Union Square Subway Station

There was nobody at the Music Under New York spot at the Union Square subway station when I got there today. Soon after I started playing two guys greeted me with much joy. It turned out their names were Joseph and Mark. Mark is an intern with Atlantic Records. He said he had been to…

On my way to my designated spot for the day in the New York City subway there were no seats on the train – that’s unusual for this time of day. There was a guy walking from car to car begging for money. When I arrived at my spot at the Union Square subway station…

When I got to the Music Under New York spot at 14th street there was a pan flute player there. He told me he had been playing there for an hour and that it was very hot and humid. Funny how some spots in the subway are hotter/colder than others. The Union Square spot definitely…

As I arrived at the Music Under New York spot at Union Square I found Clovia, the homeless lady who likes to paint on clothes, sleeping on the bench. Her huge cart was by her side. She had a coat and a couple of bags she painted hanging from the cart, and she was wearing…

Today was a quiet day – The guy who is a percussionist walked by and introduced me to his mother who is visiting NYC. Some kids asked me to play the theme from ‘Harry Potter’. I asked them how they knew that I could play that and they said they heard me do it some…

On my way to my busking spot today a Hispanic guitar player/singer got on the train. He recognized who I was and struck up a conversation with me. He asked if I was working today so I told him I was on my way to 14th street. He told me he will be working (singing…

Today I found out that my 14 year old cousin had a nervous break-down. She is hospitalized in the children’s psychiatric ward. She was a totally normal kid – I didn’t know stuff like this could happen to a kid. She is crying and yelling non-stop, saying she wants to die. Her body is shaking,…

A strange sighting happened today at the Union Square subway station: As I was playing, an older guy with a white beard, wearing a white shirt, big glasses and a ball cap hat sat on the bench. Then he came to take my card and joined my playing in singing (I was playing a piece…

Above the Music Under New York spot at the Union Square subway station there is an artists market. Painters, photographers, sculptors, etc. set up in the park showcasing their art work. While playing I often see them on their way to their spot upstairs. I’ve gotten to know some of them over the years. One…

I was supposed to play at Union Square today, but it’s 32 degrees and snowing/freezing raining…so it’s too cold (not for me but for the saw – the blade doesn’t vibrate properly when it’s cold. That’s why my cut-off temperature for playing in the subway is 34 degrees). I’m sad to miss the opportunity to…