buskers

[thehefner]

I love buskers. Y'know, street performers? Love 'em.

That's one of the many things I miss from London, just the sheer number and variety of musicians, artists, performance artists, etc, playing for whatever generosity passers-by could offer. Last time I was in London a couple years back, I heard that the managers of the Tube actually started encouraging buskers; I think it was a matter of registering with them or something. They said it added an atmosphere to the otherwise tedious commute. If I'm remembering correctly, isn't the remarkable? Wouldn't that just make taking the metro so much more enticing?

There are so few buskers here in DC, but I've seen a couple in the past few weeks. One was chubby old man playing a saxophone. He had a well-done hand-painted sign with him that read "HOMELESS BUT NOT SITTING ON MY ARSE SHAKING A CUP." The "ARSE" was painted in red, it's worth noting.

Then last week, I saw a beautiful young woman playing a cello outside the metro stop in Bethesda. She was wearing a lovely sun dress, I think it was. Her hair looked like she spent hours working on it and I could see a light touch of lipstick and makeup on her face as she played. She looked like she was playing for a full recital. By the time I saw her, she was just wrapping up her set. I wish I had thought to stop her, to give her a few bucks to play something else for me. I wish I could have told her what she may well have already known, that the nearby waterfall from the food court was too loud, that it drowned out the cello unless one was right up close to her to hear it. I went back there yesterday to see if she was there, but she didn't come back. I wonder if she gave up, or perhaps merely changed locations.

It put me in mind of an idea I've been toying around with for some time. I'd love to do One Man Shakespeare. Get a crate to stand on or something, bring along a case with a few small props and costume bits and so on. Find a spot somewhere that will catch passers-by but also allow them places to sit comfortably for a little while. And just spent two-three hours doing a one man version of HAMLET, KING LEAR, TITUS, etc. I'd just memorize my own cut of the play, with added narration for stage directions, etc. Man, I'm so tempted. Really, all that's holding me back is I need to memorize the script.

Hmm. Where would be a good place to perform? The Washington Mall? A nearby park? What are the laws for this sort of thing?

This could be the next best thing to Pirate Theatre. Which still sounds like a good idea to me.

Comments

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

Make sure you check to see if you need a busking license. Sometimes you need them city wide, sometimes only certain parts of a city are zoned for it.

For example, here in Hassifaks(sic), you can busk without a license anywhere on the waterfront (except the naval yards, natch). Anywhere else you need a license and some areas - especially industrial areas, you know, like around the EXXON plant - it's not zoned to allow busking, so the police will move you out, or arrest you if you resist.

So, just check around about that.

Otherwise it sounds like a great idea! Especially if you could manage to do it in costume. ;P

[gore-whore-5.livejournal.com]

Parks are usually really good. I helped my dad and his friend do some weird performance art at Dupont Circle when I was in 5th grade. I was bored, but it's still a good kind of place to do random performances. There was also this AWESOME jazz band playing right by one of the Dupont Circle metro exits.

I have no idea about the laws for this stuff. I guess as long as it's clean you should be fine. Perhaps you should enquire about a permit of some sort at whatever park you want to go to.

[muzikmaker21.livejournal.com]

Old Ellicott city and Geogetown (M Street on a Friday night, in particular) are my favorite busking spots =).

Old Ellicott city would LOVE to see your act. I can promise it.

[muzikmaker21.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I've never had a license in for either location, but I've had cops stop and give me money!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Really? I don't think I've ever even been there! Very cool, thanks!!

[karmaflouge.livejournal.com]

there are really good ones down at the boardwalk in Ocean City. jazz men, hippies with guitars, punk girls, the whole spectrum. my favorite was the father/son guitar duo.

[musyc]

I would be more than thrilled to take some time out of my day for that sort of thing. Go for it!

[deliapuppeh.livejournal.com]

Recently I've been doing a lot of travel via bus and metro, and so I decide to sometimes practice singing (seeing as I have a recital coming up soon) and it's really interesting to see some of people's reactions. Some walk by and look at me funny, while others look and smile and walk on. I hope that I made the people that smiled feel better.