Ha! And you thought this was going to be about me!
Since I work at a press clipping service I can't copy or paste so I will type this by hand. It is nothing amazing but I thought it was interesting.
The Unknown Busker: How many of us recognise brilliance when we hear it? Very few, it would seem, if an experiment by the Washington Post is anything to go by. When the paper invited violinist Joshua Bell to busk - playing Bach on his Stradivarius - at a subway station, a mere seven of 1,097 passengers stopped to listen. Twenty others tossed coins ino his case, and just one person recognised him. For the record, Bell earned $32 in 43 minutes.
I thought it was interesting that you can make THAT much busking. To me it is also very interesting that genuine streetside performers can honestly be so talented. I remember a trip to Rome where on the train, performers regularly hoped on and played right there on the train. Not all of them were even enjoyable to listen to, but several got my coins, they were so fun to listen to!
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
I'm fairly certain we've had a thread about this, but I may just be remembering from another site.
edit: here we go Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
quote:I thought it was interesting that you can make THAT much busking.
You mean $32 is a lot? I thought the point was how little he made. As far as what you can make busking, I have friends who claim to have made $400 in 20 minutes. Then again, $400 is certainly an unusually big "hat", and most of my friends who do this stuff are jugglers and acrobats and the like, not musicians.
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
$32 in 43 minutes is $44.65/hour.
That's pretty decent pay, although the benefits package is a bit lacking!
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I'm surprised I missed the other thread. But my article is more matter of fact and less bloggy! Yes I just invented an adjective.
Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
quote:Originally posted by Xavier: $32 in 43 minutes is $44.65/hour.
That's pretty decent pay, although the benefits package is a bit lacking!
True. Untaxed, too, if you're willing to bend/break the rules. But this was during rush hour, so you can't expect to make that amount consistently. Also, unless it is a very touristy area, a particular location is likely to go stale rather quickly as most of the people who pass by have already seen you on previous days. Don't get me wrong, buskers can do very well for themselves. It's just a lot more work than it at first appears.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
On the other hand, he was playing classical. Real music would have brought better returns.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by aspectre: On the other hand, he was playing classical. Real music would have brought better returns.
As well as contributing to the cultural decline of America. How do you sleep at night!? Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Listening to the American dream by someone who actually knows how to fiddle.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by aspectre: Listening to the American dream by someone who actually knows how to fiddle.
Riiiight...because Joshua Bell can't play...... Posted by RunningBear (Member # 8477) on :
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