Thayer St, Providence RI

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 3:59 pm

Just made my street debut here in Providence.
Thayer St is next to Brown U, and it's the university
district, lots of students, restaurants, books stores,
Tarot Card readings.

Played a Rosewood Sweetheart G; made 32 dollars
in two and a half hours. Watched the people.
The street is sort of a holy place. Lots of smiles,
a fellow selling rings at a street stand down the
block said I had brightened people's day.

The G flute carries beautifully and picks up an echo
from the buildings across the street.

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 5:13 pm

Good work Jim.

I've always wanted to try busking, but I don't think the folks 'round here would "get it". They'd probably try to send the parish social committee around the house with a food basket or something.

You must be having that nice weather we had earlier in the week. Glad you enjoyed it.

Byron

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 5:32 pm

Very funny. Well, I accept food baskets.
Yes, it was mercifully less miserable than its
been here most of the time lately.

Whistlin'Dixie · Post by **Whistlin'Dixie** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:01 pm

I called my mom this morning (Seattle area) and their basement is flooding again. The rain is relentless this time of year. Once the ground gets thoroughly soaked that's it.

On the other hand, it's in the mid 70's here, sunny and delightful.

Happy busking, Jim.

M

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 10:03 pm

One of the interesting features of busking, for me, anyway,
is that a good deal of the time I'm at the top of the totem
pole, Dr. Stone, Visiting Scholar at an Ivy League university,
etc. But busking I'm one of the street people, near the
bottom of the totem pole, one step above a panhandler,
playing on the street for tips.

There are other street people out there, selling jewelry
on tables, some of them selling paperback books, some
of them virtually homeless, and they're becoming
my friends.

When I was in India I sometimes slept on the streets
and had Indian friends wholived on the streets,
and there was this freedom I felt in having virtually
nothing and watching the world go by. Holy men
are like that, you see; it's a religious point of view.
Busking I often feel free again in that way, as if
I were in India. I'm nobody again, for the moment I
have very little, and I'm watching people go by;
then I feel like the street is my church.

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 11:57 pm

jim stone wrote:....., and I'm watching people go by;
then I feel like the street is my church.

Nice Jim, very nice. I was going to add a comment, but I think I'll just let it stand.

Byron

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:37 am

Jim, I am getting the urge to go back on the street again. I find myself already practicing my tunes. It is going to be a pot pouri of fiddle, mandolin, and Irish flute playing Americana, show tunes, old time, and Keltic tunes. I will have a basket, but I don't care if anyone puts a dime in it or not. I just want to play, "I saw you last night and got that old feeling" and "Midnight on the Water", a Texas fiddle tune that I love.

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 1:08 am

As fate would have it, I happened to be in New Orleans, LA a couple of months before Katrina. It was a hot day with bright sunshine. As you can see, the bass player needed a lot of thermal protection for his fiddle and for himself. Jim, you can identify with that, I am sure. Also, take a tip from the professionals; if you want a big tip, you need a big bucket.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 8:12 am

Great photo. That's Jackson Square, yes?

Ido hope you'll do it. Fiddle works very well on the street, IMO.
I know a fellow in St.Lewis who makes lots of money fiddling
on the street. Lots of volume.

Some of my oldest friends are street singers in New Orelans;
they make 400 bucks a day, sometimes. But it's not exactly
paradise, because there is continuing skirmishing tween
singers and businesses. The latter keep trying to get the city
council to pass restrictions on the former, which means that
police are busting musicians who violate the newest set
of restrictive rules. The musicians are organized but
I suppose we know whom the council favors. So they've
been arrested, lots of bad experiences. They've moved
up from busking now and tour the USA and Europe.
David and Roselyn Leonard, they sing, she plays mandolin,
and thumb piano, he plays guitar, trumpet,and harmonica.

The bucket:well I'verealized that I may haveto chase
the bucket when somebody runs off with it, so I use
a small plastic jar and I take the bills out as they come in,
never leaving more than a couple. It seems to
have no effect on the amount of money coming in,
and even if it does, I compenate with dark glasses,
a white cane, and a few Ray Charles numbers.

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:06 pm

jim stone wrote:Great photo. That's Jackson Square, yes?

I think so, Jim, although I'm not very good with names. It is in the French Quarter, and the photo shows my two brothers and I in the courtyard of the square. It is easy to spot me in the photo. I am not the person who likes nice clothes and fancy cars, nor am I the technical writer with his pocket full of pens on a vacation day. I am the one who looks a little tired and wrinkled.

Whistlin'Dixie · Post by **Whistlin'Dixie** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:36 pm

At least you're a person who likes some color in his life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mary

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 6:54 pm

Jackson Square, alright.

Lucky to have some brothers.
I'm always in the market for siblings.

Yeah, you're the one who looks like he belongs
in New Orleans.