Busking

(The lady in the black jacket has just donated to my Hungry For Belgian Chocolate Fund.)

For me piano is a profession, but violin is also a love in my musical life. A couple of weeks ago I thought I might take advantage of my situation on a vacation and go out on the town to go busking with my fiddle to see what would happen. I was prepared with a licence: My brother-in-law obtained one for me. Often I have seen street musicians here, but most of the time they are the kind of guys that don't have enough teeth among the lot of them to make a full set for even one guy. So we set out as a family, and armed with violin, convertible fingerless gloves, water bottles and train tickets and Pizza Hut coupons, we set out for Brugge.

First we had to eat pizza. Then we had to pick a busking spot. The first spot we chose was in front of a store where you can buy leather purses and handbags for $4,000, etc. etc., and though that isn't my kind of thing, I had some friends in mind that I was sure would have much rather been inside the store than doing the socially somewhat weird thing of playing for change on the street! The shop lady came out to me and hinted I should cross the street and stand on the other side- not in front of her shop window- because the trucks couldn't pass through. Yeah, right, I thought. She just didn't want someone busking in front of her fancy shop window. I couldn't really blame her- But remembering how nice she was and then suddenly a huge truck swept by- I could definitely see her point. So I crossed the street and stood in front of the bicycle racks. Seeing the first euro drop in was a great feeling! It came soon, too.

At the second spot I was far more visible because I stood at the top of some stairs and though there was a little piped in music, I think I pretty well could drown it out. My family stood by a few minutes at a time, then went to enjoy the town. Once in a while my husband came by and cleaned out my case!

I played Helmut Lotti songs (ripped off popular classics), familiar opera selections, popular songs, Christmas carols, classical tunes, hymns, Irish fiddle tunes, sailor music and anything light and cheerful I could think of. Particularly effective was played Gossec's Gavotte while jumping on the high notes. People stopped and jumped with me! I think the tip to collecting on the public is to be visible, smile your face off, play nothing serious, and to be physically active while you play. Then people stop to watch and pull out their wallets. (I was also handily parked by a bank: everyone had their wallet out anyway. Put 'er there!)

Who puts money in? Teenagers rarely. Little kids get it from their moms and dads. But the group who donates most often are the fifty plussers, especially couples and gray haired gentlemen with nice coats. Old ladies are the kind who most often stop to chat.

We pulled in about $85! That was more than I expected. Let's see... it paid for the pizza... and the drinks... the round trip train tickets for the whole family... the gloves we had to buy for my daughter... well. Looking at it that way, it was a total wash! But I have to say, it was an afternoon of pure fun made possible by music, and that for free!