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It's the little things
Sep. 26th, 2013 12:25 pmStreet performing is very similar to playing the lanes at renaissance faires, which was a huge help when I first started busking with a decade of experience behind me. There are differences, however, which always surprise me, especially since it's only been a few days since I was at the New York Renaissance Faire.
I love that at faire I'm part of a team, a group effort to create a particular and festive atmosphere. Busking a tourist city I take on a similar role, adding to the local ambiance. Here in Genoa, however, my audience is almost exclusively local. They're not smiling, not on holiday. Which means that when they do smile at me, it's a little more personal.
There's a bit more of an edge to busking, however. I find myself keeping a much more careful eye on passers by since I've no security team on my side. In addition, I'm nervous about the local constabulary, even here in a city where I have good history, because it only takes one to ruin my day.
Of course, such alertness has the side effect of making me feel really alive, and I understand adrenaline junkies a bit better. It's a high, I must admit.
Another difference between last weekend at NYRF and now is personal: I'm playing a different instrument. Maria was my workhorse dulcimer for seven years, until I acquired Antonietta, and she fits better in planes and so remains my touring instrument. There are subtle differences, though, in addition to a few big ones, and I spent twenty minutes of my my first set remembering her idiosyncrasies. After that, however, I was reminded of how much I love her tone and that I've missed playing her.
I've burned out in the past by playing faires exclusively, and I have a similar reaction to busking more than three months straight. Mixing the two, however, has given me a lot of joy and keeps me fresh. It's good to be back!
I love that at faire I'm part of a team, a group effort to create a particular and festive atmosphere. Busking a tourist city I take on a similar role, adding to the local ambiance. Here in Genoa, however, my audience is almost exclusively local. They're not smiling, not on holiday. Which means that when they do smile at me, it's a little more personal.
There's a bit more of an edge to busking, however. I find myself keeping a much more careful eye on passers by since I've no security team on my side. In addition, I'm nervous about the local constabulary, even here in a city where I have good history, because it only takes one to ruin my day.
Of course, such alertness has the side effect of making me feel really alive, and I understand adrenaline junkies a bit better. It's a high, I must admit.
Another difference between last weekend at NYRF and now is personal: I'm playing a different instrument. Maria was my workhorse dulcimer for seven years, until I acquired Antonietta, and she fits better in planes and so remains my touring instrument. There are subtle differences, though, in addition to a few big ones, and I spent twenty minutes of my my first set remembering her idiosyncrasies. After that, however, I was reminded of how much I love her tone and that I've missed playing her.
I've burned out in the past by playing faires exclusively, and I have a similar reaction to busking more than three months straight. Mixing the two, however, has given me a lot of joy and keeps me fresh. It's good to be back!
