SUMMERTIME TIPS FOR BEGINNER BUSKERS: NOW 'TIS THE TIME TO DANCE

IVICA AND PETER CUTTING A RUG

Summer has arrived to Regina, Saskatchewan.  On Friday  I watched a bit of Sticks on Rose (an annual classic road hockey tournament that raises money for local charities, especially for needy children), and I strummed guitar at midnight for SHORDEE’S EAGLES, a Relay for Life team (a fund raising event for the Canadian Cancer Society).   

Saturday I was busking at both the Farmer’s Market and the Italian Star Deli, and squeaked a peek at the colubrine Pride Parade in between.

And this morning, finally, I quietly enjoyed the Summer Solstice, going for a six a.m. run around Wascana Lake; I looked at the hundred Peter and Ivica wedding pictures they sent in the afternoon, and I just now finished grilling steaks for our Father’s Day get together this evening.

This was the beginning of summer, the first of many wiener and burger weekend needing a busker relish.  And for those of you readers ever wanting to be a busker but have suffered considerable angst whilst thinking such, the following checklist should offer some solace.  Here are 10 summertime tips for guitar busking:

1. BUSKERS COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES.  So come as you are.  There is no ideal body figure for busking.  Whatever your body type, endomorph, ectomorph, or mesomorph, accept it and get strumming.  Allow me to stereotype.  If you’re an endomorph, people may consider you to be jolly.  If you’re an ectomorph, people may consider you to be hungry.  If you’re a mesomorph, people will be jealous.  As for me, I imagine my body type (somewhere betwixt ectomorph and mesomorph) to be that of the quintessential American folk busker; and therefore, that is the type of music that I deliver with my acoustic twelve-string and C harpoon to my consumers.
2. GET GOING AND KEEP GOING.  Busking is hard work.  (Let me tell you about it.)  Saturday morning I hit the the FARMERS MARKET pavement at 9:30 A.M. and strummed until noon.  Then, at owner Carlo’s request, I strummed on the ITALIAN STAR DELI patio until 3 P.M.  Not so strangely, the secret for successful busking is simple.  The more you strum, the more popular you become, and the more popular you are the more money you make. 
3. THERE IS NOT ALWAYS JOY IN FINDING YOUR TRIBE.  It’s true you’ll meet some incredible people, but you’ll meet some who are invidious.  And I'm not talking about the consumers.  There is not always affection in the buskerhood.  Sometimes your competition will be intrusive, boorish, and downright rude.  One time I was busking on Scarth Street when a keyboard player set up within 50 feet of me, plugged in an amp, and literally pounded me out of my playlist.  Another time in the Downtown Plaza, a country quartet (a fiddler, two guitarists, and an accordion player), without even a hello, set up right beside me and began howling and stomping their hoedown.
   
4. TAKE A TIME OUT.  I used to play until I was so tuned out I didn’t remember what song I was strumming, perfunctory plucking so to speak.  Now I stop for at least fifteen minutes every hour to savor an Americano Decaf.  
5. ALWAYS HAVE ADAM’S ALE ON HAND.  Be sure to sip water the entire busk.  If you don’t, the sun will make you dizzy. 
6. NATURE CALLS.  Minimize the collywobbles.  Do your business before you set up.
7. GO OFF ROAD.  It’s easy to be adventurous when you are first starting out because is because everyplace is a new and intoxicating. However, like most things, the more you moil the more job-like it becomes. Busking should never be boring.  Now and then I do lose that loving feeling, and gallivant out of city, province, or country to refresh my busking spirit.  I refer to these trips as buskations. 
8. BRUTTO TEMPO NOT.  In the wind and rain forget about busking.  The best time to busk is when the day is windless, and when Simpson clouds are painted on the blue sky.  On sunny days the consumers are more munificent than on other days not.  I am a faux busker for a reason.  I am not a fictioneer -- I know what I’m writing about. 
9. TRAIN YOUR BODY.  Standing and strumming for even a couple hours takes stamina.  Get into the best physical shape your body can tolerate.  Get thee to a gym.  For example, whenever I am on buskation in Victoria, British Columbia, I will be lifting weights at the Phoenix Fitness Centre every morning before I hit the sidewalks with my guitar and harpoon. 
10. WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.  There ought to be a positive relationship among you and the vendors, and your potential consumers.  This relationship is important.  ALWAYS get permission to busk from your nearest vendor.  Buskers need the foot traffic, and vendors are the main draw.  It’s a triple win, but only if the triangulation among busker, the vendor, and the consumer is respectful.

The art of busking is inchmeal.  If you can muster one hundred busks you'll be a master.  From ingenuous to ingenious, one hundred busks will take you from being a novice to becoming a virtuoso.

Marching in my CHAUCERIAN PARADE for this summer solstice weekend:

• At STICKS ON ROSE … My best friend, COLBY WILLIAMS, the best D-man in the WHL (Regina Pats), alongside NHL hockey celebs, Jordan Eberle (Edmonton Oilers), Mike Sillinger (ex-NHL’er and currently scouting for the Regina Pats of the WHL), and Jamie Heward (ex-NHL’er and current coach of the Swift Current Broncos  of the WHL).

2ND ON THE LEFT IS COLBY WILLIAMS, THEN JORDAN EBERLE, MIKE SILLINGER, AND JAMIE HEWARD

• At the PRIDE PARADE … Beautiful brown-eyed CORVUS and his mom, KAREN, supporting other marchers. 

KAREN AND HER BEAUTIFUL BROWN-EYED CORVUS

• At the ITALIAN STAR DELI BARBEQUE … COREEN, the best barbeque chef in the city; CARLO, the best vendor in the city; and self, the best busker in the city.

COREEN, CARLO, AND SELF

• PETER AND IVICA on their wedding day.  PETER AND IVICA make up the band, GREMMY, a very popular Cranberries tribute band from Slovakia.  I met Peter and Ivica in Dublin, Ireland, where Peter offered his guitar for my TEMPLE BAR buskation.

PETER AND IVICA MARCHING

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, FOLKSTERS!

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH AND THE GRAVITY OF DECEIT: WHEN I'M SIXTY-FOUR

White cauliflower clouds spattered the smalt colored sky.  It was a perfect day for busking.  And whilst doing so I did contemplate my age, for just a couple weeks ago (May 31^st to be exact) I became sixty-four years old.  People, mostly friends, say I do not look sixty-four; and people, mostly friends, say I do not act sixty-four.  Nonetheless, I am sixty-four and I must mention that aging, at times, can be physically and psychologically difficult. 

B.F. Skinner, 78 years of age and the patriarch of behavioral psychology, stated, “It’s easier to be young than old.” Indeed.

According to most pop psychologists, the secret to staying young is to keep creating stimulating environments.  To stay forever young we must consciously design our worlds in which we can behave reasonably young, so they say (they being those folk psychologists who scribe for the beatific mags lining the drug store shelves).

Fact:  Getting old … it ain’t easy.

Fact:  Stereotypically, old people are socially boring.

Old people who are boring are old people who talk too much about the good old days.  Old people who are boring are old people who also talk too much about their physical aches and pains.  Old people who are boring are people who behave like old people.

Behave.  Yes! I believe aging to be a behavior. I believe old age to be a social construct.

The prevailing Zeitgeist of the Western world has always been (in my time) that ETERNAL YOUTH IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS.  And people through the ages have known that the curative to keeping eternal youth is simply finding the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.

Everyone knows that the Fountain of Youth is the elixir of life, the elixir of immortality, the mythical potion that when drunk, grants the drinker eternal life.  Historically, this fabled elixir has been sought by the most ancient of Chinese emperors (many having fatal results whilst so doing); in Hindu scriptures there is mention of Amrita, described as the elixir of life or the nectar of immortality; and in the King James Version of the Bible, Jesus in John 4:14 states, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

For those early Christians, the doxology seemed to have worked.

Fact:  Methuselah, a man in the Hebrew Bible, lived to age 969.

Factoid:  Methuselah died just seven days before the beginning of the Great Flood, just days before Noah loaded all the animal two-by-two into the ark.

Factoid: In the ten-generative sequence from Adam to Noah, Methuselah was numero eight; a calculation that would suggest that Methuselah was Noah’s grandfather.

Factoid:  Noah lived to only 500 years old (the longevity of the people was beginning to shorten!)

Meanwhile … back to B.F. Skinner.  While B. F. Skinner writes reams on growing old, he has developed a schedule of personal behaviors that pretty much define his Methuselah Manual:

4:40 … B. F. Skinner wakes up and has a cup of coffee.

5:00 … B. F. Skinner works in his study.

11:15 … B. F. Skinner walks two miles to his Harvard office.

Noon … B. F. Skinner catches the city bus to home.

Afternoon … B. F. Skinner reads, or watches television, or listens to music.

Some psychological drams on happiness and getting old:

• Sigmund Freud, the founder of modern Psychology, described the goal of psychoanalysis as being to transform neurotic misery into common unhappiness.  According to Freud, the client should get couch comfy and free associate, saying whatever comes to mind, VENTILATING and unburdening pain and misery, whilst the analyst in the backdrop writes notes.

There is little doubt that the reality of immortality is a common misery, the dragon’s teeth for those middle-aged and upwards. Perhaps it is couch counselling that is the fountain of youth.

• Alfred Adler (Individual Psychology) placed emphasis on the concept of SOCIAL INTEREST, as the key to human happiness.  According to Adler, happiness depended for the most part on social interaction, the sense of engagement and belonging.

There is little doubt that loneliness is a common and ponderous unhappiness among the aged.  Perhaps getting more skin in the game could be the fountain youth.  This pun is intended -- just read the research on the sexuality of seniors in retirement communities.

• Otto Rank, (Psychoanalyst and writer) said CREATIVITY was the essential ingredient for happiness.  Then perhaps my being a singer-songwriter of quaint renown be the key to my youth.

• EXISTENTIAL THERAPY, though typically associated with European existential philosophy, mostly doom and gloom, darkness and despair.  Anxiety, depression, and other ultimate concerns ought to be confronted, rather than avoided.  In Existentialism, confrontation means coming to terms; it means coming to be receptive and coming to understand that each such malady is, in some positive sense, significant.  Perhaps life has only the meaning that each one of us attaches to it.

To summarize all of the above:  Does it really matter whether one is youthful or aged?  Age does not make a difference in anything, especially if anyone’s life is just a continuum of meaningful moments. 

Pungle up, folks … this is Existential Therapy.

To live is to suffer is the skinny of Zen, but ironically one cannot endure suffering unless there is a meaning to the suffering (Albert Camus, Joseph Campbell, Viktor Frankl).

The artists among us have a penchant for creating products for the masses, for the social appreciation in the gallery, in the theatre, and on the stage (Alfred Adler, Otto Rank).

And when anyone finally does attach meaning to suffering, what better way to express such frustration aloud than on a couch with a counsellor writing notes (Sigmund Freud).  

Though YOUTH is the condition of being young, once in adulthood, to reclaim that youth would be the appearances characteristic of being young; freshness, vigor, and contemporary political and fashionable awareness, being just a few examples.

And not just psychologists have opinions about aging:

• If you’re not getting older you’re dead.  (Tom Petty)

• The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.  (Robert Frost)

• There is a fountain of youth; it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life.  (Sophia Loren)

Take heed, dear reader.  The FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH is not illusory, at least not for me.  My FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH duende is to stay on the path, and the path that I follow every day in summertime starts early morning with a three mile run, continues later with an afternoon bike ride, and oftentimes ends with a walk in the dusk.

I TOOK THIS PICTURE ON AN EARLY MORNING RUN AROUND WASCANA LAKE

Marching in my CHAUCERIAN PARADE this week at the FARMERS MARKET (and keeping in step to my theme of youth):

• KEVIN BANMAN, my first customer at the Farmers Market, told me this story about his friend’s experience in Nashville.

Patton MacLean, his friend, is sitting on the porch of a rented vacation house in Nashville, playing his guitar and blowing his harps.  An older man walks by and compliments his harp playing, which Patton (sort of) dismisses. 

The older man retorts to Patton’s lack of interest:

“Well, playing a harp on a rack is like steering a car with your feet.  You’re playing two harps on a rack, and you’re singing, and you’re picking a guitar.  And you ain’t crashing either of them cars.  Son, you gotta learn to take a compliment.”

And then my notion of Phenomenology kicks in.

• I give Phenomenological meaning to my complicated friend, ROBIN DAIGNAULT, and her sidekick, RUDY, who next happened by.   I’ve not seen Robin since we played an outdoor game of hockey last winter.  I’ve drawn Rudy’s portrait, but this was the first time meeting in real life.

Your hair is the color of the clouds.  It makes you look older, said Robin, and thus my inserted Phenomenology.

Ouch! ... Methinks, at sixty-four years I've learned that taking compliments is much easier than taking personal criticisms.  I was frailing my twelve-string and blowing my harpoon and I wasn’t crashing either car at the time.

THE SIX SONGWRITERS SUMMER SHOWCASE

MARK WILSON and SELF

Finally I am back to blogging (this morning) and busking (yesterday at the Farmers Market), though still knackered from performance this past week when I shared the stage for a start-the-summer folk show at the BUSHWAKKER BREWPUB in Regina, SK. Canada.  (I always feel privileged to be strumming and harpooning at BUSHWAKKERS ... and ... I always get home really, really late!  BUSHWAKKER gigs mean GOOD TIMES!)

Grant Frew, the manager of BUSHWAKKERS, asked me to perform a summer gig, and to perhaps gather a few local folk artists for the event.  Grant advertised this evening gig as THE SIX SONGWRITERS SUMMER SHOWCASE.  On the bill were MARK WILSON and myself, REBECCA LASCUE, DUSTIN RITTER, REGAN HINCHCLIFFE, and DAVID CRUISE MALLOY.  (Our sixth songwriter, DARREN FORBES, fell ill two days before the show.)

GRANT FREW - MANAGER OF THE BUSHWAKKER BREW PUB

Following are some pictures (taken by Curtis the awesome sound guy) and laudable reviews (written by Grant himself) describing that gig.

From the BUSHWAKKER FACEBOOK page: First up is local Master Busker, Neil Child, joined by Mark Wilson on fiddle.  More great acts to come!  Mark and I have done several gigs together; as a very talented musician, Mark is proficient on bass, acoustic, and fiddler.  And he is an awesome singer!

DUSTIN RITTER

Then DUSTIN RITTER took the stage.  On the BUSHWAKKER FACEBOOK page he was described as:  The second act is indie rock artist, Dustin Ritter.  Upbeat and whimsical songs with a catchy and cool delivery!


Dustin is known for his rocking folk and country performances with THE DUSTIN RITTER BAND.  I've seen Dustin live many times over the years and he is a very polished stage professional.  I known Dustin for a long time, actually since he was a student in one of my Psychology classes many, many years ago!

REBECCA LASCUE

REBECCA LASCUE stole the night with her awesome vocals.  She was described in the BUSHWAKKER FACEBOOK page:  Our third talented indie folk pop artist is Rebecca Lascue.  Joni Mitchell's folk style, Beyonce's belt, and Regina Specktor's quirkiness!

Rebecca, too, was student in one of my Psychology classes many, many moons ago.

REGAN HINCHCLIFFE

REGAN HINCHCLIFFE followed Rebecca.  Described in BUSHWAKKER FACEBOOK:  Our fourth act is Regan Hinchliffe.  A passionate musician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist from Regina.

Regan is always the musician for a cause.  Last year he made four hundred dollars busking one afternoon for the Regina Food Bank.  This year he did it again, busking one afternoon for the Food Bank, raising five hundred and fifty dollars!

Regan's latest band was INK ROAD.  One of Regan's band mates suggested I include Regan into the THE SIX SONGWRITERS SUMMER SHOWCASE, of which I am certainly happy for doing so!  Regan is an incredibly talented guitar player and performer.

DAVID CRUISE MALLOY

DAVID CRUISE MALLOY closed the show.  And here is how he was described in the BUSHWAKKER FACEBOOK:  David Cruise Malloy brings it home with some fine musicianship and a PH.D!  Nicely done!

David is bass player for the DARKE HALL FIVE,  all band members being university professors.  David and I have been friends for years, having done a couple gigs years ago with the band, SHARIE and the SHADES.  David was the perfect performer to close the evening showcase.

On stage at BUSHWAKKERS is an evening in Lotusland. There is money; there is round after round of applause (pun intended); and there is free beer (BUSHWAKKERS is one of the highest rated brewpubs in all of CANADA)!

Though I may grumble on occasion about having to perform a gig or two or ten in winter, mayhap that Grant Frew, the Bushwakker manager, hath inspired me to become the quintessential gigmonger, an avocation that I've come to quite enjoy.

Fact:  Grant has me booked to replicate this summer showcase for one in Autumn, Wednesday October, 28th, to be precise.
Factoid:  All six artists, including Darren, who was a no-show due to illness, have agreed to this next scheduled performance.

Methinks in the spirit of social entrepreneur, Regan Hinchcliffe, I should broker this format, and arrange for these same folk artists and others ilk, to perform at least a couple times a year to raise money for THE SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY OF SASKATCHEWAN.

Factoid:  CRAIG PERRAULT, owner and manager of CRAVE KITCHEN AND WINE BAR, has already offered his establishment as host to such an event!

Marching in my CHAUCERIAN PARADE this week have been GRANT FREW (manager of THE BUSHWAKKER BREWPUB), CURTIS (BUSHWAKKER sound guy and photographer), MARK WILSON (fiddler virtuoso), DUSTIN RITTER (of THE DUSTIN RITTER BAND), REBECCA LASCUE (QUEEN OF THE FOLK FESTS), REGAN HINCHLIFFE (guitar virtuoso), DAVID CRUISE MALLOY (THE DARKE HALL FIVE) ... and CRAIG PERRAULT (owner and manager of CRAVE KITCHEN AND WINE BAR).

CRAIG PERRAULT OF CRAVE KITCHEN AND WINE BAR