Saw the post and wondered what the weather is like over down your way.

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

Saw the post and wondered what the weather is like over down your way.

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Weather has been pretty warm.. just had a rain spell but that is gone.  Larry and I are now "done'' with Nashville and will focus our busking in Bloomington... Hope You are well..

Proud to report that my buddy was well enough for us to play a few times at the Farmers Market before the end of the season. And we were asked to play at a wedding reception (fiddle and banjo / no PA / outdoors) a few weeks ago. Great people, eye-popping estate (wow), very kind and generous folks. They contacted us after seeing / hearing us at the FM.

Looking forward to next year.

Doing fine like elderberry wine. Been busy with the 9 to wheneverthehellIamdonewiththeneverendingwork and this month has been gig rich and gigs every weekend.

Played bluegrass gig Friday night and dance on Saturday. BG was booked in a bar that is full of big picture windows and tall ceilings, reflective surfaces galore. Not ideal for a band that seems to insist on using a single mic type setup. Luckily I interjected the need for a plan B so there were ~some~ changes. I plugged in wireless (Ammoon, great battery life, way cheaper than the rest and oh so freeing), guitar had its own pencil mic, bass used an amp and then the single was used for the rest. It was rough going but the crowd leaned in, quieted down and was rowdy at the same time. The dance was in a church's upstairs room with a real middle aged feel, dark wood and huge arching ceiling. It was loud and rowdy too with a head count of 135, at least half of them K-12 aged! Band was guitar/bouzouki, fiddle, banjo and banjo - twice the banjo fun!

Glad to hear the weather is good enough to get out. We're too chilly for outdoors mostly. Do have a couple days supposedly in the 60s next week. Hi to the family and Larry!

Today, I 'bit the bullet' and went busking today in Nashville, Indiana even thought it was just 40 degrees.. Usually I don't go out unless it is at least 50.... Well.. there were a Lot of shoppers and I was the only busker in town.. I brought in an embarrassment of tips..even though I had to wear gloves. I'll be out again tomorrow (should hit 60).. but the busking Gods offer no guarantees and I'm fully aware of that...Have I mentioned lately that I Love busking?

PS.. I often spend a moment chatting with the local Jahovah's Witnesses who are ardently standing by their display.  Usually there are two of them but today there was only one.  The Witnesses' comment was, "Well, some are just wimps when it comes to cold weather.".. They are always such fun, nice people.....

Yep.. Busking season is finally here.. It seems to have been a Long cool winter/spring and I feel like I'm over a month behind my regular busking schedule..
Today, like all other busking days brought a surprise.. I received a tip from Carl Bernstein. He is the famous investigative journalist who wrote, "All the President's Men".. along with at least 7 books. I have no idea what brought him to BLoomington, Indiana.. Maybe Harry Hare is under investigation for one of his "Harebrained" schemes?

PS.. I've been volunteering at a local "Unhoused" people's breakfast kitchen.  Many of the people I've met there I have also seen on the street when I'm busking.. It was surprising to learn that at least One of the homeless who receives breakfast almost daily  is a bright guy who I always just thought was a passerby and who wasn't homeless.. Apparently some people hide their homelessness well.  At that Center, over 800 people receive their mail and often get their only meal for the day.  I make coffee.. TEN GALLONS during each of my two, two hour shifts...The largest mugs get grabbed first.  Daily, the first thing  that comes to my mind when they open the doors at 8 am and 50 people stream in is, "Where did these people spent the night??"    Today, there were no less than 15 people literally sleeping at the tables and several were curled up on the floor.......Such is life...I'd not have been aware of this if I wasn't on the street with some of these same people.

When I was young and in my wild years I was roofless, without any money and all alone in Paris for a couple of nights. It was quite an adventure. It gave me an idea of what it feels like to be homeless.
If I would ever go back to Paris during a cold late autumn, I know what to bring. An old pair of shoes and a spare warm winter coat. To offer to a homeless woman who looks like she has my size.

It all comes round. 23 yrs ago, my band got thrown out of the Mystic Seaport Museum grounds for unofficially busking. We wound up playing from inside my van parked on the street outside. Scroll forward and we were invited to play the Museums 2nd Pirate Days event next week! Go figure.

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Originally posted by wrench13

It all comes round. 23 yrs ago, my band got thrown out of the Mystic Seaport Museum grounds for unofficially busking. We wound up playing from inside my van parked on the street outside. Scroll forward and we were invited to play the Museums 2nd Pirate Days event next week! Go figure.

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Sweet, sweet destiny.

....getting some good laughs while busking.. When someone, for instance, give a $1 tip I tell them that I'll consider that to be a 50 cent tip....with a 100% tariff... so far it works out well..

Busking today was profitable but not in a financial way. Just $5 after 90 minutes of busking. However I learned a few things. My best, homeless, craziest, most lovable friend, Bradley is back in town after being gone over a year.. He filled me in on Masonic conspiracies, police graft, and the people he is trying to sue.. always fun, that Bradley..... Next I learned from a passerby that a Carolina Wren can use your dog door to enter your house and build an egg filled nest in your living room..Then I learned from a bartender that if you enter the establishment and they ask, "Are you rich?", that they are not referring to your financial condition but just want to know if you are the guy who left his wallet in the place.. Always Fun....Busking... I love it.

"Are you Rich?" is indeed rich lol

The Masonic conspiracies could fill a book, in fact they have. For example, the Illuminati books are a fun read.

Is Bradley someone who believes in the magic words of the Sovereign Citizens? Ask him about "traveling verses driving" and you'll get your answer. Don't say sovereign citizen though, that's a sore spot with them these days. Look it up on YouTube to get an idea of their thinking.

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

"Are you Rich?" is indeed rich lol

The Masonic conspiracies could fill a book, in fact they have. For example, the Illuminati books are a fun read.

Is Bradley someone who believes in the magic words of the Sovereign Citizens? Ask him about "traveling verses driving" and you'll get your answer. Don't say sovereign citizen though, that's a sore spot with them these days. Look it up on YouTube to get an idea of their thinking.

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Hmmm... I'm pretty sure that Bradly hitchhikes..!! but I have watched many Youtube videos about Sovereign Citizens, and in a previous life actually Studied the topic (embarassed to say)...

Another 'first' for me while busking. A friend has a son who is sailing with his family Around the WORLD.. They are currently in Turkey and my friend set it up so his son and family could watch/listen to me and Harry. It seemed odd to wave to people on the other  side of the world..They were in bed!.. Pretty special, it was....The family has a Youtube channel showing regular highlights of their trip. The Youtube link is called Sailing Scout.. Here is just One link if you have any interest..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWGns1ki8XM

Busking.. Here is my and Harry Hare's official busking portrait.....

Lee, that's a good-looking portrait of you and Harry!

You have an outgoing personality that apparently drives you to go out and busk, and to interact with the community at large.

I'm not shy about playing in public, but there's no way I could do what you do!

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Originally posted by RinconMtnErnie

Lee, that's a good-looking portrait of you and Harry!

You have an outgoing personality that apparently drives you to go out and busk, and to interact with the community at large.

I'm not shy about playing in public, but there's no way I could do what you do!

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Ernie, I consider busking time as practice time.. I'd Never sit at home for two hours daily and play!! Too boring..Busking is exciting..

Lee, the more I read here the more I feel it itching to follow your example, oh yes it is itching a lot this year ! If I read up on the busking rules in the town of Maaseik for example (where I would feel at my ease because I know I might not be the only one there making music on the streets on a sunny day) : forbidden to ask money from people and an obligation to switch to another spot at regular times. For the rest it is just allowed, no documents required. Hell what am I waiting for besides some sunny days (and another hair cut lol)? :-D I LOVE Maaseik, it is where my former violin teacher has her violin school.
Since last event I attended I gained a lot of confidence. I even have this 'door knob handling''movement in my hand, well: it is starting to appear more often without even paying attention to it, so my bow hold got more light and relaxed and the tension on my face while playing is more often becoming a smile. I even know now which tunes I want to play and when my FHO T-shirt has arrived I know what to wear also :-D I will keep you updated!

That picture of you with Harry Hare is one to frame! It is absolutely lovely.

Ah, Folks...proof that it is not all about the money.. THree days of busking (120 minutes each event) and the total tips for those three events....$9..........I did get one of those Large $1 coins as a tip as well as one 'full fare' bus pass...maybe the guy wants us to leave town? However, I DID get to meet a young fiddler, new in town from California and so happens that before he left that state he had a gig with Katie Hicks.. I told him that I taught her her first fiddle tune...(small world)... Then, another day I got to explain the consciousness concept of 'non-duality' to a shop owner.. That was fun.......Money? Well, more would have been nice but as you recall from the hundreds of busking stories I've posted that there is a lot more to it than money.

This one made me laugh (full fare joke). Also, do you think you'll be playing with the Californian any time?

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

This one made me laugh (full fare joke). Also, do you think you'll be playing with the Californian any time?

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I hope to play with him at the OT jam on a first Monday at a local restaurant.. He played a local venue called the "pink Poodle" so I suspect he is accomplished.. I played 'whiteface' with harry hare for him and he recognized the tune.. I don't know how long he is in the area........

Ha, I am perfectly contented playing 2 hrs at home in my garage. In fact if I never went out to any sessions, I’d still play happily at home. Introvert here!

Love the portrait.

Harry is about 4x bigger than I imagined…he’s got real Stage Presence!!

As someone who knows Harry personally, that picture gives him a couple of inches. He's not quite that big, but he's plenty tall. Here he is with Lee and Leo. He's almost as big as Leo 

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Originally posted by NCnotes

Ha, I am perfectly contented playing 2 hrs at home in my garage. In fact if I never went out to any sessions, I’d still play happily at home. Introvert here!

Love the portrait.

Harry is about 4x bigger than I imagined…he’s got real Stage Presence!!

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Harry is on springs and all of his joints are loose.. He can turn his head and track people as they pass by....so he moves around a lot and looks real, even from up close.. Little kids under 4  are fooled by him and believe he is a real rabbit...and YES , he has a great Stage Presence..

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

As someone who knows Harry personally, that picture gives him a couple of inches. He's not quite that big, but he's plenty tall. Here he is with Lee and Leo. He's almost as big as Leo 

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Billy, as I recall you and I went busking with Harry at Least once.....Thanks for posting that video.. Some people upon seeing it really thought that little LEO was a puppet also...He is now about 12 years old and shies  away from Harry....