Subway Music Advice

I was asked to say what advice I might give to somebody who wants to play music in the subway: First I’d like to say – just do it! Even though it might seem kind of scary to play music in the subway to begin with, you got to just go and do it because…

Read More

I Don’t Believe in Miracles – I Rely on Them

At the elevated subway station a lady who walked down the stairs and was already on the street saw me approaching the subway stairs. She turned around and volunteered to help me bring my busking gear up the stairs, even though she was going in the opposite direction. First miracle of the day. At the…

Read More

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…

Read More

She Probably Doesn’t Remember Me

Making my way to my busking spot in the subway, as I was climbing up the subway station’s stairs, an elderly gentleman who was going DOWN the stairs volunteered to reverse his steps and help me carry my busking gear up the stairs. He must have been at least 70 years old. He then said…

Read More

Playing for Pocket Change

When I was playing at the Music Under New Yorkbusking spot at 59th street & Lex subway station, Mark and Michael of ‘Suddenly Tragic Productions’ stopped by to chat with me. They asked me a lot of questions. Of course I knew they were filming, but what I didn’t know at the time was that…

Read More

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 More

The Saw Lady and the Sound of Music

The Saw Lady and                                 the Sound of Music/Alex Cigale For Natalia Paruz How a piece of steel                             can sound so human The wooden handle                           goes between the legs The serrated side                         dangerously close The bow runs along                           over the steel edge Ever so slowly                   bending its body The greater the bend                             the higher the note…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

Journey To and From

I came across a beautiful Haiku poem titles ‘Cold Front’ by Nora Wood. I identify with it: cold front– in the busker’s guitar case five copper coins © Nora Wood As I was changing trains at 14th street, on my way to the WhiteHall ferry terminal, three Nortenos were waiting for the ‘R’ train. One…

Read More