In two days, this Friday afternoon, the Blues Doctors will be playing outdoors for the first time at an unusual location: at the crossroads just outside Oxford, MS where Molly Barr road intersects Old Sardis Road, a three-way intersection just across the street from a grocery/BBQ place called Sky Mart. We'll be working for tips. I created this "gig" because, on the side of the road across from Sky Mart, there are, moving from left to right, a beer store; a liquor store; and a bar/cafe. And just to the left of the beer store is a guy who sells freshly-boiled crawfish.
I found the manager of the cafe and said, "Look, I'd like to come with my guitar man, set up our stuff, including a full PA, and play for tips on a Friday afternoon, 4 to 7 PM." He was game.
I remember Mr. Satan insisting that liquor stores on Friday afternoons (paydays) were the best place a busker could play. He and I sometimes moved from 125th street to a spot on 145th street just off Broadway, adjacent to a liquor store, and we had big fun.
I have no idea if the booze-and-blues principle will play out the same way here in Mississippi, but I'm willing to find out. We'll be set up on the freshly-paved blacktop between the beer store and the liquor store. I've purchased a Coleman 10x10 portable gazebo, which we'll have for shade. The beer place will let us run an extension cord, so we'll have full power (i.e., PA and tube amps).
I'll try to get some video. The thing is, we'll be hugely visible from the road, since Molly Barr Road runs into Old Sardis Road directly in front of the spot where we'll be playing. So traffic from three directions will stop at Stop signs directly in front of us. My hunch is that some of the drivers will say "Hey, what the heck, it's Miller time" and pull into the lot, get a beer, and engage in gifting.
This thread is a chance for those of us who have busked to share stories about the intersection of busking and alcohol. That intersection began for me with the fact that when I first played solo on the streets of Greenwich Village in September 1985, my goal was simply to make enough change to buy a bottle of beer. Then two beers. Then.....whatever.
Here's a video I found when I searched "busking" and "beer":
Here's another. She's cuter than the first guy:
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Jun 05, 2013 12:02 PM
Sounds like a great gig Adam. Just be careful you don’t cause any accidents if people get distracted by the sight and sound. Might be worth putting three signs on the approaches letting people know the Blues Doctors will be healing the spiritually sick on the corner. Just a thought. I have a few stories. “Anthony” had had a few one Saturday night and came and sat next to us, threw a few coins on the bucket, and started up with the B.S. We usually try to discourage drunks because they drive the other customers away. He threw a couple more in, then peeled out a fiver. Every few minutes he got out another bill, and finally emptied his pockets of coins. He had thrown $45 and change in about half an hour. He said had a bar he and wanted us to play there the next night. My partner knew the bar. We went there the next night as agreed. Anthony was indeed the manager, but wasn’t there, and the guys had no idea we were supposed to play. Anthony had been too off his face to inform anyone else of his “deal” or tell them at any rate. Another time I was waiting outside another guitarist’s house for a rehearsal. He was in the countryside on business and delayed, so I whipped out my Pignose from my backpack and set up across the street from a pub, played for about 45 minutes. Tips were paltry, but when I was packing up a guy came out of the pub, said they’d been listening to me, and took up a collection when they saw me getting ready to leave. The Investment Buskers like to play across the street from a pub in a bohemian area in called Newtown, full of students, society’s forgotten, and liberal inner city types. Tips are usually small but steady. There is a liquor store a couple of blocks away on our side of the street. We’ve had people throw money at us from the balcony, and one guy “invited” us into the pub, but the manager hates us for some reason. We have a right to play “licences to busk” so go there when we feel. One young guy passing by asked us if we would play a house party on a Sunday afternoon. He said he couldn’t promise much money but they would have a pig on a spit and some home brewed beer. We went along and they served us beer, pork, salad and chips. Took up a collection. I think we got $40 each, and had a pleasant couple of hours. Once a middle-aged lady came up. Said she’d been on the bus on her way somewhere else, but jumped off when she heard us. She was a neuroscientist, she said, and had just finished a paper, and the lead researcher had given everyone champagne to celebrate. She gave one to us. She was either actually a neuroscientist or deluded, but the champagne tasted fine. Early in my busking career (which is only two years old now) we were out on a Saturday night and this woman who looked like Liza Minnelli’s drunken Australian sister came staggering up, complaining how her girlfriends had ditched her, and now she couldn’t get home. I pointed out to her the taxi rank and the directions to the train station. She took off her impossible high heels and staggered around near us. The punters all gave her a wide berth. Eventually she sat down on my milk crate and phoned someone, talking about how she was “with two homeless guys playing music on the street,” even though I had told her we were not homeless or drug addicts. I saw some cops and told her to ask them for directions; I thought they might take her off our hands. That’s when I decided to start dressing a bit more smartly, and now generally wear a suit when I play. I have been the grateful recipient of bottles of beer, wine, cans of bourbon and cola, and even a mini Bailey’s because the tipper didn’t have any money on her.
WE busk in Miami in an archway across from a bar. A lot depends on the crowd. The party type folks tend to tip okay. The drunks however are another story and often chase the tippers away or even hustle the crowd. That can be a bad scene. It sounds like you are playing early enuff that the hardcore drunks might not be out yet. Just monitor the crowd and watch your stuff. You can get thieves out there too.
Last Edited by Goldbrick on Jun 05, 2013 2:42 PM
No to much experience on busking, but I do have a story.
Last saturday afternoon I went to a street jam in my city, talk to the regular guys, drink some beer, and play a litle whit a guitar player that was there too.
Later someone decided that we should go to a well know square who`s sorroundend by bars and a liquor stores on the corner. Someone else start making phone calls and an hour later I am in a car whit a guy that I dont know at all heading to the square.
In that sqare there is a "Glorieta" (I have no idea on whaths is the name on engish), where you can plug your amp because it has electricty available, and is kind of a stage.
This is the place:
So, we had a keyboard player, a bass player, two guitar playeres, a drummer, 3 harp players and later on a guy aproach us an ask us if he can sing, so it wass a full band.
We star playing and peole start to stare us, sit in the park, take pictures, record videos, and in one time there was more than 20 peoples sit in the grass listeing to us!. And when we ended a song the people in the closest bars start claping his hands to!!
The tip bucket wass full of bills.
Is a good idea to play in a place where people can sit in the grass, or the sideway whit a beer in his hands, because is like a free concert, an that is always cool.
Edit: I found this video, this are the same guys in the same place, but almost a year ago. I am not in that video.
Last Edited by rogonzab on Jun 05, 2013 6:39 PM
Funny but until I stopped drinling I was unable to learn much about playing harp, and forget singing. Be assured though, music has been it's own high for well over 20 years. I CAN relate some tales of drunken audience members showing out. Even had a guy try and take my harp away from me on the street to "show me sumpin'", even though he could barely stand up. ---------- http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
i'll be there...... in spirit! i sent you a dollar to your go tip account if anyone else would like to follow suit click on the tipjar link in my signature it will re-direct you to adam's go tip account spread the love.
Is it something I'm doing wrong or does the text on some of the post here extend way beyond the edge of the screen? I'm not sure if it is a browser issue or a screen resolution issue or what (tried Chrome and Internet Explorer) Thanks for any help.
I've wanted to play "Put It Where You Want It" in a duo context for many years and am delighted that I'm finally having a chance to do that with the Blues Docs. (See video above.) There's something magical about the II7 to IV7 change. "Blue Shadows" has the same change.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Jun 09, 2013 7:41 PM
Nice rendition Adam. I was unaware of the original but looked it up too. You've captured the spirit. And I must, say, that is the most impressive busking set-up.
That was of course killer, Adam! I will say this, an audience with a bit of social lubricant- alcohol- is often much more responsive to a good groove. Last duo we played the tip jar got nicely crammed with bills. If you find some really good material to start with and fit it together with some spirit, people do notice and reward you.
The band I'm working with is very into a swing style lately and we're making some big progress as far as meshing as a band. Friday should be a big show.
The next 3 wednesdays will have Jag and me at a bike rental place on the North Little Rock side of the river, 6:30 to 8:30, doing the duo thing. We've worked together for over a year now and we're getting tighter and tighter. Should be fun if there's a bit of shade! ---------- http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
