Saturday, September 02, 2006

Busking

I was excited to go busking today when I realized it was going to be raining. Rainy days are best if I can get a good spot inside at St. Lawrence Market. Today was perfect...when I got to the north building, I saw a fellow packing up his guitar and leaving...meaning I was the only busker in the north building.

I played my button box from 11:00 to 1:30 with a twenty minute break for lunch. At one point, the building was so crowded, I had to back up against the wall while I played. I actually did better after, when the crowd thinned out a little and I could move around a bit more, and be seen better. When I stopped, there was still a decent crowd shopping in the building. I stopped though, because my fingers, particulaly on my right hand, were objecting, and I was starting to miss on some fast runs.

For lunch a enjoyed a delicious peameal bacon sandwich from the snack bar. There are some other great places for lunch across the street, but when I have such a perfect spot, I don't like to give it up. I enjoy watching the produce guys in front of me when I'm in that spot. As the day goes on, and they sell a lot of their produce, they reduce the size of their sales area, clearing out one table at a time, so the displayed produce always looks good and well displayed. They have beautiful produce and they sell it really fast. A very impressive little operation. Today, there was a minor spill - a basket of potatoes. I stopped playing and helped pick them up.

It was a good afternoon. I had fun; the crowd was generous - and I think I played pretty well too.

8 comments:

Wandering Coyote said...

On a completely different topic, I have been totally loving your sloganizer, so I got my own. Right now yours says "jesus loves misteranchovy."

mister anchovy said...

I got mine because I liked Candy's

* (asterisk) said...

Great post, Mr A. Love that you helped pick up the 'taters. What a nice chap.

Anonymous said...

Never heard of busking...didn't know there was a term for it. Sounds like fun! Forgive my ignorance...what's a button box? Accordian? Calculator?

BTW, having just a terrible time with comments since going beta...I'm reduced to commenting as "other" every time now.

Love the sloganizer too! Must have it! Thanks!

Wandering Coyote said...

I am so loving my sloganizer! It just said "Do it with Wandering Coyote!"

Anonymous said...

A friend of mine got a job in TV production and was bugging me for ideas for Reality Shows. I came up with "Who wants to marry a busker!"

mister anchovy said...

Lee - busking is basically street performing for tips.

A button box refers to a diatonic button accordion. I play a Hohner Corona II, which is a three row bow, meaning the right side features the notes for three complete keys, GC&F. Unlike an accordion, the notes are different when you push than when you pull...more like a harmonica.

mister anchovy said...

oops, I mean 'three-row box' not bow...typo