Street Corner Pick'in

[Flatpick]

I remember as a child seeing street corner musician's. Guitar's, Banjo's, even the Accordian. You don't this any more, at least not in my neck of the woods, Michigan. Any one still see Musician's practicing their art on street corner's or parks?
When I learned to play Guitar in the early 60's a few of us players would congregate in someone's backyard or the steps of the local school and play. Drew a pretty good crowd most times, had a blast. It was all acoustic but it all good.
Ah the good ole days....... Flatpick

[Michael H Geimer]

I know exactly what you mean about how it has dissappeared from our common life. What a loss!

I try to play in public as much as possible, but I often feel out of place doing so. People don't seem to mind, but they clearly aren't used to seeing it, and don't really know how it react. I'm a little tired of the question, "Aren't you supposed to have your case open?" Or being asking "How much did you make?" after coming back from picking on my lunch hour. I know these are innocent questions, but they underlined just how detacted we are from accepting real life practicing artists as a part of our culture ... rather than just as a part of our mass media.

I just got back from NYC - my first time there. I came away with the impression that NYC is a better haven for artists than SF. I saw a small group of neighbors gathered in a park playing salsa music while the kids rode by on their bikes and people walked their dogs. I overheard a singer working her scales in a flat far above where I was staying. Another day I could hear an actor working out his lines while I was taking a shower.

A few years ago someone in the building next door where I live in SF commented on my piano playing. It was a compliment, but it nevertheless has made me shy about just how far my playing travels when I practice. But now I think it might be my duty to play piano more often. Maybe someone will hear me and think, "You know, I haven't picked up my [insert instrument] in years."

These days, the popular musical lifestyle seems to involve millions of separated listeners, concerned only with their own Ipod playlists. How sad.

Let's all bring back the 'good old days'.

- Benig

[keymandoguy]

There is a street corner picker in Nashville Indiana. Him and his tin cup are there about every time I go .

[Danny]

I still pick on the corner in my little corner of the world, up in Northern CA. I run a flower cart on Fridays, and I started bringing my mandolin to play when it got slow. I don't really play to perform, I just play scales, work out songs, but I rarley sing. Once in awhile someone comes that I know, and they have a guitar or another instrument. I 've had a few good jams, that were completly spondaneous. I've been playing guitar, harmonica, and songwriting #for year's in my little town, so everybody knows me. The mandolin is a new adventure (3 years now), but it's small #& convenient. I figure I'm carrying on an old busking tradition that new players can appreciate. Take care.
Danny L.

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

A practice often absent in towns and cities nowadays, but that's due to many things. Many towns restrict busking, or even just public playing of music. Key factors are the number of musicians, permit requirements, specific location, time at location, etc. Some cities, Montreal for example, have an major area that is designated for such activity.
In the nearby city/town (20K) there are restrictions, so I, or we, must usually travel far to street play - a bit of a limitation. Sometimes we play on the side porch of a bandmate's downtown house and get some passerby interaction. We've actually gone as late as midnight without serious repercussions. Acoustic. Guessing that the law enforcement appreciates bagpipes?
One day a year, my rock band hosts a festival where we get all the necessary permits, insurance, etc. and use the whole main street plus, (while keeping it open to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic), 5 stages (one the local 800 seat theatre - the rest outdoors), about 60 bands, and all free!!! Permit allows us 10am to 10pm. A bit of an effort, but worth it. We have been trying to model this for the past 4 years, hoping other small cities would begin to attempt similar events.
I actually live way out in the rural sector and here I don't have a "street" to go play on but there is a 4 corners a few hundred feet up the road, so I might qualify as being at a potential hub of activity! My nearest neighbors always tell me they enjoy my playing. I don't know about the wild animals, but they seem to be in abundance, so I guess they like it too.

rasa

[ChrisWallace]

In Faneuil Hall (Boston, MA), street performances are still going strong. One day I saw a guy playing (by himself...at the same time) banjo, harmonica, acoustic guitar and percussion!! I'm sure you're wondering how he pulled this trick off...allow me to elaborate. He was playing banjo and harmonica in the "normal" manner (banjo w/ his hands and harmonica in a rack). BUT, he had somehow rigged his guitar so that he could play it barefooted by pressing a series of buttons which in turned plucked the strings on the guitar. And, with the other foot, he was playing some sort of percussion instrument. Mind you...he was BURNING!!! It was the best dollar I've ever spent!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[JGWoods]

That guy in Boston was Eric Royer (http://www.guitarmachine.com/contraption.phtml), a pretty darn good picker, one at a time, or all at once!
gw

better picture (http://www.guitarmachine.com/index.phtml)

[mad dawg]

The tradition is alive and well in the SF Bay Area, although I can't remember when the last time I saw a street corner mandolinist. I see a lot of street corner musicians in Berkeley and San Francisco, but they are primarily guitarists of varying genres; I also see a fair number of violinists, keyboardists, and percussionists.

Danny, where do you, your flower cart, and mandolin hang out? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Flatpick]

I think I'll contact some pick'ers in my area and see if we can't get together for a Sunday street corner or park jam on Sunday's. Nothing like promoting a little Bluegrass music. Who knows, maybe all kinds of pick'ers and listeners will show up, like the ole days...

Flatpick

[Danny]

Mad Dawg,
# # If you ever get up to Reggae On the River, you'll be in my neck of the woods. I have a flower shop in Garberville, CA. I own a Fender FM63, and I'm ready to upgrade. I've got some decisions to make over models, electric vs acoustic, and money. I'm still figuring this whole mandolin thing out, but I can comp decent rhythm. Later.
Danny http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Mandog]

I've seen a few in Ann Arbor. Of course, the weather is a factor in MI most of the year.

[mandofiddle]

There's always musicians down playing on the Pearl Street Mall here in Boulder, CO. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes just a bunch of hippies playing the drums http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I've played down there a few times too with different folks. At the Farmer's Market too. Just show up with some folks and claim a corner and start picking. I know of 2 brothers (early teens maybe) that go down and play every weekend on their fiddles, and their dad make them put the money they make in a college fund. Not a bad idea.

[dougiebe]

Street musicians are a common fixture here in downtown Lawrence, Kansas. Most are buskers. It's been a while since I've seen a mando, tho. There's a nice fella who plays a pretty good saxaphone who always seems to be there. Every time I pass by with my kid he breaks into the Sesame Street theme and other kids melodies. We love it and always drop him a buck!