Sending ‘Love Letters’ on My Pants

When I got to the Music Under New York busking spot at the Times Square subway station there was a cup and spilt coffee on the floor… As I was setting up to play a sanitation lady came to clean the cup away, but the spilt coffee was left on the floor next to me.…

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Some People Are Diamond And Some People Are Coal

A guy passed me by as I was lugging my busking gear up the stairs at the subway station. He then retraced his steps and came back to help me, saying: “I thought someone was with you – that’s why I didn’t stop to help”. That someone he thought was with me was a younger…

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The MTA’s Jingle

On the platform at the Times Square subway station there were two tap dancers. The sound coming from their hoofing was too echoee. Probably because the board they were dancing on was not flush against the floor. This reminded me of the time I used to tap dance in the streets many years ago. Nobody…

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Give Me Beer and Nobody Will Get Hurt

At the Music Under New York busking spot at the Union Square subway station kora player Salieu Suso was playing. He spotted me as I came out of the elevator and yelled: “Saw Lady! How are you?” Salieu got his official Music Under NY cloth banner (newbie buskers get a small plastic banner for their…

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Just Keep It Down

A nice lady helped me carry my busking cart up the stairs at the subway station, even though she herself had a load of bags to carry. Some people are so kind! There were three Nortenos on the train, playing bass guitar, regular guitar and accordion. They were wearing white straw hats that had the…

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Halloween at Times Square

Juan Castillo was playing the mandolin at the Music Under New York busking spot at the Times Square subway station. He had a friend with him, helping him to sell CDs. In the store window some movie was playing on the big screen right by our spot. Juan was watching the movie while playing. It…

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The Messenger is Alive

As I was climbing the stairs up to the subway platform I could hear the train approaching, so I rushed up the stairs with all my busking gear. I succeeded in catching the train but then had to catch my breath. Luke Ryan, the singer/songwriter/guitar player, was at the Music Under New York spot at…

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The Weirdest Thing Put in My Donations Box

There was nobody playing at the usual busking spots at the Times Square subway station when I got there. As I was setting up to play by the Mosaics, a guy named Charlie told me that he saw me on TV, and he asked if I play at cafes. His friend is opening a cafe…

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iPod Death

As I set up to busk at the Music Under New York spot at the 59th street subway station, I had to sand-paper the saw before starting to play. A guy passing by asked me what I was doing, so I explained that due to the high humidity the blade rusted, and that takes away…

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Psychotherapy Session

A nice guy in a green shirt helped me bring my busking gear up all 4 flights of stairs leading to the elevated subway platform – the help was much appreciated, especially since it was another hot, sticky day with temperatures in the 90’s. My Music Under New York permit today was for the relatively…

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