I stepped off the plane and headed straight for the city center, to the Old Town, Gamla Stan, on Västerlånggatan, that was a lot of apostrophes, to set up a pitch. After walking up and down the street a bit, I chose a nice spot across from a small garment/fur store, near a seven eleven. Id popped into this "Records in a Hurry" shop, where the owner happily told me - "What laws?" Today (6.22.10) I noticed more than ever that the vast majority of those who take an interest in me - be it a tip or a smile - are female. Four separate girls that I remember passed back and forth multiple times. They probably thought i didnt remember their faces, but since I endeavor to make eye contact as much as possible, naturally I did.
One asian girl in black (I would find out later that she works as a waitress on a side street very near) passed me 4 or 5 times, sheepishly tipping with a shy but wide smile on one of the later goes. A girl in green with frizzy hair wandered past three times, curiously each time in the middle of a song, and of the last two, one - middle eastern in appearance, wearing a light cardiga - sang along with an oh my god hes playing all my favorite songs expression the third time she passed, when I was starting Hallelujah.
It was also a day for Japanese tourist unfail. A pair of them passed as I paused for a sip and asked if I was Japanese. I demurred, but launched into Ue Wo Muite Arukou. They stood and listened the whole time, smiled, and gave me a note! The two of them tipped one order of magnitude over those twenty five or so in Helsinki. Nice. One of my earlier songs - Better Together, was really well received, at least in expression, and that buoyed me to maintain my energy. Falling Slowly again did very well, and those sustained me even through till the end, when a few middle aged guys stayed for a looong while without ever tipping.
But my favorite experience of the pitch was while I sang Scarborough Fair. Many took notice - I sang it slow and with feeling - and most people gave me something. One wonderful lady with two small children mouthed along for the entire song, then told her charges to stay watching me while she ducked into the seven eleven... so she could get coins to give me! Which she did after another song, beaming. I took advantage of the narrow streets good accoustics to sing my slower, quieter stuff - Fox in the Snow, Flightless Bird, American Mouth, Hey There Delilah - all well recieved. A great pitch filled with thumbs ups and smmiles and singing along, with not a single downer.
On another note, I wonder how the tips might have been if Sweden was on the Euro. Theres a lot of random psychology that contributes to tipping - for instance I think people are loath to give bills and tend to give the coin thats physically largest if they like you - which in Sweden is the 5 kroner, while the 10 kroner is tiny. And 20 kroner is a bill. Just a thought that if the Euro was the way, Id have made a killing.
Earnings: 236 SEK, 1.5 hours
Song of the Day: Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkel
Friday, June 25, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 10
So today (6.21.10) was a day of breaking things. My dinky camera decided it had better things to do than work - I was planning on taking some shots of my pitches around the town this afternoon, but a no go. After this failure, I progressed on to a quest of changing my many coins into bills. I'd been able to once at the railway station, but they refused the second time I went and all the banks only allowed such transactions if you had an account with them (which, of course, I don't have - should I get one? should I get a phone? should I get a computer? hmm). Today went similarly. Rail station fail. Bank fail. R Kioski (convenience store) took my 1 and 2 euro coins. Gambling place only accepted coins given by the machines, even though they were the same, really. Finally I was able to change the coins at a currency exchange place for a charge of 60 cents.
There was quite an upshot of this, however. I ended up at Kamppi to change the money and when I exited (a different way than I entered as I try to do as often as possible) I passed an excellent young female busker. I gave her my remaining coins and had a brief chat - she's from Helsinki, sings many of her own songs, etc. I had another go with my camera downtown but as it failed again, I returned to her pitch, thinking I might have a go at it when she finished. Instead, I sat down nearby and listened to her sing for... maybe half an hour? She has a pretty voice, but one which didn't carry well, but the place she chose was perfect for it. She also boasted a harmonica which she wore Priscilla Ahn style. Her guitar was a glossy black and she strummed at it rather skillfully with pick - with a preference for I IV V progressions with the occasional III thrown in for good measure. Another young man sat on the steps of a small shop opposite her and together we clapped after each song - a trio of young men joined us fifteen minutes or so later.
She did passably well. I particularly enjoyed her cover of Coldplay's Fix You, it made me think of Maria and Dan. I noticed that all but one of her tippers were male. Many stopped to chat her up (I suppose like I'd done?). After half hour or so, she announced that it was time to take a break. She had this funny tactic where she squirreled the 2 and 1 euro coins away (2 of each, perhaps?). I took this to be a full break and so I told her I could swap off with her. We proceeded to have an awkward interaction where she explained that she just wanted one cigarette. She'd said earlier she wanted to hear me play, so I had her choose between Hey Ya, Sound of Silence and Hallelujah. She chose Sound of Silence, but by the third verse I could tell she was uncomfortable. So I packed up and bid her farewell and good luck.
I'd been meaning to have a go at the Kaisaniemi busking spot I'd heard so much about, so I headed there on the Metro (which has these wonderfully acceleration and deceleration sounds). At the far end of the station there's an exit to the street, glowing rather from the comparative darkness of the tunnel. This end of the station was sculpted from plaster like a cave - walls painted white with neanderthal-esque drawings in faded yellow and red. The illumination was an ubiquitous hellish flourescence. (When I sang the chorus of I Will Follow You Into the Dark, I nearly cracked up with the relevance and had to take an extra strummed chorus to recover).
In brief, it's a brilliant, brilliant pitch. The acoustics are phenomenal. As soon as I began singing the entire tunnel filled with it - so it was wonderful practice as I had instant feedback on my intonation, etc. The natural reverb made it so I didn't have to belt, which my voice probably was rather thankful for. I was able to sing my softer songs and those of lower pitch (when I get below a D3 I'm practically inaudible on the streets) and I felt relaxed enough to sing slowly there.
I started with Sufjan Stevens' To Be Alone With You as a prayer. Everything about the tunnel pitch was magical. Only one negative interaction - a group of kids who flung a beercap at me - versus every other passerby, who gave me a thumbs up, or smiled, or tipped me. The flow of traffic progressed sedately in ones and twos, sometimes I had the whole tunnel to myself. I took the African man's advice to heart again and really threw myself into my songs. The acoustics made my best songs, and my falsetto shine. When I sang Falling Slowly everyone who passed me tipped me at least a little, often doubling back when I hit the falsetto in the chorus.
One woman started crying when I began to play Let it Be, another girl mouthed along dreamily to Hallelujah. I had a brief dry spell when I sang more recent things like Yellow and Say, but as soon as I returned to the more recognizable ones I got tips and positive looks. One young man smiled broadly, saying "Good song," as I played Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Another one requested Paranoid - but I couldn't oblige. When I sang I'm Yours a pair of girls danced happily in do-si-dos all the way down the tunnel. And one old lady, talking on her cellphone loudly in Finnish, paused beside me and gave me a large bill for Here Comes the Sun. A few musicians passed and I nodded at them - one quartet who I'd seen near Esplanadi appreciated the Boxer.
It was an otherworldly pitch, marred only by the fact that I had no scenery to peruse except the wall a meter and a half before me. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time and happily, that was infectious, even for those passersby with the dourest expressions.
Earnings: €41 + 1 SEK, 1.5 hours
Song of the Day: Falling Slowly - Soundtrack of Once
There was quite an upshot of this, however. I ended up at Kamppi to change the money and when I exited (a different way than I entered as I try to do as often as possible) I passed an excellent young female busker. I gave her my remaining coins and had a brief chat - she's from Helsinki, sings many of her own songs, etc. I had another go with my camera downtown but as it failed again, I returned to her pitch, thinking I might have a go at it when she finished. Instead, I sat down nearby and listened to her sing for... maybe half an hour? She has a pretty voice, but one which didn't carry well, but the place she chose was perfect for it. She also boasted a harmonica which she wore Priscilla Ahn style. Her guitar was a glossy black and she strummed at it rather skillfully with pick - with a preference for I IV V progressions with the occasional III thrown in for good measure. Another young man sat on the steps of a small shop opposite her and together we clapped after each song - a trio of young men joined us fifteen minutes or so later.
She did passably well. I particularly enjoyed her cover of Coldplay's Fix You, it made me think of Maria and Dan. I noticed that all but one of her tippers were male. Many stopped to chat her up (I suppose like I'd done?). After half hour or so, she announced that it was time to take a break. She had this funny tactic where she squirreled the 2 and 1 euro coins away (2 of each, perhaps?). I took this to be a full break and so I told her I could swap off with her. We proceeded to have an awkward interaction where she explained that she just wanted one cigarette. She'd said earlier she wanted to hear me play, so I had her choose between Hey Ya, Sound of Silence and Hallelujah. She chose Sound of Silence, but by the third verse I could tell she was uncomfortable. So I packed up and bid her farewell and good luck.
I'd been meaning to have a go at the Kaisaniemi busking spot I'd heard so much about, so I headed there on the Metro (which has these wonderfully acceleration and deceleration sounds). At the far end of the station there's an exit to the street, glowing rather from the comparative darkness of the tunnel. This end of the station was sculpted from plaster like a cave - walls painted white with neanderthal-esque drawings in faded yellow and red. The illumination was an ubiquitous hellish flourescence. (When I sang the chorus of I Will Follow You Into the Dark, I nearly cracked up with the relevance and had to take an extra strummed chorus to recover).
In brief, it's a brilliant, brilliant pitch. The acoustics are phenomenal. As soon as I began singing the entire tunnel filled with it - so it was wonderful practice as I had instant feedback on my intonation, etc. The natural reverb made it so I didn't have to belt, which my voice probably was rather thankful for. I was able to sing my softer songs and those of lower pitch (when I get below a D3 I'm practically inaudible on the streets) and I felt relaxed enough to sing slowly there.
I started with Sufjan Stevens' To Be Alone With You as a prayer. Everything about the tunnel pitch was magical. Only one negative interaction - a group of kids who flung a beercap at me - versus every other passerby, who gave me a thumbs up, or smiled, or tipped me. The flow of traffic progressed sedately in ones and twos, sometimes I had the whole tunnel to myself. I took the African man's advice to heart again and really threw myself into my songs. The acoustics made my best songs, and my falsetto shine. When I sang Falling Slowly everyone who passed me tipped me at least a little, often doubling back when I hit the falsetto in the chorus.
One woman started crying when I began to play Let it Be, another girl mouthed along dreamily to Hallelujah. I had a brief dry spell when I sang more recent things like Yellow and Say, but as soon as I returned to the more recognizable ones I got tips and positive looks. One young man smiled broadly, saying "Good song," as I played Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Another one requested Paranoid - but I couldn't oblige. When I sang I'm Yours a pair of girls danced happily in do-si-dos all the way down the tunnel. And one old lady, talking on her cellphone loudly in Finnish, paused beside me and gave me a large bill for Here Comes the Sun. A few musicians passed and I nodded at them - one quartet who I'd seen near Esplanadi appreciated the Boxer.
It was an otherworldly pitch, marred only by the fact that I had no scenery to peruse except the wall a meter and a half before me. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time and happily, that was infectious, even for those passersby with the dourest expressions.
Earnings: €41 + 1 SEK, 1.5 hours
Song of the Day: Falling Slowly - Soundtrack of Once
Monday, June 21, 2010
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 9
My best day. I started off at Senaatintori after taking some time in the morning at Harri's flat to pray. I took the African man's (who I met at Iso Roobertinkatu) advice to heart and played from my heart and from enjoyment, not from a desire for money. I started with Jon Foreman's House of God Forever before running through my most polished, slower songs. And what a response. After the first few songs, one man came down from the steps to tip me and told me to stand nearer the steps, that I play very well and they'd like to hear better. Buoyed by this, I did, standing almost at the foot, where I could see everyone clearly.
Right when I'd started singing my first song at this closer location, a sports team I'd seen briefly at Iso Roobertinkatu passed by to take photos and hang out on the steps. They were a rowdy bunch, but harmless. A very very appreciative audience, clapping after each song as soon as they were done with their photos and staying for 4 or 5 songs. I played high energy pop ish things for them, like Relax, Take it Easy and such. At the beginning, during Hey Ya, one of them came down and told me they'd give me five euros to play the same song with my shirt off. I responded that it wasnt appropriate in that location. He upped it to six and then eight, taking his own shirt off and twirling it around his head as he stood next to me, but I kept turning him down and told him I wasn't that desperate, as kindly as I could manage. He smiled at me and returned to the group. They tipped me well when the left, anyways, I think they respected my self-respect and appreciated my music.
Not so long after they left, a group of well dressed churchgoers came down the steps, mostly young children with their parents. They sat on the far left of the steps before me when they saw me, clapping enthusiastically and smiling broadly. Throughout most of the rest of my time at this pitch, they were my biggest source of energy. Every now and then the children would get coins from their parents and drop them in my case.
Another group of church goers came down (the first was probably Sunday school) and they loved my music. One middle aged woman stuck around when I sang Ue Wo Muite Arukou, enraptured, to my surprise (she was definitely Finnish), very moved. She told me after she remembered it from the Sarajevo Olympic games, then asked if I knew the song Sayonara, which I didn't. Another woman, her friend, came by, and I started absentmindedly strumming Streets of London, which is also capo 4, while I told them about just having graduated, etc. The other woman picked up on the song in her expression. I asked her if she knew it and she smiled nostalgically. So, of course, I launched directly into it. They sang along occasionally (the chorus, mostly), and tipped me a second time before loading into their car.
Right before I left, an Asian couple from America (California from the accent) gave me a coin as I packed up, saying big fan and smiling broadly. Simply the best day out yet. Bright, warm (no hoodie), energetic, wonderful audience, and I know I sang near my best.
Harri and I left to see Janne and Sonia and their children Edwin and Olivia at their place in Arabia for the Brazil-Cote d'Ivoire match. Wonderful. Such a kind, warm couple, so welcoming and personable - showing me about the house and conversing with me easily and curiously. I couldn't have met better people. Another highlight of my stay, certainly.
Earnings: €33, 1.5 hours
Song of the Day: Streets of London - Ralph McTell
Right when I'd started singing my first song at this closer location, a sports team I'd seen briefly at Iso Roobertinkatu passed by to take photos and hang out on the steps. They were a rowdy bunch, but harmless. A very very appreciative audience, clapping after each song as soon as they were done with their photos and staying for 4 or 5 songs. I played high energy pop ish things for them, like Relax, Take it Easy and such. At the beginning, during Hey Ya, one of them came down and told me they'd give me five euros to play the same song with my shirt off. I responded that it wasnt appropriate in that location. He upped it to six and then eight, taking his own shirt off and twirling it around his head as he stood next to me, but I kept turning him down and told him I wasn't that desperate, as kindly as I could manage. He smiled at me and returned to the group. They tipped me well when the left, anyways, I think they respected my self-respect and appreciated my music.
Not so long after they left, a group of well dressed churchgoers came down the steps, mostly young children with their parents. They sat on the far left of the steps before me when they saw me, clapping enthusiastically and smiling broadly. Throughout most of the rest of my time at this pitch, they were my biggest source of energy. Every now and then the children would get coins from their parents and drop them in my case.
Another group of church goers came down (the first was probably Sunday school) and they loved my music. One middle aged woman stuck around when I sang Ue Wo Muite Arukou, enraptured, to my surprise (she was definitely Finnish), very moved. She told me after she remembered it from the Sarajevo Olympic games, then asked if I knew the song Sayonara, which I didn't. Another woman, her friend, came by, and I started absentmindedly strumming Streets of London, which is also capo 4, while I told them about just having graduated, etc. The other woman picked up on the song in her expression. I asked her if she knew it and she smiled nostalgically. So, of course, I launched directly into it. They sang along occasionally (the chorus, mostly), and tipped me a second time before loading into their car.
Right before I left, an Asian couple from America (California from the accent) gave me a coin as I packed up, saying big fan and smiling broadly. Simply the best day out yet. Bright, warm (no hoodie), energetic, wonderful audience, and I know I sang near my best.
Harri and I left to see Janne and Sonia and their children Edwin and Olivia at their place in Arabia for the Brazil-Cote d'Ivoire match. Wonderful. Such a kind, warm couple, so welcoming and personable - showing me about the house and conversing with me easily and curiously. I couldn't have met better people. Another highlight of my stay, certainly.
Earnings: €33, 1.5 hours
Song of the Day: Streets of London - Ralph McTell
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 8.5
I took a break from busking today (6.19.10) to rest my voice and decided to wander about Suomenlinna. It was wonderful. The place itself was lovely, but it was the company mostly. I met a friendly girl also traveling by herself from Chile. She'd just quit her job and finished school and had decided to wander for a while also. It was her 4th month of traveling and her first stop in Europe after Asia and Russia. We started speaking in English but when she found out I was from Florida she said, "So you must know a little Spanish then?" I responded "Por supuesto, si quiere, podemos hablar en espanol, pero mi espanol es terrible porque no he practicado por muchos anos..." After which we spoke nothing but Spanish for the next 2 hours as we walked every path on the set of islands. I prefer to take the trails that split off from the cobblestone streets, so we wandered through beautiful grassy hills and by the rocky coast often. One area reminded me distinctly of Hobbitton in Lord of the Rings, which is only appropriate, as Finnish sounds to me like rather a lot like Elvish (Tolkein did base Elvish on Finnish after all). Our conversation ranged far and wide, from personal things like family to travel related things to music - hardly stopping the entire time. It was phenomenal and I felt very proud of myself for being able to converse the entire time in Spanish with only a few mishaps and pauses. We parted ways after returning to Helsinki, but not before exchanging emails - and she'll be arriving in Stockholm when I do, so I may well run into her again.
At Suomenlinna with Zebra, photo courtesy of Paula.
Hobbiton, Suomi.
I went to a couchsurfing party that evening with Harri. I brought my guitar. That night really gave me the confidence to busk again. Janina, Berita, Jari, and Soria were huge fans and buoyed me throughout. Around 2300 it got a little too rowdy for me, people getting drunk and me not, and shortly thereafter I took my leave. But it was a wonderful night and made me not want to leave Helsinki so soon. I'm starting to really like the peacefulness of life here and the people, too. If only the weather had been better while I was here...
At Suomenlinna with Zebra, photo courtesy of Paula.
Hobbiton, Suomi.
I went to a couchsurfing party that evening with Harri. I brought my guitar. That night really gave me the confidence to busk again. Janina, Berita, Jari, and Soria were huge fans and buoyed me throughout. Around 2300 it got a little too rowdy for me, people getting drunk and me not, and shortly thereafter I took my leave. But it was a wonderful night and made me not want to leave Helsinki so soon. I'm starting to really like the peacefulness of life here and the people, too. If only the weather had been better while I was here...
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 8
This is my initiation into couchsurfing: and it's been simply wonderful. I have a very kind, gracious and generous host in Harri, who took me for a 10km walk about the city that is the highlight of my trip thus far. That saved my day, really, for I was exhausted.
I had to tote my heavy, badly designed (found it in a brown bin at Yale) backpack with me everywhere and that was very trying on my back. It was a horrid day, also, with many bad experiences with the passersby. In the morning I tried a pitch by Senaatintori, which was promising. Before I even began a set of three Finns asked to take a photo with me for an office scavenger hunt and tipped me, wishing me luck. But midway through my first song, a duo of young Finnish girls, one playing violin and the other some hybrid between a zither and a guitar, both singing shrilly rushed in to catch the tourists as they began to board back on the bus. That is precisely the kind of busking I do not respect - that feels like begging and not art, all too aggressive. The violinist couldn't hold a note and their "harmonies" felt to me more like a failed attempt at unison. Naturally, the tourists loved it.
I then set up by Stockmann and it was looking to be a great pitch. After a few songs, a very obnoxious African man sat nearby on the traffic dividers and started banging away at his drum, without asking for my permission or even communicating at all. He shouted random words like "Bang bang bang bang... give it to me" as he drummed a very simple rhythm. Adding insult to injury one set of youngsters loved it - banging on his drum with him and taking videos of it. I packed up, told the man to his face he was very rude - he ignored me - then tried by the railway station.
Just as I began, a cleaning truck decided to start up, passing back and forth in front of me many times, very loudly. Each time he'd pass he'd go around the bend as if he was done before doubling back. The crowd around the station was much dingier - smoking, drinking, pushing each other about. Quite unfriendly.
My final pitch (all these pitches being half an hour or less) was back in front of Stockmann which was now thankfully rid of the rude drummer. Across the street aways was a haughty violin player - I recognized the concerto he'd just finished playing (very well, mind you) and I walked over to offer my compliments. He flicked his eyes down at me, coldly, ignoring me, then started the same concerto, same movement over again. Very frustrating day.
Lake near Harri's place, passed on a fabulous 10km walk around the city.
Earnings: €9.20, 1.5 hours
Song of the Day: Say - John Mayer
I had to tote my heavy, badly designed (found it in a brown bin at Yale) backpack with me everywhere and that was very trying on my back. It was a horrid day, also, with many bad experiences with the passersby. In the morning I tried a pitch by Senaatintori, which was promising. Before I even began a set of three Finns asked to take a photo with me for an office scavenger hunt and tipped me, wishing me luck. But midway through my first song, a duo of young Finnish girls, one playing violin and the other some hybrid between a zither and a guitar, both singing shrilly rushed in to catch the tourists as they began to board back on the bus. That is precisely the kind of busking I do not respect - that feels like begging and not art, all too aggressive. The violinist couldn't hold a note and their "harmonies" felt to me more like a failed attempt at unison. Naturally, the tourists loved it.
I then set up by Stockmann and it was looking to be a great pitch. After a few songs, a very obnoxious African man sat nearby on the traffic dividers and started banging away at his drum, without asking for my permission or even communicating at all. He shouted random words like "Bang bang bang bang... give it to me" as he drummed a very simple rhythm. Adding insult to injury one set of youngsters loved it - banging on his drum with him and taking videos of it. I packed up, told the man to his face he was very rude - he ignored me - then tried by the railway station.
Just as I began, a cleaning truck decided to start up, passing back and forth in front of me many times, very loudly. Each time he'd pass he'd go around the bend as if he was done before doubling back. The crowd around the station was much dingier - smoking, drinking, pushing each other about. Quite unfriendly.
My final pitch (all these pitches being half an hour or less) was back in front of Stockmann which was now thankfully rid of the rude drummer. Across the street aways was a haughty violin player - I recognized the concerto he'd just finished playing (very well, mind you) and I walked over to offer my compliments. He flicked his eyes down at me, coldly, ignoring me, then started the same concerto, same movement over again. Very frustrating day.
Lake near Harri's place, passed on a fabulous 10km walk around the city.
Earnings: €9.20, 1.5 hours
Song of the Day: Say - John Mayer
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 7
I think I had my most enjoyable day today (6.17.10). I decided on setting out that I should try some new locations, rather than sticking to the Senaatintori and Stockmann. That being said, I did my first pitch at Senaatintori, where I only got tipped when I made rather a show of packing up. It was very cold (13 or 14) and overcast. A group Finns dressed to the nines stopped upon hearing me and decided to take some photos or something among themselves nearby. The eldest of them gave me a five euro note when I finished, trying to sing them appropriate music to whatever it was they were doing.
But once I decided to mix in some sightseeing the day went wonderfully. I wandered further into the old town and set up a pitch on Iso Roobertinkatu, a sparsely populated pedestrian street with eateries and businesses on the upper floors. I met an African guy who lives in Vantaa there and he happily encouraged me to set up further down, wishing me luck. He's an extremely skilled electric guitarist. When I finished I came back to chat with him and he spoke some very sage words - when he goes out, he doesnt care about the money. If the money comes that's a bonus, but for him he just enjoys playing and the opportunity to share his talent. He told me that when you start worrying about the money you dont enjoy yourself and neither do the passersby. So it's important to just be grateful for music.
I stayed at this pitch for just under an hour, singing slower and more relaxed, really enjoying the music and paying little attention to what I was getting. The workers in the offices across the way took notice and smiled at me, giving me thumbs up from the windows. One store owner came out and stood on the street to hear me as his business was quite slow. In general it was a bad day, weatherwise, as it was truly frigid - towards the end I could hardly feel my fingers - but I enjoyed the peace of the place. In the busy city center I often feel like I'm fighting the crowds. Here I could hear myself and I liked that a lot. I think that showed in the quality of my music. Those who tipped me did so earnestly. One woman pressed a one euro coin into my hand, tearing up with a heartfelt "God Bless You" just as I was leaving - that is all the tip I need for one day, really.
Zebra at the Orthodox Church between the Iso Roobertinkatu and the main pitches
I had another go on a sidestreet of Aleksanderinkatu and then visited the Rock Church. A Latvian choir was using the acoustics to perfection as they rehearsed - such incredible ears. They were singing very very tight harmonies, involving semi tones, and tuning themselves around a tuning fork. I'd love to play in there some day. Also a fabulous cellist. I forget where my last pitch was, but it was nothing particularly special.
Earnings: €19.14 + 5 SEK
Song of the Day: Let it Be - The Beatles
But once I decided to mix in some sightseeing the day went wonderfully. I wandered further into the old town and set up a pitch on Iso Roobertinkatu, a sparsely populated pedestrian street with eateries and businesses on the upper floors. I met an African guy who lives in Vantaa there and he happily encouraged me to set up further down, wishing me luck. He's an extremely skilled electric guitarist. When I finished I came back to chat with him and he spoke some very sage words - when he goes out, he doesnt care about the money. If the money comes that's a bonus, but for him he just enjoys playing and the opportunity to share his talent. He told me that when you start worrying about the money you dont enjoy yourself and neither do the passersby. So it's important to just be grateful for music.
I stayed at this pitch for just under an hour, singing slower and more relaxed, really enjoying the music and paying little attention to what I was getting. The workers in the offices across the way took notice and smiled at me, giving me thumbs up from the windows. One store owner came out and stood on the street to hear me as his business was quite slow. In general it was a bad day, weatherwise, as it was truly frigid - towards the end I could hardly feel my fingers - but I enjoyed the peace of the place. In the busy city center I often feel like I'm fighting the crowds. Here I could hear myself and I liked that a lot. I think that showed in the quality of my music. Those who tipped me did so earnestly. One woman pressed a one euro coin into my hand, tearing up with a heartfelt "God Bless You" just as I was leaving - that is all the tip I need for one day, really.
Zebra at the Orthodox Church between the Iso Roobertinkatu and the main pitches
I had another go on a sidestreet of Aleksanderinkatu and then visited the Rock Church. A Latvian choir was using the acoustics to perfection as they rehearsed - such incredible ears. They were singing very very tight harmonies, involving semi tones, and tuning themselves around a tuning fork. I'd love to play in there some day. Also a fabulous cellist. I forget where my last pitch was, but it was nothing particularly special.
Earnings: €19.14 + 5 SEK
Song of the Day: Let it Be - The Beatles
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 6
So of course location isnt everything. So is timing. In my first half hour in Senaatintori today (6.16.10) I got absolutely nothing. I stuck with it for another 45 minutes and fared much better. Well better than nothing, which is infinitely better, eh? A couple decided to take some photographs in the square and I sang them I Will Follow You Into the Dark. The day lightened as it progressed so that probably had something to do with my luck. Again it was mostly younger people who liked my playing and stopped to sit and listen. One teenage couple stayed the whole time, and told me "Good playing." They sang along to Mrs. Robinson and seemed very happy to hear and watch me.
Earnings: €10.20, 1.25 hours
Song of the Day: Mrs. Robinson - Simion & Garfunkel
Earnings: €10.20, 1.25 hours
Song of the Day: Mrs. Robinson - Simion & Garfunkel
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 5
A few notes on the other buskers here in Helsinki. Besides Cathal there's a man who walks down the street with a large music box, winding it as he goes. He's very polite and always stops winding the crank as he passes me. Today (6.15.10) I encountered a group from Chile - pan flutes and El Condor Pasa seem to have spread the world over. There's a Romanian duo of an accordionist and a saxophonist who play near the train station who are very talented - I usually give them a 50 cent coin as I pass them. They tend to play Summertime a bit overmuch, though. There's a solo saxophonist who slumps against a wall on Aleksanderinkatu. I talked to her today and she's actually a rather nice Russian lady - pity she's not very talented. She plays the opening notes of The Autumn Leaves over and over and over with insufficient breath support.
To the busking. It was a horrid day. Exactly the opposite of yesterday. The money was fine but the people... ugh. Something about the day felt hostile. Many people who passed were mean spirited. I split my time between Senaatintori and Aleksanderinkatu by Stockmann. There were many positive experiences, but somehow the deliberate maliciousness of a few overrode that in my heart.
Let's start with that so I dont end on it. Many younger gaggles took the opportunity to make fun of me. Most of the older ones kept their heads down and rushed on. A few couples enjoyed my music with their toddlers but never made eye contact and kept a distance - needless to say, no tip. The worst was the teenagers. One especially malicious (and probably drunk) group stared me down haughtily with beers in their hands. As they approached me one bent over my case and made as if to pour his beer into it. Thankfully he didnt, but he made it clear with his eyes that he might later. It took me a long long time to recover emotionally from that.
And the positive experience. I sang Hallelujah in Senaatintori and a Chinese lady earnestly pressed me a $5 bill. Emotional and happy before she ran off to her bus. All in all I'm going to have to learn to focus on those interactions and try to find a way to brush off those horrid ones.
Earnings: €17+$5, 3 hours
Song of the Day: Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
To the busking. It was a horrid day. Exactly the opposite of yesterday. The money was fine but the people... ugh. Something about the day felt hostile. Many people who passed were mean spirited. I split my time between Senaatintori and Aleksanderinkatu by Stockmann. There were many positive experiences, but somehow the deliberate maliciousness of a few overrode that in my heart.
Let's start with that so I dont end on it. Many younger gaggles took the opportunity to make fun of me. Most of the older ones kept their heads down and rushed on. A few couples enjoyed my music with their toddlers but never made eye contact and kept a distance - needless to say, no tip. The worst was the teenagers. One especially malicious (and probably drunk) group stared me down haughtily with beers in their hands. As they approached me one bent over my case and made as if to pour his beer into it. Thankfully he didnt, but he made it clear with his eyes that he might later. It took me a long long time to recover emotionally from that.
And the positive experience. I sang Hallelujah in Senaatintori and a Chinese lady earnestly pressed me a $5 bill. Emotional and happy before she ran off to her bus. All in all I'm going to have to learn to focus on those interactions and try to find a way to brush off those horrid ones.
Earnings: €17+$5, 3 hours
Song of the Day: Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 4
Today (6.14.10) was a strange kind of day. Very rich in experience, but not so rich otherwise. I set up my first pitch at Senaatintori once again. Cold and gray again and I made practically nothing in my first hour. The funny thing being that the people in the square and the passersby were not unappreciative. They just seemed to cold to take their hands from their pockets. Several of them smiled once they heard me, and a few settled down on seats nearby. Few gave. The sun came out briefly right when I was about to give up about half way through, and a man originally from Turkey had a nice chat with me. He wondered if I might teach him trumpet - which I obviously am unable to - and then told me to keep it up. While he didnt tip me, I appreciated his kindliness.
The most egregious example of how the pitch went is really rather a tragicomedic story. I've been trying to amass songs in multiple languages so as to surprise people as they pass with a song in their native tongue. I learned I Believe from My Sassy Girl (though I promptly forgot it) and Ojala by Silvio Rodriguez. My surest foreign language standy, however, is Ue Wo Muite Arukou (known in the states as the sukiyaki song for whatever reason) by Kyu Sakamoto. It's this wonderful tune from the 1960s with a cheerful melody and lyrics about being all alone at night, looking up while walking so the tears don't fall. Brilliant stuff.
Anyways, I saw a large group of Japanese tourists enter the church and I made a mental note to play it for them when they returned to the bus down the long set of steps. So as they began to walk back down a quarter of an hour later, I began to sing. They were heading to my left around the statue in the square, but as soon as they heard me they all flowed towards me, like a redirected waterway. Everyone, whose expression was previously dour, began to smile. They gathered around me - 25-30 of them, all middle aged - and many sang along with the chorus. When I finished, they laughed and talked among each other animatedly (keeping their eyes away from me now that I had finished) as if I had vanished. One man asked me if I was Japanese (which I was very complimented by - I'd pronounced it right!) but didnt tip me when I said I wasnt. Then again I doubt he would have tipped me either way. After milling about in front of me for a while, they all moved off, ignoring me. Only one woman paused to toss me a 20 cent coin. Japanese tourists fail.
My second pitch was by Stockmann again, which seems to be a good default location. It went similarly here, with many people pausing but few tipping. A group of kids thought me rather amusing, singing along laughingly to Hallelujah. Another set of middle schoolers hung out on the street to my left, and ran over to me to say "Peace, dude" every now and then and tossing in a 5 cent coin. The nicest was one old Finnish woman who said "God Bless You," very emotional and beaming through eyes welling up with tears as I sang Tears in Heaven. At the very end of my pitch, a nice bohemian looking 20something decided to part ways with his friend so as to listen to me for a few songs I Started a Joke and Dreams. None of them gave me anything, but the company and the camaraderie was enough for today.
Earnings: €11.55, 1.75 hours
Song of the Day: Ue Wo Muite Arukou - Kyu Sakamoto
The most egregious example of how the pitch went is really rather a tragicomedic story. I've been trying to amass songs in multiple languages so as to surprise people as they pass with a song in their native tongue. I learned I Believe from My Sassy Girl (though I promptly forgot it) and Ojala by Silvio Rodriguez. My surest foreign language standy, however, is Ue Wo Muite Arukou (known in the states as the sukiyaki song for whatever reason) by Kyu Sakamoto. It's this wonderful tune from the 1960s with a cheerful melody and lyrics about being all alone at night, looking up while walking so the tears don't fall. Brilliant stuff.
Anyways, I saw a large group of Japanese tourists enter the church and I made a mental note to play it for them when they returned to the bus down the long set of steps. So as they began to walk back down a quarter of an hour later, I began to sing. They were heading to my left around the statue in the square, but as soon as they heard me they all flowed towards me, like a redirected waterway. Everyone, whose expression was previously dour, began to smile. They gathered around me - 25-30 of them, all middle aged - and many sang along with the chorus. When I finished, they laughed and talked among each other animatedly (keeping their eyes away from me now that I had finished) as if I had vanished. One man asked me if I was Japanese (which I was very complimented by - I'd pronounced it right!) but didnt tip me when I said I wasnt. Then again I doubt he would have tipped me either way. After milling about in front of me for a while, they all moved off, ignoring me. Only one woman paused to toss me a 20 cent coin. Japanese tourists fail.
My second pitch was by Stockmann again, which seems to be a good default location. It went similarly here, with many people pausing but few tipping. A group of kids thought me rather amusing, singing along laughingly to Hallelujah. Another set of middle schoolers hung out on the street to my left, and ran over to me to say "Peace, dude" every now and then and tossing in a 5 cent coin. The nicest was one old Finnish woman who said "God Bless You," very emotional and beaming through eyes welling up with tears as I sang Tears in Heaven. At the very end of my pitch, a nice bohemian looking 20something decided to part ways with his friend so as to listen to me for a few songs I Started a Joke and Dreams. None of them gave me anything, but the company and the camaraderie was enough for today.
Earnings: €11.55, 1.75 hours
Song of the Day: Ue Wo Muite Arukou - Kyu Sakamoto
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 3
The weekend was cold and rainy so I took a few days off. I busked very briefly on Saturday but it was windy and bloody freezing. There were a lot of people in Senaatintori (the square in front of the church I did will in the first day) but I doubt many could hear me well. After half an hour I called it a day, mostly because I didn't want to keep NanO waiting, as we were walking about the city together that day. She sang with me for the first few songs, but didnt know the other ones, unfortunately.
It was Helsinki Day (6.12.10) and for some reason that meant there was an enormous Samba parade through the city center. A tiny, expensive arts fair, too. A lot of buskers were out on the street, but all doing quite badly from the looks of things.
Random thoughts from the day: decorate my case! Maybe draw on the cover? Paint? Get a costume?
Earnings: €5, half an hour
Song of the Day: I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
It was Helsinki Day (6.12.10) and for some reason that meant there was an enormous Samba parade through the city center. A tiny, expensive arts fair, too. A lot of buskers were out on the street, but all doing quite badly from the looks of things.
Random thoughts from the day: decorate my case! Maybe draw on the cover? Paint? Get a costume?
Earnings: €5, half an hour
Song of the Day: I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Buskitechture in Helsinki, Day 2
It occured to me that it's going to be difficult to actually see Helsinki if I need to busk so often as I have been. Today (6.10.10) confirmed I need to learn oldies. Well, high energy songs in general seem to do well. Hey Ya got a lot of double takes and appreciative "Well that's different" expressions, probably because I know it so well and can really throw myself into it. It was mostly sunny so I fared quite decently.
My first pitch was in front of the huge department store downtown on Aleksanderinkatu - Stockmann. I set up just east of it on an intersection with a pedestrian cross road. (Maybe I'll get photos at some point). I noticed that it's mostly a younger crowd who gives here, probably because those are the only ones walking the streets during the day on a Thursday now I think about it... Them and tourists. Once I discovered this, I sang Relax, Take it Easy, and the reaction was immediate. Young couples loved it, old people looked confused, students' faces lit up in smiles, little children stopped and gawked. I shared this pitch with a couple students who seemed to be activists, canvasing all passersby for help on some humanitarian issue.
When I tried by Esplanadi again, by a Brasserie on the street itself, it was a total fail after an older lady tipped me for Sound of Silence. I was late meeting NanO there and I didn't stay terribly long after telling her I wanted to stay out in the city a little longer. I took a short rest before heading off to a big intersection right by Stockmann, on the main car-tram drag. I chose a bottleneck across from a fruit vendor and I did passably well. Mostly I got thumbs ups and smiles, especially from students (though now it was around 1900).
I had one very fun experience where a young man wanted to film me singing a love song to send by email. He requested Torn by Natalie Imbruglia, which I was rusty on but had a go at anyways. He tipped we all right then walked off a ways to send the video. Him standing directly in front of me filming me got a lot of attention and one woman asked him what he asked for. After a little while he realized the file was too big, apologized to me for asking again and asked me to sing just the chorus of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You. I took a few seconds to figure out the chords Capo 4ish, C Am G F or something similar - how predictable - and obliged. He thanked me and walked on rather happily.
Earnings: €27.15, 3 hours
Song of the Day: Relax, Take it Easy - Mika
My first pitch was in front of the huge department store downtown on Aleksanderinkatu - Stockmann. I set up just east of it on an intersection with a pedestrian cross road. (Maybe I'll get photos at some point). I noticed that it's mostly a younger crowd who gives here, probably because those are the only ones walking the streets during the day on a Thursday now I think about it... Them and tourists. Once I discovered this, I sang Relax, Take it Easy, and the reaction was immediate. Young couples loved it, old people looked confused, students' faces lit up in smiles, little children stopped and gawked. I shared this pitch with a couple students who seemed to be activists, canvasing all passersby for help on some humanitarian issue.
When I tried by Esplanadi again, by a Brasserie on the street itself, it was a total fail after an older lady tipped me for Sound of Silence. I was late meeting NanO there and I didn't stay terribly long after telling her I wanted to stay out in the city a little longer. I took a short rest before heading off to a big intersection right by Stockmann, on the main car-tram drag. I chose a bottleneck across from a fruit vendor and I did passably well. Mostly I got thumbs ups and smiles, especially from students (though now it was around 1900).
I had one very fun experience where a young man wanted to film me singing a love song to send by email. He requested Torn by Natalie Imbruglia, which I was rusty on but had a go at anyways. He tipped we all right then walked off a ways to send the video. Him standing directly in front of me filming me got a lot of attention and one woman asked him what he asked for. After a little while he realized the file was too big, apologized to me for asking again and asked me to sing just the chorus of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You. I took a few seconds to figure out the chords Capo 4ish, C Am G F or something similar - how predictable - and obliged. He thanked me and walked on rather happily.
Earnings: €27.15, 3 hours
Song of the Day: Relax, Take it Easy - Mika
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Buskitecture in Helsinki, Day 1
The pitches today may have been indicative of what busking will be like from now on. Very, very schizophrenic. And entirely dependent on sunshine. I started the day off in the middle of Esplanadi Park, at around 10AM. I gave up after a half hour - no one so much as looked at me. It was rather overcast and the day had a dreary feel, and I decided to have a go on the actual street. I set up on Aleksanderinkatu, the eastern end of it, and promptly got 1.3 euro in an hour. At this point I was very very low in spirits. I decided to rest a touch and wandered up and down the street a bit.
Further west I ran into a fellow busker, whose name I'm not sure of but I think is Cathal. He was playing classical guitar on the side streets and I asked him how he was faring - similarly rotten luck as myself. Ironically, that made me feel better.
With a little more optimism, I took a visit to the church at Senate Square, the symbol of Helsinki, sat peacefully and prayed a little, then set up a pitch on the square itself. There was a operatic tenor there in the morning doing fairly well, so I figured I'd see how it went even though it looked unlikely - small amount of traffic, huge area for the sound to get lost in, etc. The sun came out as I left the church and voila, just like that my fortunes flip flopped. Again it was the oldies that got me noticed. One middle aged man sang along to Somewhere Over the Rainbow (though he knew the original and I was singing the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole version, but no matter). The first tip came from a 20something woman - a 2 euro tip, more than I'd made all day - and that gave me tons of energy. It flowed after that. It's funny how energy works. It makes me think perhaps I need to take some quiet time and pray before each pitch, perhaps.
Zebra busking at Senaatintori
Earnings: €23.30, 2.5 hours
Song of the Day: Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Further west I ran into a fellow busker, whose name I'm not sure of but I think is Cathal. He was playing classical guitar on the side streets and I asked him how he was faring - similarly rotten luck as myself. Ironically, that made me feel better.
With a little more optimism, I took a visit to the church at Senate Square, the symbol of Helsinki, sat peacefully and prayed a little, then set up a pitch on the square itself. There was a operatic tenor there in the morning doing fairly well, so I figured I'd see how it went even though it looked unlikely - small amount of traffic, huge area for the sound to get lost in, etc. The sun came out as I left the church and voila, just like that my fortunes flip flopped. Again it was the oldies that got me noticed. One middle aged man sang along to Somewhere Over the Rainbow (though he knew the original and I was singing the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole version, but no matter). The first tip came from a 20something woman - a 2 euro tip, more than I'd made all day - and that gave me tons of energy. It flowed after that. It's funny how energy works. It makes me think perhaps I need to take some quiet time and pray before each pitch, perhaps.
Zebra busking at Senaatintori
Earnings: €23.30, 2.5 hours
Song of the Day: Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Friday, June 18, 2010
I (Hate) New York, Day 3
Today (6.6.10) I busked as a "group" for the first time. Maria (who I wish I could convince to come to Europe with me) and I basically made things up on the spot for about an hour. We set up a pitch at Columbus Circle, at the tip of the tiered steps. It was a fun hour. We were completely unrehearsed, had no "act" and made practically no eye contact with passersby at all. Most of the time we spent looking at each other and figuring things out. We'd end abruptly or repeat the verse endlessly, or the chorus. At the beginning we played some Low Strung things where I just backed her when she told me what chords to play and later on we played some of my covers.
It was an entirely different experience. I felt very comfortable and sustainable - I could play that way all day because it didn't tax my voice at all and I could simply take a backseat - provide a rhythm and moral support so she could showcase her tremendous talent. It also helps that she's female - that is proven to double earnings.
Our best response was from a middle aged gentleman who told us he'd graduated from the Vienna Conservatory, and wondered where we'd graduated from, assuming some Music school. That was flattering and the conversation was lovely. He loved Maria's dexterity and vibrato, and amusingly to me loved "our music" - we'd just played Hit Me Baby One More Time. Very encouraging.
Earnings: ~$16.20, ~1 hour
Song of the Day: Hit Me Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
It was an entirely different experience. I felt very comfortable and sustainable - I could play that way all day because it didn't tax my voice at all and I could simply take a backseat - provide a rhythm and moral support so she could showcase her tremendous talent. It also helps that she's female - that is proven to double earnings.
Our best response was from a middle aged gentleman who told us he'd graduated from the Vienna Conservatory, and wondered where we'd graduated from, assuming some Music school. That was flattering and the conversation was lovely. He loved Maria's dexterity and vibrato, and amusingly to me loved "our music" - we'd just played Hit Me Baby One More Time. Very encouraging.
Earnings: ~$16.20, ~1 hour
Song of the Day: Hit Me Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
I (Hate) New York, Day 2
It can be very discouring out on the streets here. I've noticed that if I worry about how much money I'm getting (and so often, I am) then I do much worse. It's this unconscious glance into the guitar case, or a pitiful pleading cast to my gaze. Unfortunately, it's something of a catch-22. I'm no good at getting energy from nowhere, and I quickly run out of my initial enthusiasm if no one so much as smiles at me (which is very New York). It's hard not to feel slighted as people pass. And that starts this evil cycle where I'm not having so much fun and the passersby aren't either (probably).
This was summed up perfectly today (6.4.10) by a woman who passed me as I sang Here Comes the Sun by City Hall Park. She smiled broadly when she doubled back, saying, "How could I resist, with that smile?" So it's in the smile, the demeanor, the energy. Not the talent.
Other notes for today - a good interaction with a fellow busker - spray painter - who wished me luck even though he'd taken the prime spot. Meeting up with Sheikh and singing him the Sound of Silence as I remembered it was one of his favorites was also wonderful.
Earnings: ~$12
Song of the Day: Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
This was summed up perfectly today (6.4.10) by a woman who passed me as I sang Here Comes the Sun by City Hall Park. She smiled broadly when she doubled back, saying, "How could I resist, with that smile?" So it's in the smile, the demeanor, the energy. Not the talent.
Other notes for today - a good interaction with a fellow busker - spray painter - who wished me luck even though he'd taken the prime spot. Meeting up with Sheikh and singing him the Sound of Silence as I remembered it was one of his favorites was also wonderful.
Earnings: ~$12
Song of the Day: Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
I (Hate) New York, Day 1
As soon as I arrived in New York, I remembered why I'd been avoiding it after freshman year. I hate it. I can't understand those who like it. All the rudeness and the grime others have an affinity to... I prefer my subways clean and air-conditioned, thank you. I checked with Richard where I might busk, and he suggested Central Park.
Today (6.2.10) was not a very lucrative day. I walked up to the MET and talked to a bassist setting up for a pitch there about the rules concerning busking in Central Park. He was very friendly. I started around 77th street, just inside the West edge of the park. While the passersby where very appreciative in their smiles and attention, they largely passed me up in terms of tips. Many couples and old people stopped and sat down on the benches nearby - the favorite spot for this seemed to be those benches at my peripheral, so that I might not catch them when they ran off. And I know they were listening to me because they were watching me or tapping their feet or left in a break between songs. Many listened for 20 minutes plus. It was frustrating.
The pitch in late fall.
I decided to check out the MET buskers - the bassist was simply the backing to a 4 piece vocal ensemble singing songs like In the Jungle and Stand By Me in tight harmonies, most in falsetto. I caught the tail end and searched for a bathroom to refill my water bottle. Upon returning to the MET area, I decided to try my luck north of the MET and passed an electric guitarist playing jazzy chords and asked for his advice. He was very encouraging - saying though he hadn't heard me play not to lose hope. He pointed me up the street a bit, just past the Hotdog Stand on 82nd, facing fifth avenue, where I played to a much better audience.
I find it strange that audiences who pass quickly are more appreciative monetarily than those who can sit and listen - obviously its the ease factor - when I'm in the way people give and if they can listen without giving or feeling guilt they will. Location, location, location, eh?
A lot of children passed by this spot as I played. One little boy came back 5 or 6 times but his caretaker had nothing for me. Most of the children I entertained (another young girl hung around for 4 or 5 songs before her mother tugged her away) had ungenerous parents. Another funny observation - most of my donations came from women. I don't know why? Also the way they gave followed a curious pattern. They'd notice the music, pass by slowly, stop just at the edge of my peripheral, listen a while, root for money with their back turned and then sheepishly and quickly run back to leave something before dashing off.
The best was one women who smiled as I sang her The Boxer. She "waited in line" for a hotdog which she didn't buy as she got change, then doubled back and gave me a dollar, saying "How could I not?" smiling at me.
5th Ave pitch - deserted in late fall.
Earnings: ~$15
Song of the Day: The Boxer - Simon & Garfunkel
Today (6.2.10) was not a very lucrative day. I walked up to the MET and talked to a bassist setting up for a pitch there about the rules concerning busking in Central Park. He was very friendly. I started around 77th street, just inside the West edge of the park. While the passersby where very appreciative in their smiles and attention, they largely passed me up in terms of tips. Many couples and old people stopped and sat down on the benches nearby - the favorite spot for this seemed to be those benches at my peripheral, so that I might not catch them when they ran off. And I know they were listening to me because they were watching me or tapping their feet or left in a break between songs. Many listened for 20 minutes plus. It was frustrating.
The pitch in late fall.I decided to check out the MET buskers - the bassist was simply the backing to a 4 piece vocal ensemble singing songs like In the Jungle and Stand By Me in tight harmonies, most in falsetto. I caught the tail end and searched for a bathroom to refill my water bottle. Upon returning to the MET area, I decided to try my luck north of the MET and passed an electric guitarist playing jazzy chords and asked for his advice. He was very encouraging - saying though he hadn't heard me play not to lose hope. He pointed me up the street a bit, just past the Hotdog Stand on 82nd, facing fifth avenue, where I played to a much better audience.
I find it strange that audiences who pass quickly are more appreciative monetarily than those who can sit and listen - obviously its the ease factor - when I'm in the way people give and if they can listen without giving or feeling guilt they will. Location, location, location, eh?
A lot of children passed by this spot as I played. One little boy came back 5 or 6 times but his caretaker had nothing for me. Most of the children I entertained (another young girl hung around for 4 or 5 songs before her mother tugged her away) had ungenerous parents. Another funny observation - most of my donations came from women. I don't know why? Also the way they gave followed a curious pattern. They'd notice the music, pass by slowly, stop just at the edge of my peripheral, listen a while, root for money with their back turned and then sheepishly and quickly run back to leave something before dashing off.
The best was one women who smiled as I sang her The Boxer. She "waited in line" for a hotdog which she didn't buy as she got change, then doubled back and gave me a dollar, saying "How could I not?" smiling at me.
5th Ave pitch - deserted in late fall.Earnings: ~$15
Song of the Day: The Boxer - Simon & Garfunkel
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Excerpts from Copenhagen, Day 3
So it was sunny today (5.17.10). Thank God. And that changed everything. I started off at Kongens Nytorv, around 2pm? As soon as I started playing - The Mario Kart Love Song by Sam Hart - a man in his early thirties smiled broadly, slowed and dropped me some change. With the sun out I am much more confident and I can smile. Even when people look at me dubiously. A lot of people sat and listened (surreptitiously or so they thought). It was a good, bright hour. An asian man was appreciative when I sang him Ue Wo Muite Arukou. When I sang Yesterday, three business paused their walk and continued their discussion right in front of me. I was confused but kept playing. After they'd reached some sort of agreement, they smiled at me, sang along and tipped me.
After a break, I went back to the Round Tower pitch. A street vendor selling sunglasses lit up immediately when I started to play, and even left his desk to give me a tip after a few songs. And when a little girl hung out in front of me for a while and her mother didnt give her anything to give to me, the street vendor smiled at her and gave her a 2 kroner piece to give me. Wonderful man. The day ended in an off fashion, however, as a drunk man nearly stumbled into me, started hugging me and kissing my clothes and then begging me - all this while I was trying to continue... I shrugged him off as gently as I could as I packed up - I had to meet Darell - bid farewell to the street vendor and went off to her friend's homestay, where I led a happy night of singing.
Earnings: ~130 DKK, ~2.5 hours
Song of the Day: Yesterday - The Beatles
After a break, I went back to the Round Tower pitch. A street vendor selling sunglasses lit up immediately when I started to play, and even left his desk to give me a tip after a few songs. And when a little girl hung out in front of me for a while and her mother didnt give her anything to give to me, the street vendor smiled at her and gave her a 2 kroner piece to give me. Wonderful man. The day ended in an off fashion, however, as a drunk man nearly stumbled into me, started hugging me and kissing my clothes and then begging me - all this while I was trying to continue... I shrugged him off as gently as I could as I packed up - I had to meet Darell - bid farewell to the street vendor and went off to her friend's homestay, where I led a happy night of singing.
Earnings: ~130 DKK, ~2.5 hours
Song of the Day: Yesterday - The Beatles
Excerpts from Copenhagen, Day 2
I woke late today (5.14.10) with a rather discouraging start. I spent a long time wandering back and forth down Strøget, only to find every likely spot taken by some group already. There was a 3 piece band by Amagertorv swapping off with a 2 piece band. The John Mayer at 50 lookalike was at his usual post near H&M, a couple of Russian instrumentalists playing some ridiculously large balalaika-esque thing further west and a 5 piece band at Gammeltorv. East of Amagertorv was a spray painter playing music on his speakerset and an instrumental guitarist.
After nervously looking around a long bit, I set up on a triangle shaped pitch by some bike racks, but after just two songs I was waved on by the shop owners, who informed me sternly I wasnt to play except in Gammeltorv, at least until five. At this point I was ready to pack it in. That's when I ran into Darell and her friends, which saved me. She took me near the Round Tower, on Købmagergade. There, opposite a bookstore with some rowdy kids in the small square behind me, I proceeeded to have a good hour. It was dismally cold, gray, and my spirits were rather low, but I did all right monetarily.
After today I wished for an amp. But then I realized I'd have to modify my guitar, get a permit, pay for batteries.... But then, without one, am I killing the little voice I have?
Earnings: 60 DKK, ~1 hour
Song of the day: I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
After nervously looking around a long bit, I set up on a triangle shaped pitch by some bike racks, but after just two songs I was waved on by the shop owners, who informed me sternly I wasnt to play except in Gammeltorv, at least until five. At this point I was ready to pack it in. That's when I ran into Darell and her friends, which saved me. She took me near the Round Tower, on Købmagergade. There, opposite a bookstore with some rowdy kids in the small square behind me, I proceeeded to have a good hour. It was dismally cold, gray, and my spirits were rather low, but I did all right monetarily.
After today I wished for an amp. But then I realized I'd have to modify my guitar, get a permit, pay for batteries.... But then, without one, am I killing the little voice I have?
Earnings: 60 DKK, ~1 hour
Song of the day: I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Excerpts from Copenhagen, Day 1
I arrived in Copenhagen rather late (5.11.10), my flight was rather delayed from Iceland's Volcano problems. I'd also forgotten my coat on the plane, so once I retrieved it I raced off to meet Darell at Gammeltorv, the fountain near her school. Luckily, she was still there. After some introductions, Darell and I decided to just have a go and sing a bit, right there. No money, and it was only like a few songs. We walked down Strøget and tried across from an H&M, but a hotdog stand owner shooed us on. A little later, we tried by Gammeltorv again, facing the traffic passing down the main thoroughfare.
A nice street vendor in the square was very encouraging and gave us some pointers. I suppose it helps his business, too, to have music nearby. Anyhow, it was a disappointed excursion. Many of the people looked suspicious or incredulous and not many smiled. Mostly a fail.
Earnings: ~5 DKK?
Song of the day: How Great is Our God - Chris Tomlin
A nice street vendor in the square was very encouraging and gave us some pointers. I suppose it helps his business, too, to have music nearby. Anyhow, it was a disappointed excursion. Many of the people looked suspicious or incredulous and not many smiled. Mostly a fail.
Earnings: ~5 DKK?
Song of the day: How Great is Our God - Chris Tomlin
Friday, June 11, 2010
The first post
Hello world,
Seeing as I hardly have internet access - no computer and no idea where I'll be when, this blog is probably a wishful idea. The idea is to chronicle the yuck and the awesome of busking - total transparency - for future buskers, friends, etc. I'll hopefully post songs as I record them with my mum's dinky recording device as I go, too. The writing will err on the less personal side than I usually write. I think for every post I'll have a busking song of the day and some thoughts on locations and ways I can improve.
A big part of whether I put in the effort to continue this blog will be the feedback. Comments on the songs, on the tips, etc. So please, please, please leave something if you read, eh?
Thanks,
t
Seeing as I hardly have internet access - no computer and no idea where I'll be when, this blog is probably a wishful idea. The idea is to chronicle the yuck and the awesome of busking - total transparency - for future buskers, friends, etc. I'll hopefully post songs as I record them with my mum's dinky recording device as I go, too. The writing will err on the less personal side than I usually write. I think for every post I'll have a busking song of the day and some thoughts on locations and ways I can improve.
A big part of whether I put in the effort to continue this blog will be the feedback. Comments on the songs, on the tips, etc. So please, please, please leave something if you read, eh?
Thanks,
t
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