Jim Rumbaugh
1225 posts
Oct 14, 2016
10:14 AM
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The next two weekends I will be riding The New River Train.
Last year we did some busking at the train station as people passed by to get back on the train. I occurred to me, if we set up closer to the train, we could be where people stand in line to get on the train. This would not only entertain them while they wait, it would give them a longer chance to interact (give).
SO
Your opinion, Is it OK to busk for people standing in a waiting line??
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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JInx
1250 posts
Oct 14, 2016
10:55 AM
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If you're good you can get away with anything.
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nacoran
9259 posts
Oct 14, 2016
11:12 AM
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Unless someone tells you to stop.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Sarge
576 posts
Oct 14, 2016
3:02 PM
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If I was there I would do it.
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Frank101
186 posts
Oct 14, 2016
3:58 PM
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Busking on the street, people can stop & listen to you, or walk on, as they please.
Busking to people stuck waiting in line, they're stuck with you. If you're going to impose yourself like that you better be pretty damn good. And even then ...
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nacoran
9260 posts
Oct 14, 2016
5:07 PM
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Frank, at least good enough to be preferable to the guy talking loudly on his cellphone! :)
I think the way I would approach it is to start fairly quietly and gauge people's reaction. I've stood in a lot of long lines, and most of the time I would have welcomed someone playing... and if not, maybe you shorten the line! :)
(Actually, I have a great memory of standing in line to register for classes freshman year in college- a couple years later they did it all electronically- but that line wasn't moving. One guy started a sing along. We went through a whole bunch of TV show theme songs. Made the time pass a little slower.)
Edit- Made the time pass a little faster, made the wait a little more bearable. I really should proofread more!
I think also building it up slowly might actually convert any grumpy gusses. People are funny. There are two weird dynamics I've seen before. When people see somebody who is good at something and they know it before other people they like to share it. That may get the people right around you excited- they are your 'first' fans, the in crowd, the people in the know. After the 'show' they will be the ones who consider themselves part of your 'entourage'. The second group, the late comers, they are followers. They see that people like you and want to be part of the in crowd too, so even if they were having a grumpy day they are likely to start clapping along too.
The one group you have to watch is the cellphone user. They are in a separate social collection than the crowd. They are interacting with someone who isn't there, so their social pressure is to maintain that connection, not join the 'physically present' group. If people start pointing their phones at you instead of talking on them you are golden. Do a quick look before you start and make sure there doesn't seem to be anyone in the middle of a stressful conversation on their phone. If they are to the point of being loud it means that they are already angry and likely to point that anger at you. (Or that they are really self-absorbed). If people do start pointing their cameras at you, ham it up and let them know you are there to entertain them.
:)
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
Last Edited by nacoran on Oct 15, 2016 12:42 PM
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JustFuya
982 posts
Oct 15, 2016
7:31 AM
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I agree that you have a captive audience and it might come off as offensive as a loud boombox or off key singer in a subway car.
But I don't see the harm in doing a quick little chug & wail to gauge the group as nacoran suggests. I'm not familiar with the type of crowd for that particular train ride but if it is festive then they are more likely to enjoy it. Commuters are a different species and you can bet some have had a bad day.
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Greg Heumann
3284 posts
Oct 15, 2016
11:32 AM
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As a rule I don't like anything forced down my throat, but I have a soft spot for musicians as long as they're really good at what they do. If the crowd is actively encouraging, keep it up. If they're passive/ignoring you/just being polite? Don't press your luck.
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Goldbrick
1659 posts
Oct 15, 2016
1:33 PM
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I think its fine. Just dont be too close or too loud.
Going busking myself tonight- a new business is letting us set up so should be interesting
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kudzurunner
6061 posts
Oct 15, 2016
3:29 PM
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In Europe, of course, one of the main ways that buskers work is to busk to the people sitting at outdoor cafes. They, like the people waiting in lines, are a captive audience. They have even less reason, I suppose, to appreciate the music, because they're actually doing something--eating, drinking, talking--and not just killing time in a line. Yet they seem to like it.
I busked people in a line only once, many years ago, in the late fall of 1985, when Bill Taft and I hit up the people waiting on line outside the Beacon Theater. It was fun, and nobody seemed to mind. We were wild. Somebody gave us tickets to see the Allman Brothers, too. So you never know.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Oct 15, 2016 7:56 PM
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Jim Rumbaugh
1226 posts
Oct 15, 2016
7:43 PM
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I just finished the 1st of 4 trips. Karen Combs played guitar and I played harp. We took turns singing tunes and occasionally put in some harmony. We did NOT have a long line in front of us. The line ended about 50 feet away, but everyone passed by us on their way to the train. There were about 300 to 400 passengers boarding. There were many smiles, many cameras, and a few dollars. We played for 30 minutes and made $8, $4 each, so we came real close to the minimum wage rate. :)
Overall, I say it was well received. We had a good time, and it helped meet our obligation of entertaining the passengers.
I'll try it again with the next combo of players and see what happens.
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
Last Edited by Jim Rumbaugh on Oct 15, 2016 7:44 PM
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STME58
1857 posts
Oct 15, 2016
9:11 PM
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I tend to agree with what Frank 101 said, though the other responses seem reasonable also. I try to choose places where people have a choice to stop and listen, or move on. For example, at San Francisco airport I frequently have long layovers. I would not think of sitting down at the gate and playing, but the corridor between the domestic and international terminals is perfect. This is not busking as I don't put a "hat" out, but the few times I have done it. all of the interactions with the passersby have been positive. I doubt this would be the case if I played at the gate.
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MindTheGap
1827 posts
Oct 16, 2016
1:44 AM
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With a captive audience they might be paying to get rid of you. You may interpret that as success, and the sorry cycle goes round and round.
The miserable experience was going home on the tube after a hard day's work, then having buskers jump into the carriage with a triumphant Gotcha. They'd leap on at the last minute precisely to stop anyone escaping. At least you could hop carriages at the next stop, whereas you can't easily leave a queue for tickets or whatever.
I want to break it to you gently, but some people really don't like the sound of a harmonica. Crazy but true.
So, depends how fast the queue is moving.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Oct 16, 2016 1:45 AM
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STME58
1858 posts
Oct 16, 2016
10:06 AM
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When I was in New York a while ago, I was in subway car when I noticed a guy entering with an acoustic base (pretty observant, huh? :-) ). What I had not noticed was that at the other end of the car, a guitarist and other musicians had entered. As the train started they all started playing and one person worked the car with the "hat". The music was good, and the feel had elements of both good fun and train robbery. I can't remember if I put anything in the hat, but I certainly came away with a memorable experience. This experience to me kind of sums up my ambivalence to the OP's question. Was this OK? Yes and no. I glad I experienced it, so that goes in the yes column. I sure others on the train were quite bothered though.
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1847
3753 posts
Oct 17, 2016
10:55 AM
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in these parts they call that, "aggressive" pan handling. if you use a harmonica
it may even be a felony.
its was bridge day sat. find out where the base jumpers pack their rigs
set up shop there. i doubt any of them would be bothered, i bet they would tip well.
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Last Edited by 1847 on Oct 17, 2016 1:05 PM
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root
79 posts
Oct 22, 2016
7:00 AM
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A couple friends of mine, a well known bluegrass banjo and guitarist respectively, were playing while waiting to board their flight, and were told." If you guys keep playing, we'll upgrade you to first class".
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JustFuya
988 posts
Oct 22, 2016
9:42 AM
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Fresh out of high school, my buddy and I used to go to the San Diego airport for beer money. I would take one wing of the complex and he would take the other. I played music and he spun elaborate tales of woe. Our only competitors were the angelic Hari Krishna folks with tambourines but they generally did their thing in the foyer.
We competed for best tally and I always won until he ruffled his little brother and took him in hand with an enhanced line of BS. He won that day but I didn't learn that until the following day. I had to hitchhike back to OB since he was driving and I couldn't find him at the usual time and place.
He beat me by a longshot but someone had called social services and they took him in for questioning. Karma!
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Jim Rumbaugh
1228 posts
Oct 24, 2016
6:38 AM
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Final report.
We did one more busk on trip 4 of 4. This time the line was longer and we had a "standing" audience in front of us. We also had our local blues talent Chris Sutton singing. We brought in $32 on 30 minutes. Chris thought we did better last year when we were NOT next to the line. I think we did about the same. There are more variables than just location.
BUT, I do feel that we provided good entertainment for about 600 passengers while they waited to get on the train.
8 sec video at https://www.facebook.com/tom.cannon.52/videos/10207615521809511/
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
Last Edited by Jim Rumbaugh on Oct 24, 2016 7:22 AM
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