Lost Child on the Train
When I got to the Music Under New York busking spot at the Union Square subway station, Juan Castillo was playing pan-flute there. He told me that he had only been playing for two hours, since he had a hard time getting up this morning. He has been working around the clock for two days…
Read MoreThe Israeli Connection
When I arrived at the Music Under New York busking spot at the 34th street subway station, an Andean pan-flute player has been playing there for two hours. Tomorrow he has a booth at a street fair where he sells Andean clothings. He is worried that it might rain and the street fair will be…
Read MoreMusic Under New York Auditions – 2010
About 300 people who wish to perform in the NYC subway with a permit submitted an application to audition for Music Under New York. 69 of them passed the first stage of the audition and were chosen to audition live at Grand Sentral Station last week: The Doc Scanlon Trio played swing music on bass,…
Read MoreThe Busker
Every now and than I come across poetry about busking which speaks to me. Here is one such beautiful poem by Alice in Wonderland: The Busker/ Alice in Wonderland The world passes you by, Sit, as you sing, smiling, A life in each red gold tangled hair, The cobbles hard beneath you. Sit, as you…
Read MoreLargest Gypsy Gathering in the World
As I was setting my busking gear up at the Music Under New York spot at the Union Square subway station, Jinn, the lady who busks around the world singing and playing a keyboard hooked up to a laptop computer, was looking for a spot to busk. She asked me for recommendations of good busking…
Read MoreYou Can Hear Their Screams
Today I had a permit to busk at the 14th street subway station. A couple from Australia bought my CD. They said they heard the musical saw in Australia and that they are going to start a fan club for me there 🙂 A lady said: “It sounds like Heaven”. Saw Lady: “Thank you” Lady:…
Read MoreThis is New York
A man sitting on the stairs leading to the subway station was smoking a cigarette. He offered to help me bring my busking gear up the stairs “as long as it’s not a baby”, he said. At the top of the first flight of stairs he fell to the floor. He immediately got up. “Are…
Read MoreHe Needed It More
At the subway station MTA personnel were working on the station, clearing the walls and hanging up new subway maps. They recognized me as I passed by. “Hey, it’s ‘Saw Lady’”, one of them said. They told me that they will be at the Times Square subway station on Wednesday and asked me if they’ll…
Read MoreThe Day is Better
On my way to my Music Under New York busking spot at the Grand Central Station’s Shuttle, I passed by Scout, the rhythm and blues/pop/jazz singer who goes by the name Eunique. He was busking at Times Square. A lady, upon giving me a donation, said: “What can I say – the day is better!”…
Read MoreFashion Week
Many people think that buskers (street performers) only perform on the streets and subways. In reality, busking is only a part of every street musician’s career. Last week I played at the NYC Fashion Week, for designer Yeohlee’s runway show: (please stop the player on the right hand side of the blog before playing the…
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