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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Nobody Gets Out of this Alive

As I got off the train at the Union Square subway station two guys who were getting on the train said: “Saw Lady! How are you?” Just as I started to play, Chill, who sings on the trains with his acapella group, came to say ‘hi’. He told me that he was just released from…

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They Came Up For Air

At the subway station, the lights were off and temporary emergency lights were on. I asked an MTA track worker why the “candle-light atmosphere”. He said they are working on the station and needed to turn off the lights, but the train is working. It gave the station a romantic atmosphere 🙂 At the Music…

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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…

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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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The 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…

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Largest 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…

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You 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:…

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The 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!”…

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You See Me Here All the Time

A nice couple helped me bring my busking gear up the stairs at the subway station. Turns out he is a bass player and she is my friend on MySpace! As I was setting up at the 59th street subway station, a Norteno musician was waiting for the train, practicing his guitar quietly on the…

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