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Originally posted by stumpkicker

Just got back from a “clam steam”  jam. So some guy-3 sheets to the wind to be polite- really REALLY liked my fiddle playing- he INSISTED that I serenade his wife who was totally embarrassed but kept nodding at me. So I ran thru the only romantic number I could think of. Angeline the Baker. ?? Then he tipped me $5. ?? I tried to refuse but he kept insisting. His wife began mouthing, “please take it”. So I caved, and bought myself a 2nd beer

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I LOVE this busking story... Never a dull day!!!!

Ten days and NO busking story?? I"m slipping... Several things have happened..
Got a nice email from someone in Evanston, ILL, who has read many of these stories and wants that final PUSH to get out there.. Can't wait to hear back.
Several people have asked me if it was ME who was mugged a couple of weeks ago.. No, it wasn't but there aren't all that many 74 year old buskers here in town..
At Clifftop last year I met a delightful lady from New York who wanted to make a busking puppet.. This year she had it and we did some busking at the Festival..However, her puppet didn't have all that much "life" so I offered to give him a once over.. Here is a video of CHUMLEY.. STILL some work to do..but..you can see the potential..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBBsd3cgLSY

BTW, I've Upped my game by having a rubber stamp made ... of  a rabbit head.. Little kids LOVE to get that stamp on their hand.. I tell the parents that the ink will wear off in about 6 months or sooner if they use lye or sandpaper.. They all know I'm teasing.. (AM I?)  

Two things today.. I started using my Harry Hare ink stamp and it turns out that the adults like it as much as do the kids.. I must admit, it is a clever stamp...It may just have paid for itself in one Day!!!
As I was packing up to leave I heard some drummers on the next block.. Buskers? Boom Box Cars?? Well, it was the organization of a MARCH to save the environment.. Maybe 150 young adults holding signs and marching/chanting/.. It almost brought a tear to my old eyes... It was My generation that developed plastic..which is a big polluter.... and I'm embarrassed to have to have the youth clean up after us..
No.. NOT a political comment.. just the lament of an old man...(report me if you so desire)...PS.. I just got two emails from friends.. Apparently such marches are going on all around the country.. I'm happy that I got to witness one of them... Had I not been busking.. I'd have missed it..I LOVE BUSKING...(SEE? busking/fiddle related..!)   OOPS.. Just got an email from by brother-in-law in ENGLAND>. marches are happening there also.. Maybe I should watch the news now and then?
 

Apparently there is a documentary out called, "A Cinematic Discovery of Street Musicians".. I haven't seen it yet... The group behind the documentary is called Playing For Change...Playing For Change is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music. Hey.. We buskers do that daily.. Can't wait to watch the documentary.https://playingforchange.com/about/

We are united through music.

 A fine woman who I met at Clifftop wanted a busking puppet... Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb4v_jwT2b0&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2k52Q3YEZu4sQCxImZI3Wkv7zlM7tT3xNSuqXqN3_LINQzGTkVBBYzfoY

I hope the 'bow trainer' will improve his scratchy bowing.

Great sound track and I enjoyed the ride to the post office.

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Originally posted by buckhenry

I hope the 'bow trainer' will improve his scratchy bowing.

Great sound track and I enjoyed the ride to the post office.

This lady is very creative and has made some other short films..I'm honored that she did this  and mentioned me... Can't wait to go busking with her and Chumley next time we cross paths..

Yes.. bow trainer.. Is that what it is called?? There is a learning curve involved with playing one of these puppets... I suspect that she will get the hang of it soon..

Funny, I was avoiding using her name for privacy reasons and then see that she has posted it twice in the video... !  Duh!!

The drama continues at our farmers Market... Last Saturday I set up to busk just 30 feet from the farmers accused of being white supremacists..People wearing purple were picketing.. My spot was right next to a garbage can (good gig, huh?)..and on the ground was a box of rotten tomatoes.. I had fun telling people that those are the tomatoes that passersby threw at me.. Anyway. I fully expect that things will blow up physically market some day.. Not a good thing, either...It would be political to give my personal opinion.. so I won't.. My FB friends know how I feel...
Having said that.. a young man of about 8... asked if Harry Hare ever changed his clothes...I said that normally when running around the yard he wears NOTHING.. like other rabbits.. Anyway.. today I went out and bought him a new shirt..
Never a dull moment..and I love every moment...

Hello y'all....I've been off line for about a year cuz I couldn't afford the internet. But as of today I'm able to piggyback unlimited WiFi off the guy on the main floor above me at no charge. Yahoo!

been busking steady, added only 3 new tunes to my busking list, but I'd like to tell about one of them. been improvising in the Phrygian dominant scale, 5th mode of harmonic minor (I love saying that) otherwise known as the Arabic scale in D which is D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C, D and having a lot of fun with it.

But then I was watching this movie, Kingdom of Heaven with Orlando Bloom and Eva Green. There was a bit of music in there which was the Phrygian dominant scale, 5th mode of harmonic minor (I love saying that) and it was in D....bonus! took me a half hour to learn it and now I'm working the Kingdom of Heaven bit in with the scale improve. It's going over very well for busking. One 'brown fellow' said Thank You for that music, I appreciate it, and gave me a fiver.

Crisp, clear day!!!...Four little girls who attend a local gymnastics school and who have showed up several weekends in the past, again showed off their gymnastic skills while about 10 other littler kids sat around, parents in hand....It was great.. My Harry Hare ink stamp is very popular and kids literally line up to get their weekly stamp on the back of their hand. I jokingly told one woman that with a bunny stamp on her hand, that she could get into any bar in town....then quickly realized how risque that sounded (Bunny-Playboy-bar). I apologized and she understood my error..but it was funny... I won't say that again........
The Market Master actually gave a tip and she said that she always appreciated it when Harry and I performed.. That made me feel good.. Also a young woman who had taken some lessons from me about ten years ago, introduced herself and we set up a time for her to resume lessons..Can't wait to hit the street again today..........Life is good...

I worked briefly at the start of the year at a trampoline park (urban air) and was always very impressed by young gymnastics girls, several of whom did tricks bigger than they were... it made long days on my feet more bearable

I get asked quite frequently if I give lessons. I always hafta say no cuz I'm not classically trained, and if the student was holding the fiddle or bow wrong and/or doing something else wrong, I wouldn't know how to correct it.

I also get asked to play house events when I'm out busking. I've done that before and charged $100.00. But I hafta make sure I can find the address and get there at the right time. These days it's just not worth the stress.

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Originally posted by bluesmode

I get asked quite frequently if I give lessons. I always hafta say no cuz I'm not classically trained, and if the student was holding the fiddle or bow wrong and/or doing something else wrong, I wouldn't know how to correct it.

I also get asked to play house events when I'm out busking. I've done that before and charged $100.00. But I hafta make sure I can find the address and get there at the right time. These days it's just not worth the stress.

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Hey, at least you get asked!!!

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

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Originally posted by bluesmode

 >quite frequently<

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Hey, at least you get asked!!!

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@TuneWeaver: your reply made me think. realistically, I should have said 'fairly often' instead of 'quite freqently'. anyways....

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Originally posted by bluesmode

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

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Originally posted by bluesmode

 >quite frequently<

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Hey, at least you get asked!!!

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@TuneWeaver: your reply made me think. realistically, I should have said 'fairly often' instead of 'quite freqently'. anyways....

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OF COURSE.. (Like I know the difference !!!)?

It is a sad day in Buskerland.. Today I read some articles about travelers who try to make it across continents/countries by getting expenses paid by local people.. Some BEG, some Busk and others Poorly Busk or run scams and still look like beggars... As a whole they are referred to as BEGpackers. They are very unwelcome in cities.........I don't approve of scamming or begging people for money.. HOwever, if someone has a talent and is Busking.. then to me they are in a different category...Of course those who already hate buskers.. no argument will change their mind about us.. SO... I've busked in different countries and states and NEVER felt that I was a BEGpacker.. It only takes a few to spoil it for others..Different strokes for different folks, I guess..

i think that the same argument could be made for, or against any other profession, cowboy builders....rogue bankers...etc...etc

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Originally posted by pete_fiddle

i think that the same argument could be made for, or against any other profession, cowboy builders....rogue bankers...etc...etc

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Never heard the expression "cowboy builder."  I gather that it refers to fly-by-night contractors.  Work guaranteed for 30 seconds or 30 feet, whichever the work truck gets to first.  Otherwise, I'm not sure just how to build a cowboy.

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Originally posted by boxbow

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Originally posted by pete_fiddle

i think that the same argument could be made for, or against any other profession, cowboy builders....rogue bankers...etc...etc

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Never heard the expression "cowboy builder."  I gather that it refers to fly-by-night contractors.  Work guaranteed for 30 seconds or 30 feet, whichever the work truck gets to first.  Otherwise, I'm not sure just how to build a cowboy.

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I think it would be easy to Build a Cowboy... Take a carpenter, put him in western boots, and belt buckle, put on a ten gallon hat and There You Have IT...   the internet Urban Dictionary describes him as a carpenter, plumber, mason, roofer etc, who does Shoddy work.......Hey, I'm a COWBOY here around my own home!!

This summer I went busking for the first time of my life. It was really nice so I am learning new songs now so I have enough to play next summer. But I really have to learn how to end conversations. Because in the end I have played for 40 minutes and spoke to people who wanted to chat for an hour.
Also one guy came to me and said he was a busker too and told me some good spots to stand. Also said he knew a lot about instruments and could tell that I needed a better one instead of a 50 bucks fiddle. Then I would sound better. Waaah I play on a hand built violin of a good luthier, so then I instantly knew what he was thinking about my playing LOL

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Originally posted by Snelviooltje

This summer I went busking for the first time of my life. It was really nice so I am learning new songs now so I have enough to play next summer. But I really have to learn how to end conversations. Because in the end I have played for 40 minutes and spoke to people who wanted to chat for an hour.
Also one guy came to me and said he was a busker too and told me some good spots to stand. Also said he knew a lot about instruments and could tell that I needed a better one instead of a 50 bucks fiddle. Then I would sound better. Waaah I play on a hand built violin of a good luthier, so then I instantly knew what he was thinking about my playing LOL

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This is a great first busking story. Every day will offer new stories..and yes you DO meet interesting people.  I'd suggest that you keep playing your hand built violin.. There will always be someone who knows more about YOu than YOU...Best wishes on the street!!!

Finally, a nice clear day over 50 degrees.. Out I go. A young man riding a bike stopped and asked me if I needed a warm shirt... Really? I think he thought I was homeless. No, I said I don't need one.. Are you SURE? he said.. OK.. I'll take ONE.. He gave me 12!!! All nice, clean, and warm hoodies and long sleeved shirts..I took them to the local shelter/kitchen/help-center for distribution..

Is school ending for the semester? I see college kids giving away or throwing away tons of clothes at semester breaks. Also, we had a warm day or three this week. No busking for me though.

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

Is school ending for the semester? I see college kids giving away or throwing away tons of clothes at semester breaks. Also, we had a warm day or three this week. No busking for me though.

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They just finished Thanksgiving break and soon will be Christmas break.. I can't keep up with it!!

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

Finally, a nice clear day over 50 degrees.. Out I go. A young man riding a bike stopped and asked me if I needed a warm shirt... Really? I think he thought I was homeless. No, I said I don't need one.. Are you SURE? he said.. OK.. I'll take ONE.. He gave me 12!!! All nice, clean, and warm hoodies and long sleeved shirts..I took them to the local shelter/kitchen/help-center for distribution..

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Sounds like a well intended, nice young man. I'd be curious to know if any of them were cool IU hoodies because if they were, I'd take one! I'm sure that the local shelter was glad to receive them.