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Surviving a cashless society by BC on Nov 9, 2018
:disguise: (LONDON) An article in The Guardian examines where the streets have no change - and how buskers are surviving in cashless times.
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A recent hot topic, the article asks is it time performers turned to contactless readers? After all, dropping coins in a hat is increasingly, well, old hat.

Speaking of hats, they're down in London. Again, society is changing. Spending our money is much more convenient nowadays using plastic rather than carrying around coins and notes. Americans have gone plastic for decades but now it's becoming more of a world-wide trend.

For buskers, touchless card readers are now "the thing" since people are carrying around a lot less cash. With plastic, even if you get robbed right there on the street in broad daylight, the poor crook doesn't have access to your PIN number(s)....

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Parents dislike their kids noticing buskers by BC on Jan 9, 2010
:therapy: Violinist Joshua Bell was left shocked and disappointed when he realised parents don't like their children paying attention to street musicians during a recent busking experiment.
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The acclaimed classical musician dressed down and wore a disguise for his odd free show at the Washington D.C. Metro (subway) station - and was surprised no one recognised him.

Reporting back to editors of the Washington Post newspaper, who came up with the ruse, Bell confessed he was appalled to discover so many adults don't like their children to stop for buskers.

He tells WENN, "I had a baseball hat on and tattered clothes, so, if there was anyone who had been to my concerts, they would not have known it was me.

"It was sad and interesting because children tended to want to stop and listen and parents...

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Top songs for Buskers by BC on Jun 4, 2023
:horn: (WWW) Before the advent of the internet, buskers had to figure out which songs were popular enough to perform in public. Now, we can simply surf the net and and learn in a matter of seconds.
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Of course, sprinkling the list with an original here and there is always an option. But it all depends on the pitch and audience. Some songs are drunken sing-alongs and others are thoughtful hits. One thing most have in common is a upbeat rhythm.

Two lists we've found cover the "best" songs to play. One list has 31 recommendations and the other has a top 7.


TOP 7:

1. Friends in low places
2. Summer of '69
3. Sweet Caroline
4. 3a.m.
5. When I come around
6. Free Fallin'
7. Livin' on a Prayer

These are mostly 1990's songs that tend to go over well. However, the seasoned busker will have at least one song by the Beatles...

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making music by the sea in istanbul by rugu on Jun 13, 2009
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Just what exactly is a busker? by BC on Apr 1, 2020
:disguise: (WWW) It's interesting to see what websites come up with their definition of a busker. One such site is the editable Wikipedia.org informing readers since 2001.
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The word "wiki" is Hawaiian for "quick". The definition of 'busker' redirects to the 'street performance' page started in 2003 which has been edited, believe-it-or-not, over a thousand times.

"Street performance or busking is the act of performing in public places for gratuities."

Besides the basic definition, the page also covers etymology, history, forms, collecting money, pitches, legislation, and notable performers. The latter is filled with famous and not-so-famous artists including George Michael, the Violent Femmes, and even Benjamin Franklin.

Early editing was done by the Wiki editors themselves...

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