Working as a Busker/Street Performer
June 16th 2007 21:40
Yesterday we walked along the Embankment in London and watched the various buskers and street artists performing. There were a large number of those people who do the ‘statue’ that comes to life thing, and they were very entertaining. One was dressed in a policeman’s helmet, a tutu, tights and gumboots. He would seize schoolchildren by the clothing as they came close and either pretend to hit them with his truncheon, or ‘dust’ them with a feather duster.
There was an excellent man, bronzed from head to toe, who got off his box at one point and had it invaded by several pigeons. One climbed on top and the man/statue quietly flicked his hand at it - to no avail. Another pigeon however dislodged it with a bit of severe pecking order business. Finally the man produced a red card and waved it at the pigeon.
Two youths, one with his head shaven and the other with wild hair would stand forlornly still until someone put some coin in their bucket. They’d come to life with great delight and smiles, and invite the person to have their photo taken with them. The shaven-headed one would almost go overboard with rapture at being so close to a human – especially a female human. And then as suddenly as they came to life, they’d drop back into their forlorn state again.
One young man rolled a heavy glass/plastic ball all over his upper body; another chased a recalcitrant cigarette around the air, and then poked it through someone’s t-shirt without burning it. And then, to the delight of a small boy, he produced a paper tissue that had vanished from his hand from inside the sock of the same small boy.
I can’t say being a busker or performer of this kind would be something I’d do too willingly, but they’re certainly great crowd pleasers.
There was an excellent man, bronzed from head to toe, who got off his box at one point and had it invaded by several pigeons. One climbed on top and the man/statue quietly flicked his hand at it - to no avail. Another pigeon however dislodged it with a bit of severe pecking order business. Finally the man produced a red card and waved it at the pigeon.
Two youths, one with his head shaven and the other with wild hair would stand forlornly still until someone put some coin in their bucket. They’d come to life with great delight and smiles, and invite the person to have their photo taken with them. The shaven-headed one would almost go overboard with rapture at being so close to a human – especially a female human. And then as suddenly as they came to life, they’d drop back into their forlorn state again.
One young man rolled a heavy glass/plastic ball all over his upper body; another chased a recalcitrant cigarette around the air, and then poked it through someone’s t-shirt without burning it. And then, to the delight of a small boy, he produced a paper tissue that had vanished from his hand from inside the sock of the same small boy.
I can’t say being a busker or performer of this kind would be something I’d do too willingly, but they’re certainly great crowd pleasers.
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Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Key Westers have a very gentle attitude toward buskers, though..might not be the case elsewhere.
My best friend did it in Edmonton, Alberta Canada and said it was great fun..I've always wanted to try it.
Great post, thanks!
Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report