DO WHAT? You just can't talk to me in this manner. I have tried to keep this simple..but no you want to turn this into a guessing game.

Remember, We have to keep this...and airy so people that understand the word..duh can understand.

Now try it again...remember...duh.

quote:

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Originally posted by Astrang
 

What’s his name?
Maybe he should pull a little man out of the hat?
Post us a video?

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I'm having trouble with the invisible string.. It is so delicate that TWO of them broke on me today at the market.. I still did well.. I may have to go to a thicker string and just have people stand back a little furthere. Adulets Know that a string is involved but kids don't.   Maybe I'll look for some 1# test, fishing line.. Do they even make it that thin?   His name is Harry the Hare...

Lee I have tried a set of the invisible strings before. I don't like there tone. It's kinda of like...not playing notthin

Here it is you fiddling buskers.. THIS is what you have been waiting for...or not...

Harry Hare is now more animated than ever.  If I had had  something like this 15 years ago, I'd have retired earlier...

Opps... and FIDO, the WONDER DOG.

Frankly, I hesitate to post about my everyday busking experiences because there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in them.. Of course that doesn't USUALLY stop me.... Busking is fun and it is WHAT I DO...

Hopefully, some members on the Hangout will get off of their Duffs and get out of the house and meet people, have fun and eventually have their own busking stories..So FEW members post/busk.. I wonder about that..... I'm anything but a secure person and yet I get out there..Of course, some people have NO interest in busking.. ( I find that hard to believe)...Comments?

Lee, I read every one of your stories.  I just usually have nothing to say.  i can't busk because of a crazy busy work schedule and health problems.  Keep the stories coming, you have more fans than you know!

The bowing on Mr. Hare is incredibly synchronized with the playing.  Very clever.

quote:

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Originally posted by amwildman
 

Lee, I read every one of your stories.  I just usually have nothing to say.  i can't busk because of a crazy busy work schedule and health problems.  Keep the stories coming, you have more fans than you know!

The bowing on Mr. Hare is incredibly synchronized with the playing.  Very clever.

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Thanks for your support.. I had asked the moderator to delete that last post because I thought I was coming across less than polite..  I'm just enough of a 'ham' to keep telling about my experiences.. and am glad you enjoy them.

By the way, Wanne Logue (Cornfed, here on the Hangout)  suggested that I tell a story about how Harry Hare came to be.. Here is what I told him.

"
Wayne, I"ve been telling people that I just made a wooden toy for the grandchildren and then one stormy night the house got struck by lightening. The next day, the character was ALIVE and wanted some clothes.. After a quick trip to the local Goodwill store and several hours of amateurish  sewing, he was clothed and modest. It was only then that I realized that my own fiddle, which had been near him when the thunderous bolt struck, must have transferred all of its 83 years of knowledge into the hare.....You can't make this stuff up, Wayne.. Truth is stranger than fiction. Now, lets talk about that bridge that I have for sale...........

Hey Lee. Keep posting your busking stories, I am always looking to see if you have posted new ones. They're great and Harry is turning into a wonderful fiddler and an animated hare. I need to get a few more tunes under my belt and a bit more polish in my bowing but I would love to try busking.

quote:

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Originally posted by bees
 

Hey Lee. Keep posting your busking stories, I am always looking to see if you have posted new ones. They're great and Harry is turning into a wonderful fiddler and an animated hare. I need to get a few more tunes under my belt and a bit more polish in my bowing but I would love to try busking.

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Bob,  thanks for letting me know that  you like the stories..As for YOU busking, you don't have to be Good to busk.. the public is VERY forgiving.. As I've mentioned, many of my friends who busk are not the most talented (nor am I), but they are out there trying and that is what the public likes...GET OUT THERE.. You only have to MAKE yourself do it the first time.. After that you'll WANT to do it..

I sometimes get asked for a business card, which was the case today. I had to tell the lady who asked me that I don't do other gigs than busking at the stations. (too much stress for me these days) although I did ask her what she had in mind. She said Birthdays. at first I feel a bit guilty about turning down a gig, but then In remind myself that I can make just as much in 2 days busking with no stress at all. 

I busked at our local Farmer's Market this morning with one of Lee's Manikins that I commissioned from him. I made roughly 2.5 times what I would normally expect, and had a great time. Some generous soul put a million dollar bill in the tip jar. Unfortunately for me it was really a religious tract. Oh well, I can save it to show my grandkids (if I ever get any). If smiles and little dance steps are worth a spiritual dollar apiece, I made hundreds today.

quote:

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Originally posted by cornfed
 

I busked at our local Farmer's Market this morning with one of Lee's Manikins that I commissioned from him. I made roughly 2.5 times what I would normally expect, and had a great time. Some generous soul put a million dollar bill in the tip jar. Unfortunately for me it was really a religious tract. Oh well, I can save it to show my grandkids (if I ever get any). If smiles and little dance steps are worth a spiritual dollar apiece, I made hundreds today.

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Got a photo/video???? Wayne, check your email.. I just sent you a photo showing how the head can turn.. If I'd thought of this a week earlier, I would have incorporated the head turn in the Marionette i made for you..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4OTgixd7_Iquote:

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Originally posted by cornfed
 

I busked at our local Farmer's Market this morning with one of Lee's Manikins that I commissioned from him. I made roughly 2.5 times what I would normally expect, and had a great time. Some generous soul put a million dollar bill in the tip jar. Unfortunately for me it was really a religious tract. Oh well, I can save it to show my grandkids (if I ever get any). If smiles and little dance steps are worth a spiritual dollar apiece, I made hundreds today.

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Wayne, here is a partial video of you and Pablo busking at the market..

I got some of that invisible magicians thread from a local costume and magic shop. It was just too fragile for my heavy handed bowing. I'm looking at some fly fisherman's leader tippet material. 7X, that is about 1/2 a s light as this stuff. It's about 2 1/2 # test. 8X would be even better, but I don't find it anywhere. It's about 1 and 1/4 pound test

quote:

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Originally posted by cornfed
 

I got some of that invisible magicians thread from a local costume and magic shop. It was just too fragile for my heavy handed bowing. I'm looking at some fly fisherman's leader tippet material. 7X, that is about 1/2 a s light as this stuff. It's about 2 1/2 # test. 8X would be even better, but I don't find it anywhere. It's about 1 and 1/4 pound I

I"ve been using 8#test monofilament.. Then I tried  4# test and it kept breaking.. I went back to the 8#.. In the right light it is invisible.. There are some very strong nylon threads that I've used also but the mono is my favorite..  From even ten or so feet away 90% of people have no idea how the marionette works.. Many are sure that the bowing is just randomly generated until they watch for a while.  I've had adults just walk around looking for a motor..Again, the lighting is everything..

To some people I say that there is a transmitter in my fiddle that operates the puppet by sensing my bow position.. That satisfies  them..until they see the string ..

I busked again at the Urbana Farmers' Market yesterday. I had a great time. It was Illini Homecoming , and the game started while Pablito and I were playing , so the crowd at the market was noticeably smaller, but I only made a dollar less than last week. The thing is that the money only validates my efforts. The real reward is the smiles on people's faces.

It has been great lately, busking with Harry the Hare.. Tips are UP... Today I received a $20 from the manager of a sandcwich shop.. He asked me to LEAVE (politely, of course)..I took the $20 and moved about thirty  feet further down the sidewalk and set up again........It is starting to get COLD.. I try not to busk when the thermometer goes below 50 degrees.. 

Lee, I suggest you get a small motor and battery and put it on the top or inside or whatever, so they can hear the hum or see it moving.  Maybe run a string down into the box underneath so it looks like it is doing something!

quote:

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Originally posted by gapbob
 

Lee, I suggest you get a small motor and battery and put it on the top or inside or whatever, so they can hear the hum or see it moving.  Maybe run a string down into the box underneath so it looks like it is doing something!

 

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Bob, I've sort of done that already.  I occasionally use  the fake wall plug that looks like the unit is plugged into the sidewalk..I'm thinking of getting a small box and putting some exposed batteries in it just for effect.. TWICE in the past two weeks, men have stood no more than 5 feet away, watched, and then said, " What kind of electronics are you using in that thing.".. They are  a little embarrassed to find out that it is all done with three pieces of fishing line and one rubber band.  

HaHahehe

The fun never stops.. Yesterday, the owner of the restaurant that I was busking in front of, came out and gave me $20.....to leave.   I went 50 feet down the sidewalk and set up again.. He wasn't unhappy with my busking, but we have a serious panhandling issue in our town and he said that the fact that I was seeking tips was bothering him... That is easy to understand..  I could have argued with him and pointed out that I wasn't 'panhandling', but I didn't want to because he was being so polite....

With Harry Hare busking with me interesting things happen......It is not uncommon for people to  come from across a street or to  stop their car..in traffic... run to us and deposit a tip..Today, a car pulled up to the curb and an elderly lady spent the longest time trying to get a dollar out of her purse.. She reached out of the car window and expected me to come 20 feet and get the bill.  I tried to explain that I was tied (literally) to the marionette and that I couldn't come and get it.. I told her to just throw it and that I'd get a passerby to pick it up for me.  She cheerfully threw the money on the sidewalk and fortunately, a guy who had overheard our conversation rescued the dollar bill and put it in my basket.......

Wow, I had that happen to me once I was playing kazoo. I was playing in Bristol TN I got kicked off the street so walked across the the street to Bristol VA they couldn't touch me there.

The anguish we go through just to bring some music to people. I mean we play this stuff... now I can't blame them for not wanting to hear.it.....because I don't want to hear it either.

Jerry 

Lee, just got the chance to read all your busking tales.  Very entertaining.!

Can you fill me in on how you make the marienetts? (Sp).  I would love to try this!  Could you possibly commission one using.a squirrel ?

Could you do one using a squirrel?  Kids think squirrels are cute:)