Busking in NYC
What Happens When Musical Saw Player, Busker, and Street Performer Natalia ‘Saw Lady’ Paruz Plays in the Subway
I started busking as a musical saw player in 1993.
Prior to that I spent a few months busking as a tap-dancer and street performer on the streets of New York City, but though I enjoyed it, I didn’t last very long as a street performer tap dancing, because I was a trainee with the Martha Graham Dance Company at the time, and the physicality of busking as a dancer on top of taking dance classes and participating in dance rehearsals was just too tiring.
I had a 1.5 feet by 3 feet board (that he Martha Graham Company’s custodian gave me – it was part of the old set of ‘Primitive Mysteries’, which was replaced) which I took to various streets to tap-dance on.
A favorite memory of mine from those days is the day I busked by a Broadway theater: the actors inside the theater threw coins from their dressing room’s window down to me. A guy passing by motioned at the falling coins and said to me: “Pennies from Heaven” (which is also a name of a song and a movie).
A year or two later I discovered the musical saw. I first started busking as a musician on the streets around the theater district in New York City, but when winter came I decided to venture down into the subway. Once I did that – I was totally hooked on the phenomenal acoustics in the subway, and I never wanted to go back to playing above ground.
Many people erroneously think that buskers are homeless, or that buskers perform in the subway because they are not good enough to get gigs anywhere else. I know many, many of the buskers in New York City and none of them is homeless (one actually was homeless, but he isn’t any more).
And all buskers also have “regular” gigs on the so called “legitimate” stage. I’ve played at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center, and I keep doing such gigs. But at the same time, I also play in the subway. Not because I have to, but because I want to. Actually – I’m addicted to playing in the subway 
I love busking in the subway because of the people. The music becomes an excuse for communication.
They say that if you stand in one place in New York City long enough, eventually every New Yorker would pass by you.
In my blog I try to present a slice of New York City life from a different angle. Everything in this blog really happened, and the people are real.
I hope you enjoy my blog.
If you happen to see me busking in the subway – come and say ‘hi’!
Hi
I am trying to locate Calebe Arruda who plays the violin and guitar usually at Union Square and Grand Central. He played at my best friends wedding reception in Ct 20 years ago. She recently passed away and her husband is tryiny to locate Calebe to see if he would play at her ‘Celebration of Life Ceremony’. If you or someone you know could help me find him her husband would be so grateful. If you cannot please pass this to those who might know how I can reach him. My email is LDF@Fimbers.com
Thank you
Hi Natalia,
Thank you for getting back to me so fast. My friend located Calebe and he is going to play at my friends Celebration of Life. Thank you so much for getting back to me and helping In our search. I travel often to the city and hope I will have the pleasure of hearing you perfrom!
Thanks again!
I am hooked on your blog. Your success playing for film audiences, the philharmonic and Carnegie Hall is well known. What I didn’t know is that you’re still a busker. I also didn’t know the high opinion professional musicians have of the subway acoustics.
Bringing live music to those who could not otherwise afford it is not only awesome but makes a better world. That’s one of the great things about New York–the talent that is everywhere from a group of singers that gather on a street corner in Soho or a church on the upper east side to the musicians down under generously sharing their gift with everyone. Thank You.
hi everyone! i’m an italian guitar player and i would like to know if i need some busking license to play in the new york tube, i mean something like london..
thank you
bye
Hi Vito,
There are auditions for permits to play in the NYC subway, similar to in London. But that’s where the similarity ends, thank G-d! In NYC one can also busk without a permit (thanks to ‘Freedom of Expression’), as long as you follow the same rules as for permitted musicians and as long as you don’t set up at one of the 28 permitted locations when a musician has a permit there.
If you come to NYC and you see me in the subway – come and say ‘hi’!
Can anyone provide citations to laws or rules that address busking in NYC subways? I saw the reference from The Saw Lady about ‘Freedom of Expression.” My son was recently arrested for busking in a NYC subway and I am trying to inform myself.
Hi Sue,
Who is your son? Maybe I know him…
The question is: what was he arrested for (too loud, blocking the way, selling CDs?)
Did he argue with the police/refuse to move?
Most likely, he will get in front of a judge by the following day who will immediately dismiss the charge. That is what has happened to all my friends who were arrested for busking.