Posts by Natalia Saw Lady
Green Streak of Color
As I started to play in the subway today, two Nortenos playing guitar and accordion waved ‘hi’ to me on their way to playing on the #6 train. A guitar player carrying his gear nodded ‘hello’ as he passed by me. A teenager leaned against the column in front of me and listened to four…
Read MoreOff the Streets
When I got to the Times Square subway station, a sanitation worker rode the elevator up from the platform with me. He greeted me with a cheerful ‘Hello’. He asked where I’ll be playing today and said he’ll come by to hear me because he always enjoys listening to me play. Buskers were asked by…
Read MorePeople Showed Me Their Hands
As I was setting up to play on the platform at 59th street, a guy asked me how much it costs to get a permit to play in the subway. He said he busks in Boston, playing guitar and singing, and that its very different the way busking works over there. Buskers don’t have to…
Read MoreCertificate of Conduct
A gentleman helped me bring my busking gear up the stairs at the subway station. He told me that he has seen & heard me numerous times at 14th street and at Times Square. I told him I’m on my way to 14th street now and he asked how I determine where to go to…
Read MoreA Dog With a Health Care Plan
As I was climbing up the stairs at the subway station, an MTA construction worker was climbing down, carrying a ladder. “You still play?” he asked me. It always warms my heart when people recognize me. As the train passed the 59th street subway station I could see Frankie playing his guitar on the platform.…
Read MoreMuseum Tours for the Blind
It was a rainy and dreary day – I barely dragged myself out to play in the subway today. Mosaics in the subway: 8th Street N/R station, on the north side of the downtown track. A guy told me that he tried to play the musical saw when he was a kid on a farm.…
Read MoreJuggling Fire While Drumming
On the train on my way to my busking spot there were two Nortenos with an accordion and a guitar. They were taking the train to Manhattan but they were not playing. Apparently, they don’t work this train line. The three acapela singers who call themselves ‘The Fellows”, Bo, Chill and the one who’s name…
Read MoreWalked Away Singing
While I was busking at the Whitehall ferry terminal, I had a few nice conversations with people waiting to take the ferry boat to Staten Island: A guy told me that his Dad taught him to make sounds with a saw by hitting it with the thumb. Another guy told me that he plays the…
Read MoreWhiling Away the Ride
The ferry boats to Staten Island have names. The one I took this time, on my way to the Music Under New York busking spot in the ferry terminal, was named ‘American Spirit’. The Staten Island ferry landing place is modern, while the one right next to it, which launches the ferry to Governor’s Island,…
Read MoreThe Busker
Every now and then I chance upon a poem about busking. Here is one from littlenedved, a 21 year old poet from Australia: THE BUSKER Central Station 8am The busker sits and plays his tune I close my eyes… i carries me, beyond the stars beyond the moon hes a modern bard guitar case open…
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