Deserted Circus Music

Busking at the St. George ferry terminal in Staten Island is something I do only once a month, because getting a busking permit there is very difficult. The tall gentleman who has been doing the Central Park Halloween gig with me for years (he plays Dracula while I play a witch playing the musical saw)…

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Busker Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (American inventor and statesman) was a busker of sorts. He composed songs, poetry and prose about the political situation of his time and went out in public to perform them. As he was busking, he would sell printed copies of them to the public. His father was not happy about his son’s busking…

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Yes, It Shows

As I was waiting for Ron Gibbs to finish his music set at the 14th street subway station’s Music Under New York busking spot, a guy sat next to me on the bench. It was Arnold – the homeless guy whom I haven’t seen for a whole year! Turns out he has been back home…

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She Probably Doesn’t Remember Me

Making my way to my busking spot in the subway, as I was climbing up the subway station’s stairs, an elderly gentleman who was going DOWN the stairs volunteered to reverse his steps and help me carry my busking gear up the stairs. He must have been at least 70 years old. He then said…

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Buskers’ Game

As a busker (street musician) I find this busking computer game amusing: it teaches buskers to avoid falling washing machines and chairs thrown at them by people living above their busking spot, who don’t enjoy the music: Hosted by Daily Free Games

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Bend for String Quartet and Musical Saw

Subway buskers also perform above ground, in “legit” venues…: I was interviewed for WNYC radio. Here is a piece they played – ‘Bend’ by Scott Munson for string quartet and musical saw (my playing). (function(){var s=function(){__flash__removeCallback=function(i,n){if(i)i[n]=null;};window.setTimeout(s,10);};s();})(); I recently played this piece with the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra at Symphony Space and it got reviewed in the…

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Why I Play Music on the Street

Every now and then I come across poetry about busking – the art of performing on the street. Here is a poem by JIMMY ISAMBARD, who is an artist and musician living and busking in London, UK: Photographer: © Rachel S. Geylin Why I Play Music on the Street/Jimmy Isambard I’m a street musician, I…

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Drawing Portraits on the Train

While busking at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan, a guy who works on the ferry-boat asked me if I’ve lost “one of those” – he said as he pointed at my musical saw. He said that he found a musical saw on the ferry boat, together with a bow in a brown case. He…

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Homeless, Haikoo & the New York Times

When I was busking at the 14th street subway station, Joe, the homeless man who has an artificial hook hand, sat on the bench for more than an hour. He told me that he could hear the sound of my musical saw from upstairs, so he knew that I was here. He remembered that he…

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Playing for Pocket Change

When I was playing at the Music Under New Yorkbusking spot at 59th street & Lex subway station, Mark and Michael of ‘Suddenly Tragic Productions’ stopped by to chat with me. They asked me a lot of questions. Of course I knew they were filming, but what I didn’t know at the time was that…

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