Special Tips

When I'm busking on the streets, sometimes people show me appreciation by throwing a monetary token in my tip jar.  Other times they give me something other than money.  In the past I have been given food, gift cards, lip gloss, bus tokens, medallions, and even a Bible.  At my spot on Leopard and Carancahua a young man reached into his pocket and fished out a fist full of old pennies, a few pills, and a peppermint.  He emptied his fist into the jar, pills and all.  I suggested he take his meds, as they wouldn't do me any good.  He smiled and retrieved them.  I wondered where he was going to get his next meal.
Shortly after a woman stopped by and posted an account of our encounter.  Here it is.
"I was walking down the street from the bus stop near City Hall today when I thought I heard guitar music and then I saw the edge of a lovely acoustic guitar. Thrilled to see and hear a genuine musician practicing the lost art of street-singing, and a talented one at that, I dropped a bundle of my crucifix pendants into his coin-jar. He stopped to look and as he was taking a careful look, I remarked that I hope the crucifix is ok with him and I launched into my standard witness-pitch in which, after asking permission to offer the crucifix, I ask if they know what makes a crucifix different from a cross. But before I could finish, he smiled and said, "good, they are the crucifix" and was obviously happy about that. Then he told me his wife is Catholic but he is going through RCIA. We commiserated about the meaning of Catholic art for a few minutes and I went back to my errands and he back to his singing." 

Singing on the streets is often about the music.  But most of all it is about the people who grace me with their presence.

Busking at Home and Beyond

I'm excited about busking in Corpus Christi, Texas.  Corpus has its own vibe, different from other places I've busked.  I'm beginning to get in tune with that vibration.  Good vibrations.  I've been in Corpus for almost four years now, exploring various locations where busking might work.  It's been hard finding the right spot.  I started out downtown, where there is not much human traffic except on a Friday or Saturday night, but there's a lot of sound competition coming from loudspeakers outside of bars.  I've tried along the seawall, but people are mostly jogging by without time to listen and most of them are not carrying their wallets.
Recently I found a spot uptown near a food court, where people pass by on their way to lunch at a food court.  They are more relaxed, ready to listen, and even tip.
I think I've found my spot.
Thank you, Corpus Christi.
You can find me on the corner of Carancahua and Leopard between 11:30 and 1:30.  Not every day, but weekdays.
Recently a lovely woman who works at the American Bank came out of the bank and said she loved hearing me play while she worked.  She tipped me.  That felt really good.
I think it is important to bring music to the streets.  Music creates peace among people.  It brings people together.  It overcomes language barriers.
I have busked in many cities in the U.S.  My first busking experience was in Boston in the 60's in Boston Garden.  I've also busked in Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado, and for three years I was a street musician in Philadelphia (see buskinginphiladelphia.blogspot.com).  Recently I've been enjoying hearing buskers in London and Rome.  Not to mention Medellin, Colombia.
Just maybe we can bring the world together through our music and celebrate the vibrations we all have in common.  Below are a few photos of buskers in Rome.