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I am a slightly old award winning global recording artist. I live in the South shore in a house that was bought and paid for by music. Mostly when I was a busker in Halifax in the 80’s. I don’t need to busk anymore but for a lark I go out and see how it is out there on the streets. Halifax you suck way out loud. WTF you can’t afford a quarter for a brilliant musician? You can’t pull your head out of your ass or your Ishit to listen to real music? Do you now or are you slightly aware that most likely 20 to 35% of the population of Nova Scotia plays music and you dick heads can’t reach in to your fat little pockets and shell out a quarter or a dime?…… maybe just because you maybe appreciate fucking music and you call yourself a Nova Scotian. On the other hand Thank you real people who give a shit and tossed a bit of your hard earned cash. The music world love ya…. a whole lot. You most likely attend concerts etc and have fulfilled life. Cheers. —Moving back to Europe where they give a fuck about music
This article appears in May 7-13, 2015.
Meh, musicians in Nova Scotia are a dime a dozen so be grateful I gave you the quarter. And given you’re attitude, maybe Europe is your best choice? But please don’t cry when they spit in your corn flakes; buskers are not well received in many European countries as they are seen as beggars who target tourists.
Oh, and take your film buddies will you.
So, you were able to purchase a house with hand-outs from busking. Did the tax-man get his cut of these quarters? You sang for your supper and ate the meal. If you were warbling on the sidewalk for a lark and nobody paid you attention then pack your violin and sail back to the Old Country.
Here’s my thing: I’m walking down the street, heading towards my next destination. I’m not looking for entertainment so I feel the same obligation to tip a busker as I do a hobo: none. If I want live music, I’ll seek out live music….and pay for it then.
Maybe you buskers can tip me a quarter for being interrupted…
I dunno guys, he/she/it knows exactly how many people in NS are musicians… doesn’t that freak anyone out?!!?
I’d be surprised if all musicians busking felt that entitled to other peoples’ money. If I had to give money to every person I passed that is busking or bumming for change, I would be broke. Also, me having cash on me is even rarer.
I agree musicians are a dime a dozen, and too much of our music is very generic sounding strum that same old G chord pattern. The ones who can write music at an international level are out touring the world, not busking other peoples’ songs.
I prefer Bach, myself.
Ah, another entitlement bitch, Just because someone plays outside doesn’t mean that everyone wants to hear it. That, and if they were any good they would have gigs and maybe a record deal. Just because you strum a ratty untuned guitar doesn’t mean people have to put THEIR money in YOUR case.
Dude / Lady, street performers are going to have to get creative and figure out a way to get with the times. Lot’s of times, I would love to drop a quarter, dollar or two in the bucket / music case of a talented performer. The challenge is that I rarely, if ever carry change or any cash for that matter. Unless it is winter and I have a bulky jacket on, I probabally don’t have loose change kicking around in my pockets. It is uncomfortable, heavy and makes a racket. I carry a license, credit and debit card – and a phone. Maybe look into getting a mobile payment setup that is easy to use – maybe Apple could come out with something – they like hipsters.
I think this is a case of taking it too personally / not keeping up with the times. ALmost everyone in my circle of friends feels the same way – “I’d give them something if I had cash on me”… unfortunately, while you may be deserving, chances are that you’re not deserving enough for me to 1. go to a bank machine, 2. withdraw money, 3. find someone to make change, 4. go back and deposit the change, 5. carry the remainder of $20 in change in bulky 1 and 2$ coins around for the rest of the day.
Maybe get a SQUARE mobile payment or something – set it up on an ipad and let people punch in an amount and swipe?
Personally, I don’t feel any more obligation towards a person strumming a guitar than I do to a panhandler holding out a cup. Occasionally, a street musician will “strike a chord” with me because they are exceptionally talented or playing a certain song and I will gladly toss a loonie or twonie their way and give them a thumbs up but, otherwise, I don’t see how the OB can have an expectation of a certain level of generosity.
Interesting point that ustwess raised. With fewer and fewer people carrying cash, I wonder are the panhandlers seeing their take go down?
I agree. It has been years since I have had any form of real money on me. This applies to most people under forty.
wow, come here to fuel your narcissism there OB? who the fuck are you to tell me what i need to pay for. music or noise pollution or otherwise. How fucking galling your sense of entitlement is because of your big award….for music. Do i go around demanding money because i have a few awards? nope…not that kind of guy i guess.
I thought the only South Shore musician was Bobby Curtola…
Another self-described ‘brilliant’ musician. As if.
Maybe your music is shit, have you thought of that?
It could also be that people in these times don’t backwards fall into money like they did 30 years ago. You said it yourself, you bought a fucking house by busking. You think you’re the only one having a hard dime? Fuck off.
“The ones who can write music at an international level are out touring the world, not busking other peoples’ songs.”
Yeah, totally. People like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus. Extremely talented individuals touring the world right now.
Not everyone that is famous is talented, and there are plenty of ‘nobodies’ that ARE talented.
Not saying that the OB is one of those talented nobodies. He sounds like an entitled douche.
“‘ Yeah, totally. People like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus. Extremely talented individuals touring the world right now.’
Not everyone that is famous is talented, and there are plenty of ‘nobodies’ that ARE talented.”
You realize that none of those particular examples are from Halifax, right? When I wrote the line I was specifically thinking along the lines of Mat Mays and the Stanfields.
“I am a slightly old award winning global recording artist”.
That doesn’t mean you’re any good, and it especially doesn’t mean you’re any good live.
I have a friend who’s an ok guitar player and singer who, now and again, plays down by the library during the summer and walks away with money. How does he do fine when you fail?
certainly not unique to here…
and I’m guessing you’re certainly far from being a ‘prodigy’
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/music/a/v…
Every musician in Nova Scotia wins awards if they want to – a pay to play awards game, relevant to a small Nova Scotian group of people. Even if you happen to be good at what you do,whatever that means, that world is a business world, and you get as far as the press you get or create or buy- promotion, networking, blah blah. Grant money flows, making NS less of a step ladder to a bigger market, and more of a complacent and immured local musical economy. Measuring anything ( fucking anything) by whether or not a stranger gives you a quarter on a public street is wack.