Is that Sherlock busking? :)

[fannishliss]

No, it isn't really Sherlock, but it's one of the pieces I very strongly associate with him.

I'm a busker, so let's just say: $32 over the course of two pieces is not bad at all for less than an hour's work. Still he could have tripled his take by choosing a better piece. He's playing Partita No. 2 in D Minor for Solo Violin, BWV 1004: Chaconne, one of my absolute favorites, but it's slow, dissonant and sad,  a terrible choice for busking.  He should have done Flight of the Bumblebee, and then you would see the money flying into his case!!    Or a really good choice would be Suite No. 1 in G Major for Solo Cello, BWV 1007: I. Prelude -- do violinists ever do that one?  Whatever is fast earns the most money -- one of my good friends busked her way around Europe on fast tunes.

Also, Washington DC is very cold to buskers, which is strange considering how it's loaded with tourists.  I think, for example, that busking is forbidden on the National Mall where all the museums are, because it's federal property -- as is much of the City.  So I'm not surprised he didn't make a lot.  I busk at a Farmer's Market, and I live in the suburbs, so that's how I do it.

Comments

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! I think there are some stories there!!

Kidling1 returned from Russia talking non-stop about the accordion buskers. Now she's trying to find an accordion teacher in her area!

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

Every city except DC is crawling with buskers, which I love. I took my guitar to London and busked there when I was in college. It was a big highlight for me.

When my husband and I first met, one of the first things he ever saw me do was play "Going to California" on my guitar. :)

[bas_math_girl]

Awww, to think I probably missed you playing in the Underground. :(

Is it wrong of me that when I saw a busker outside the V&A using a full backing track I thought he was cheating?

Oh, and I thought you might appreciate this picture:

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

I never got up the nerve to play in the Underground because all the best spots were usually taken by regulars. :) but I did play on the street now and then. :)

The backing tract thing is a little odd.... As a singer I recognize that there are a lot of songs that aren't really intended for solo guitar .... but in some ways, that's kind of the deal with busking, and I have a lot of fun translating songs into my "folk idiom" ... One of my biggest hits at the farmer's market is my version of "You Shook me All Night Long" by ACDC. :)