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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The 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…

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Off the Streets

When I got to the Times Square subway station, a sanitation worker rode the elevator up from the platform with me. He greeted me with a cheerful ‘Hello’. He asked where I’ll be playing today and said he’ll come by to hear me because he always enjoys listening to me play. Buskers were asked by…

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She Has Three Cell Phones

Getting up the four flights of stairs to the subway platform was hard for me today because I am recovering from having strained a muscle in my back. I was hoping somebody would offer to help me bring my busking gear up the stairs, but everybody just walked on past me 🙁 While on the…

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Worst Busking Day

When I arrived at the Music Under New York busking spot at the Times Square subway station, Agua Clara, the Andean band, were playing at the spot, with Graywolf selling CDs for them. “I’m inside now”, Graywolf told me. Graywolf has been homeless for some time now. He’s staying at 115th street and soon will…

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My Bow Got Caught on My Pants

On the subway platform at 59th street a guy was playing accordion. On the subway platform at 14th street the Chinese dulcimer player who never says ‘hi’ was playing. On the mezzanine at the Music Under New York busking spot Sixto and Louis were playing Andean music. I haven’t seen Sixto in the subway for…

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A Little Mermaid

Walking towards my busking spot at Times Square, I ran into Erubay, an Andean busker who told me that there will be a memorial concert at the Grand Central Station for Arturo, the Andean busker who died recently. I was on my way to the Music Under New York spot by the mosaics, while Erubay…

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Hypnotizing Victims

While waiting for the train on my way to my busking spot of the day, a lady told me she saw me at Times Square. “I heard this strange sound and I said to myself – this sounds like a musical saw”, she said. I told her Times Square is where I am heading to…

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The Art of Freezing Gatorade

A guy helped me carry my busking gear up the stairs at the subway station. “Thank you, you’re my angel!” I said. He laughed as he said “You’re welcome”. Geo was playing guitar at the Times Square mezzanine busking spot but nobody was at the Mosaics spot. Delta Dave was on his way to playing…

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New Angels

The NYC busker community has lost a dear friend: Arturo Flores from Peru, who played Andean wind instruments with a few bands in the subway, was killed by a drunk driver in Astoria. I am so sad. I lift up my eyes to the sky above Astoria and I think I can hear Arturo’s flute……

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