved the bass fiddle.
Diz is probably correct that you'd better check with the permit people nowadays. I think you'd be in hot water for blocking a sidewalk. I don't know whether Europe is still as easy going now as it was a couple decades ago. But, yeah, stateside I'm sure attracting a sidewalk crowd would attract the law too. Parks still seem to be pretty good for things like that if you're not in competition, conflict, with someone else's activity.
Here in central CA string quartets in malls are quite popular during the Christmas season. I imagine they're paid by management because I've never seen a kitty during a performance.
During the annual (Memorial Day weekend) Jazz Jubilee, in Sacramento, you'll find all kinds of bands playing all over town.
I admit I get the urge sometimes but I haven't done that for such a long, long time. I love listenin' to 'em though.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-06-03 15:13
My largest, home dict gives 3 definitions. Two relate to "dress, prepare, Scot", re; music, BRITISH, To entertain by singing, playing music, or dancing especially in streets and public places, IN RETURN FOR MONEY. [Perhaps from obselete French, busquer, to look for, seek.] Will check our library's big Webster. I recall being busked in Victoria Station by a fine "comm.? band" for L 2#'s, the cl'ists recognized my finger movements, left hand high!! Also in Interlocken, Switz. on their "Unification Day", Aug 1,[the cls let me see their music!], and on NYC streets. Fun, Don
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Author: larry
Date: 2002-06-03 16:05
past Friday at the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City I observed a trio (bass, guitar, clarinet) rake it in playing the entire early swing song book.
Of course, it helped that the young male clarinetist played without a shirt on such a warm day - many a female fan of swing contributed mightly to the treasury...
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Author: Stéphane
Date: 2002-06-03 16:18
Ron b,
About Europe being easy going with busking, there are still a lot of places here in Paris where you can easily be busking without any major problems. Mainly in touristic places like around Notre Dame cathedral, in front of Beaubourg (Modern Art Museum, the one that looks like a refinery!) and a few other spots. If you wanna do it in the Paris metro (can be a good idea on a rainy day!) you definitely need to go through the metro authority and get auditionned! No kidding, there is a guy there at the metro authority whose only job is to audition every artist/performer who wants to get a permit for busking. You can actually attend very enjoyable performances there even by small chamber orchestras.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-06-03 16:44
Thanks for the info, Stephane
Sounds like things haven't changed much, if at all...
Oh, yeahhhhh :]
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-06-04 02:32
We definitely picked up more dough when our female musicians were there...they decided, in the middle of things, to go shopping for a while:-)
You wouldn't want to watch me play without my shirt.
Diz, where is Pitt Street? In Australia? Too far to make the money worth it:-)
In Philly, there are places you can play, like Manayunk (the store owners, at least some of them, actually like it - brings in business), and places you can't, like some of the parks (signs prohibiting activity that would be defined as busking), and a lot of places you could but wouldn't want to.
A few years ago, I saw a string trio of members of the Phila Orchestra playing (NOT busking:-) in front of the Academy of Music (their hall before the Kimmel Center). With all the traffic on Broad Street, you couldn't even hear them. This was part of a lot of outdoor entertainment that the city actually used to hire, including traditional jazz bands, to create a fun atmosphere for tourists. Then the money ran out:-(
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