Street Performers -- A.K.A. Busking

Down and dirty, in the trenches, guerrilla music.

A Lot of people see this as one step above (IF that) begging. The music is there and it is kind of in the tradition of how music first started -- word of mouth and where you played ended up being ' your sound.'

This carried over the years and blues is basically JUST guys who played the streets and bars in whatever circuit they were able to work -- the Mississippi delta blues, Chicago, even New York had it's version and back then you could hear a blues number and you had an idea of how it might sound by the area it came from.

Flash forward however many years until you are here and now. Everyone is exposed (theoretically) to ALL the same music, the dues you pay are what web-page you are downloading your tablature from, the listening and copying of what you HEAR is virtually non existent.

But wait a second....

Music is a hearing art form, right?

Sure you can make noise alone in your basement for years on end, but even if that is enough for you -- YOU are still hearing it.

The point is this, when you see some one with the cajones to go out there on the street and play some tunes, or do whatever they do, they at least have the heart to pursue the end goal of REALIZING their tunes for others to share. They might be dressed (or smell) badly... but whether they do or not you should at least give them a buck or two... You'd probably tip your waiter more than that and if you can afford throwing them a fiver, just do it.

I am not sure if there is any 'cosmic justice' or karma or anything, but if you do something like that you really aren't losing anything and you probably just made that performers' day.

Now I have never gone out and performed on the streets, but I have seen plenty of guys and girls who have, and I try (when ever I am able) to at least toss a couple bucks their way and congratulate them for fighting the good fight.

Just a thought.