You know it's no longer about the music or community when they bring an amp, and try to out-compete each other. I think buskers are alright if they've got talent or have an original act. But when they're shit (and sometimes that is a totally appropriate adjective in this context) then it's just awful. Case in point, the guy playing bagpipes (yes, in public, in broad daylight), and out of tune...and piping his noise through an amp -- as though it wasn't harming enough ears already?
I tend to object to buskers with an amp unless it really works. We saw a guy freestyle rapping the other day for an exception.
Mind you I also tend to get annoyed at the performers on Southbank who have one clever stunt that they do for 1 min and spend 10-15 mins explaining that they are street performers and do this for a living and please fold your money and put it in their hat.
I get that they need to ask for money - but more balance between asking for money and actually performing would be nice. At what point does it become begging rather than busking.
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I think buskers are alright if they've got talent or have an original act.
But when they're shit (and sometimes that is a totally appropriate adjective in this context) then it's just awful. Case in point, the guy playing bagpipes (yes, in public, in broad daylight), and out of tune...and piping his noise through an amp -- as though it wasn't harming enough ears already?
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Mind you I also tend to get annoyed at the performers on Southbank who have one clever stunt that they do for 1 min and spend 10-15 mins explaining that they are street performers and do this for a living and please fold your money and put it in their hat.
I get that they need to ask for money - but more balance between asking for money and actually performing would be nice. At what point does it become begging rather than busking.
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