Just got back from Hollywood & Highland. I found out that I didn't get that one job I was waiting to hear back on, so I thought it would be better to get out of the house & do something than sit around and dwell on it. Plus, I'd been talking about street performing for so long I figured I should do it.
$3 for an all day pass on the Metro. I've got my songbook in my satchel and I put a carrying strap on my music stand. It's awkward, but at least I can carry everything. I just have to stand at the front of the bus and try not to hurt anyone.
I was kind of dreading the whole thing in a way. Hollywood & Highland is so touristy. But that's where the $ is. Especially the Europeans. Americans tend to look at street performing as begging. There's always a little nervousness, but it usually turns out to be meaningless.
I get off the train and get up to the street level, wondering where I'm going to set up and is someone going to hassel me? Right there is a sketchy lookin' dude with a bucket in front of him performing a god-awful, out of tune, howling vocal version of "Wonderwall". I thought about asking him if he get's hassled by the authorities, but thought better of it. Then, I thought, man, I have to get away from this guy but I don't want to get to close to the insanity at the Chinese theater. So, I set up a safe distance from both and just went at it.
Once I started playing, I was really glad that guy was there. I know it's petty, but it gave me a little reassurance because I'm better than him and sometimes you need to know you don't suck even if you aren't the greatest. I checked later on and he had left.
Not surprisingly enough, most people don't pay any attention to you. You could be playing a kazoo with your booty and they wouldn't notice. So, any nervousness immediately becomes humorous. You have to set up as close to the curb as possible to make sure no one can claim you're on private property. You can't sell anything without a business license, but you can perform for free and accept donations.
Once I start playing, I'm totally in my element. I'm basically doing what I do at home but in public. You can be all by yourself and be surrounded by activity. This is a good training ground. You've got tons of distraction. There's traffic noise, really attractive girls walking by, which sometimes adds a little excitement to the performance. There are people you think are coming to watch you play and then you suddenly realize they just noticed somebody's star on the sidewalk and are just going to take a picture. Once accepted for what it is, everything's fine.
You see younger guys walking by with quitars on their backs. They are GIT students and they all pretend they aren't paying any attention to you, yet they all have some odd smirk. Yup, all of them.
I made $2 in 30 min, all from the same guy. I guess he liked my version of "London Calling". Another time, I suddenly looked up and saw a guy shoving a cell phone in front of me. I just kept on playing but was really amused. He said "That's going all the way back to Indiana!" and walked off. No $.
, but I'm still glad I helped make the guy's vacation. I was playing a version of "I Want to Love You" by Bob Marley only I do it more in a rockabilly kinda way.
I admit I really like the validation when it comes, but I'd still do my thing if it didn't. It often doesn't.
I broke the D string twice even though I wasn't playing very hard. I would have played more, but I didn't have any more strings. When the 2nd one broke, I said "Fuck!". Some poor actress dressed as Snow White heard me and tried not to laugh. I was laughing.
Half the people walking around are selling something. Tours, photos, cell phones, remote controlled cars. It's an obnoxious fucking circus that is somehow glorious when you're in the right mood.
Anyway, I tried singing for my supper and I didn't even recoup my bus pass. Granted, most people don't give a shit. You just have to be out there long enough to hit the ones that do.
Some guy gave me $2 and another guy sent home a recording of me. For playing music. I feel better.
Sunday, I'm going to play in my own hood. Less traffic, but more people with the taste I'm looking for.
I can't decide if I should work more on music or what. I turned in my term paper yesterday and got the results from my 3rd test. %95! I have three more chapters to read before the final in two weeks.
I had an interview at the California Brewing Co for a bartending job. They said they hired two guys already without experience and they might call me on Monday to bring me in. It's in Alhambra, which is a little inconvenient, but it might be a good temp job. There's something to be said for taking home those tips every night and not getting taxed on them.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
$3 for an all day pass on the Metro. I've got my songbook in my satchel and I put a carrying strap on my music stand. It's awkward, but at least I can carry everything. I just have to stand at the front of the bus and try not to hurt anyone.
I was kind of dreading the whole thing in a way. Hollywood & Highland is so touristy. But that's where the $ is. Especially the Europeans. Americans tend to look at street performing as begging. There's always a little nervousness, but it usually turns out to be meaningless.
I get off the train and get up to the street level, wondering where I'm going to set up and is someone going to hassel me? Right there is a sketchy lookin' dude with a bucket in front of him performing a god-awful, out of tune, howling vocal version of "Wonderwall". I thought about asking him if he get's hassled by the authorities, but thought better of it. Then, I thought, man, I have to get away from this guy but I don't want to get to close to the insanity at the Chinese theater. So, I set up a safe distance from both and just went at it.
Once I started playing, I was really glad that guy was there. I know it's petty, but it gave me a little reassurance because I'm better than him and sometimes you need to know you don't suck even if you aren't the greatest. I checked later on and he had left.
Not surprisingly enough, most people don't pay any attention to you. You could be playing a kazoo with your booty and they wouldn't notice. So, any nervousness immediately becomes humorous. You have to set up as close to the curb as possible to make sure no one can claim you're on private property. You can't sell anything without a business license, but you can perform for free and accept donations.
Once I start playing, I'm totally in my element. I'm basically doing what I do at home but in public. You can be all by yourself and be surrounded by activity. This is a good training ground. You've got tons of distraction. There's traffic noise, really attractive girls walking by, which sometimes adds a little excitement to the performance. There are people you think are coming to watch you play and then you suddenly realize they just noticed somebody's star on the sidewalk and are just going to take a picture. Once accepted for what it is, everything's fine.
You see younger guys walking by with quitars on their backs. They are GIT students and they all pretend they aren't paying any attention to you, yet they all have some odd smirk. Yup, all of them.
I made $2 in 30 min, all from the same guy. I guess he liked my version of "London Calling". Another time, I suddenly looked up and saw a guy shoving a cell phone in front of me. I just kept on playing but was really amused. He said "That's going all the way back to Indiana!" and walked off. No $.
, but I'm still glad I helped make the guy's vacation. I was playing a version of "I Want to Love You" by Bob Marley only I do it more in a rockabilly kinda way.
I admit I really like the validation when it comes, but I'd still do my thing if it didn't. It often doesn't.
I broke the D string twice even though I wasn't playing very hard. I would have played more, but I didn't have any more strings. When the 2nd one broke, I said "Fuck!". Some poor actress dressed as Snow White heard me and tried not to laugh. I was laughing.
Half the people walking around are selling something. Tours, photos, cell phones, remote controlled cars. It's an obnoxious fucking circus that is somehow glorious when you're in the right mood.
Anyway, I tried singing for my supper and I didn't even recoup my bus pass. Granted, most people don't give a shit. You just have to be out there long enough to hit the ones that do.
Some guy gave me $2 and another guy sent home a recording of me. For playing music. I feel better.
Sunday, I'm going to play in my own hood. Less traffic, but more people with the taste I'm looking for.
I can't decide if I should work more on music or what. I turned in my term paper yesterday and got the results from my 3rd test. %95! I have three more chapters to read before the final in two weeks.
I had an interview at the California Brewing Co for a bartending job. They said they hired two guys already without experience and they might call me on Monday to bring me in. It's in Alhambra, which is a little inconvenient, but it might be a good temp job. There's something to be said for taking home those tips every night and not getting taxed on them.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
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I'm still trying to open the music attachments, by the way....
oh, and the first time i posed nude for someone else (my first set) i was so nervous! even though i was dating him at the time. now, it's old hat. hahaha.