Posts Tagged ‘platform’
An Elevator Has Two Sets of Doors
When I was busking at the 14th street subway station, a teenager named Art rubbed my musical saw with his hand three times and said: “can I have three wishes?” He then went on to say: “I wish you’d play that song I like”. As I’ve seen him before many times I knew he meant…
Read MoreI Think of You When You’re Not Here
As I was playing ‘Over the Rainbow’ while busking at the 14th street subway station, Joe Lucas, the homeless guy with the hook arm, showed up. I haven’t seen him in months. He went to Montana to visit a friend and then to Rhode Island to visit his sister. It was wild that he showed…
Read MoreR.I.P Rue McClanahan
As I was dragging my busking gear up the stairs to the subway station, a guy left his shopping cart by the bottom of the stairs and offered to help me carry my stuff up the stairs. He wasn’t even heading to the subway – he volunteered to go out of his way just to…
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 MoreSaw Me Gently
As I was climbing the stairs up to the subway platform I heard the train arriving. I doubled my climbing pace in an attempt not to miss the train. I heard the announcement “Stand clear of the closing doors”, and I thought “Oh, no – I’m not going to make it”. Then I heard the…
Read MoreYou Gotta Still Be Nice
As I started to play on the subway platform, a sanitation lady wearing glasses said ‘hi’ to me while she emptied the garbage can on my right. As she pulled out the can from the receptacle a lot of garbage came tumbling down onto the floor. Usually, it stays contained in the bag. So, she…
Read MoreOff 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…
Read MorePeople Showed Me Their Hands
As I was setting up to play on the platform at 59th street, a guy asked me how much it costs to get a permit to play in the subway. He said he busks in Boston, playing guitar and singing, and that its very different the way busking works over there. Buskers don’t have to…
Read MorePsychotherapy 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…
Read MoreLady Steps Out of Limo to Put $300 in Buskers Hat
As I reached the subway station, on my way to playing in the subway, a lady looked at me and said “I saw you on channel 13!”. That’s so nice. When I got to the Times Square subway station there were two hoofers (tap dancers) on the platform. Each one of them had their individual…
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