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Die! Buskers! Die!
Feb. 17th, 2005 10:51 pmIn the civilized places in which I have lived, buskers have played in places where I could stop and listen to them or walk past them as I chose.
In Boston, however, they stand on the T-platforms playing out-of-tune guitars with microphones so loud that I can't even have the comparatively pleasant white noise of the Ts entering and leaving the stations.
There's nothing sweeter than walking across a square in the Louvre to a Vivaldi violin duet -- I gave them 50F because the music and surroundings meshed so well. But I can choose to go in another entrance or just walk by them without giving them money if their music isn't to my taste.
On a T platform, I'm a captive audience being held hostage through multiple Ashmont trains until my blessed Braintree line comes in to whisk me away from it. I've gotten to the point that I'd rather stand next to one of the idiots who has his iPod/Walkman/Foo turned up so loudly that the music is blaring out his nose than listen to one more person say, "You can buy my CD for just $5.00 and now here's a tune by Jewel."
Also, a tip, if you are playing in public make certain that your instrument is in tune -- or at least in tune with your voice if you're going to insist on singing.
I've had musicians say that I was insulting them by offering them $20 not to play until they saw me get on the T. I say that I'm recognizing that this person is trying to earn spending money and that by asking them not to play I would be taking away their earning power. They won't shut up if I just ask them to either. I've tried it.
Since I can't throw them on the T tracks without risking a stint in a women's prison, I guess the next time one of these whiners assaults my ears, I'll have to throw myself on the tracks.
In Boston, however, they stand on the T-platforms playing out-of-tune guitars with microphones so loud that I can't even have the comparatively pleasant white noise of the Ts entering and leaving the stations.
There's nothing sweeter than walking across a square in the Louvre to a Vivaldi violin duet -- I gave them 50F because the music and surroundings meshed so well. But I can choose to go in another entrance or just walk by them without giving them money if their music isn't to my taste.
On a T platform, I'm a captive audience being held hostage through multiple Ashmont trains until my blessed Braintree line comes in to whisk me away from it. I've gotten to the point that I'd rather stand next to one of the idiots who has his iPod/Walkman/Foo turned up so loudly that the music is blaring out his nose than listen to one more person say, "You can buy my CD for just $5.00 and now here's a tune by Jewel."
Also, a tip, if you are playing in public make certain that your instrument is in tune -- or at least in tune with your voice if you're going to insist on singing.
I've had musicians say that I was insulting them by offering them $20 not to play until they saw me get on the T. I say that I'm recognizing that this person is trying to earn spending money and that by asking them not to play I would be taking away their earning power. They won't shut up if I just ask them to either. I've tried it.
Since I can't throw them on the T tracks without risking a stint in a women's prison, I guess the next time one of these whiners assaults my ears, I'll have to throw myself on the tracks.
