Busking is not a revolutionary act, it is simply a form of urban entertainment .
Busking is not the bottom rung of the entertainment ladder. it is more than that, its a way of life.
I·m a great fan of biography, I am also very partial to heavy fiction and anything that has that dark edge attached. I·m not a great fan of autobiography·s but as it happens Im cornered here, I need to describe my roots and how I eventually came to be a dedicated street musician, (sounds cheesy already.).
Lisburn, (my birthplace ) is an old market town not ten miles outside of Belfast. Presumably its one of the largest in northern Ireland. ( it seemed small when I was growing up there)... Indeed I grew up during the height of the troubles, (seventies ) . There were shootings and bombings almost everyday.
Well I wasn't really interested in all that flag waving bullshit, I was into musical situations not political ones.
I flirted with the then heavy metal drenched local band scene. I didn't really fit in. I couldn't shake of that tell tale underground influence I had and still have, I was the weirdo who played guitar.
Suddenly I found myself 133 miles away pitched on Baggot street in central Dublin. It was brilliant, nobody gave a toss whether I was a catholic or a protestant. Passers-by were contributing to my own original music and not wishing to hear heavy rock anthems.. I felt free. Free. At last I found an outlet for my own music, my own original music. I was 23 years old and I had just discovered busking.
None of us really know who we are or where we are going, but what we do know should be acted upon. Dont be influenced by others, go your own way and do your own thing. Brush away those incoming, opposing viewpoints made by others, Just don·t pay any attention to them. Don·t struggle against your own identity.
After you have stepped out you may start noticing other attractive routes already laid open for you. There is so much to add, Not everybody will share your viewpoints but thats not really your problem. Enhance your own destiny and so develop it, don·t worry about other peoples reactions.
"My future starts when I wake up every morning.. Everyday I find something creative to do with my life."
Miles Davis
Just because you have passed a certain age does·nt neccessarilly mean that you dont have anything to offer., Bollocks.. Dont allow opposing viewpoints to get in your way. Follow your own motives and desires. Those opposing viewpoints are but smokescreens of which are usually better ignored, they are a combination of envy, lack of courage and dedication.
Go on, release that fire building up inside. Step out.
" Don·t call it jazz, that·s a made up word, call it social music."
( Miles Davis )
If your really good, then you can do a lot, but nobody does everything. Everybody has their own particular style and technique and due to this we are then conveniently designated into selected categories i.e. rock, jazz, soul, etc... Like all good record shops, we find ourselves being categorized.
If you don·t categorize your work, you may well find yourself fulfilling odd requests..etc... A jazz musician isn't often seen chopping out lyrnard skynard and Eagle hits...etc. Be accessible, bend and stretch yourself within reach of two or more musical categories, be a jazz musician who indulges in soul and R&B classics, or just forget about the whole fusion element and simply commit yourself to being a purist within your very own chosen genre. Now that would indeed be authentic.
Not all of your passers by will be so musically informed and may offend you with random U2 and Phil Collins requests, the people you are really aiming at are still out there and may well soon be coming your way, its a mathematical situation. Just keep at it and make sure that you have enough CDs displayed.
Although I don·t like to, I have to catogorize myself as a type of jazz musician who indulges in soul and R&B and due to this odd combination of styles I find that I am pleasantly exempt from fulfilling unrelated Phil Collins and U2 requests. I don·t do happy birthdays either. No Im not a jukebox.
I find that I minimize my work for both my sake and for the sake of my fans, especially for those who have already purchased one of my CDs.. No I·m not going to sell out.. I have my own fire already lit.
You need to take a step back, look and then judge your current situation, project your desires and motives amongst all this and then spiritually fuse them altogether and after you reflect upon your abstract results, then decide.
Stepping out is not for part timers or hobbie hunters, it requires devotion, dedication and mega commitment, if you are unable to supply even a nucleus of any of these all important elements then don·t even consider stepping out. No problem, stepping out isn't suited to everyone, infact only a few really qualify. Are you one of those chosen few.
From a distance the idea of being an active street artist may seem quite appealing to some., Believe me the reality is substantially different, other than being confronted by a variety of opposing confrontation of which can sometimes be verbally aggressive, you may be going against the wishes of those close to you. If busking can be stated as an occupation, then it would be a lonely occupation, but its not an occupation its a profession.
The idea of such a major transformation and such direct sacrifice may seem ridiculous to some. Well stepping out is·nt an open option for everyone and anyone. Stepping out will only suit a chosen few.
A name that I use to describe the current systym of which doesnt usually accept active street artists, they are to self motivated and indivuadilistic for them. They dont seem to fit in the machine.
By establishing yourself as an active street artist you automatically reject yourself from the systym
Dont over abstract yourself, go for a healthy balance. If your not improvising or exploring new textures, then youre not busking.Rhythym machines and fabricated bass lines are more suited to piano bar musicians than street artists. Street musicians should use their own instincts on improvisation and exploration.
When you do finnally step out beware of awkward and unwanted confrontation. Be self confident and sufficently thick skinned, enough so as to defend your self from the Them.