Showing posts with label statue-man. Show all posts
Showing posts with label statue-man. Show all posts

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Everyone Can Busk!

Apparently this guy is a 'bubbleologist'. Yeah that's a thing.

If I had a dollar every time someone said “I wish I could busk but I have no talent” I’d have, like, so many dollars. Granted, I have been blessed with numerous busking gifts; being female, playing a loud and obnoxious instrument, looking 14 etc etc. However I truly believe that skill is not a requirement for busking. Here are a few ideas for the talentless busker.

Balloon Sculptures: It’s easy to learn and you can make pretty good money. Buy yourself a balloon pump and some balloons, youtube will do the rest.

Drumming: Now I mean no offence to actual drummers here, playing percussion well is extremely difficult, but playing badly is really easy. Here’s the great news: most people on the streets can’t tell the difference. My friend and I once went busking playing buckets. And we made money. So here’s the trick, you need to look like a musician and not a homeless person, and that my friends is a very fine line. Don’t be one of those dirty unshaven guys tapping on a bongo. I suggest making a drum kit of sorts; a lamppost, a bottle, a box, a bin- get creative, then you can make a ‘Saving up for a drum kit’ signs.

Statue: Ummmm hello? You just paint yourself silver and stand there.

Bubbles: I don’t give money to buskers all that often that often, they not only have to be good, but also unique. There’s a guy in Hyde Park who makes giant bubbles with detergent, 2 sticks and a piece of string. He gets my money. Bubbles are awesome.

Halifax man: This busker I saw in Halifax is one of my favourites. He was an older guy with a sax around his neck and a boom box playing backing music. When I first saw him, he was sidestepping to the music, a small crowd had gathered. The crowd began to disperse but more people came and put money in his case and waited. After a few minutes they would grow impatient and walk away. He never played the sax.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Cleaning Up My Act

I wandered down to Old Montreal looking for somewhere good to busk. I found a nice place where a gold Elvis statue-man was finishing up.

A few hours later, as I was getting ushered away from my spot by the police, I saw the statue guy again. He asked if I wanted to join him for a beer.

It turns out he's been a professional street performer for the last 12 years. He spends his summers in Montreal and goes down to Florida in the winter.

He looked at me seriously across the table.
"You should get a funny hat" he said
"What?"
"A funny hat. Or oversized sunglasses. It will make the kids stop. Kids bring parents. Parents bring money."
"Oh. I never thought of looking funny..."
"You already look funny. Little girl, big trombone. It's funny. You just need one more funny thing. I throw beads. It doesn't really make sense; an Elvis throwing beads, but when people catch the beads, they give me money. You see?"

I did. I do. I need to to rethink my act. Maybe the young thing isn't the way to go. Maybe I should forego the pigtails for a sombrero or something? I am now taking your suggestions.