Union Square Subway Station
Saying ‘Hello’ in NYC
It was raining when I left to go busking. The train to Manhattan wasn’t working, so I had to take three different trains to get into the city. A guy told me that his great grandfather got a medal from the Kaizer of Austro-Hungary for playing Klezmer music. Now he is the only musical person…
Read MoreBuskers Look Out for One Another
When I got to the Music Under New York busking spot at 14th street there was a homeless guy looking inside the garbage can. On the bench a man and a woman were displaying posters – probably religious. An older guy carrying a heavy load took the stairs and not the elevator. I often see…
Read MoreA Puppy, a Turtle & a Snake
There were no trains going to Manhattan when I arrived at the subway station. I had to take a train in the opposite direction and transfer to a Manhattan bound train at a different station. When I got to the Music Under New York busking spot at Union Square, Cathy Grier was playing electric guitar…
Read MoreThats My Song
Two Chinese people were playing the erhu and what looks like a Chinese version of a banjo on the platform when I arrived at the Union Square subway station. At the Music Under New York busking spot a thin guy was playing electric guitar with an effects pedal. He was playing an endless melody while…
Read MoreA Different Bag Every Day
On my way up the subway station’s stairs two guys offered to help me bring my busking gear up. It turned out that they were the two guys I saw at the 14th street subway station last Friday – Guillermo and Martin, who were the ones sitting on a bench and fixing a string on…
Read MoreBlack Friday at the Union Square Subway Station
When I got to the Music Under New York busking spot at the Union Square subway station today I met the duo Mikanic there. They were just packing up their busking gear. Originally from South Africa Mike and Nick were accepted into MUNY three years ago, but have spent the past year in South Africa…
Read MoreEverybody is Out, Playing
As I got to the Music Under New York busking spot at Union Square there was a guy sleeping on the right hand side bench. He had a guitar lying next to him. On the left bench there was a lady with very swollen legs, also sleeping. At 12:15 the Chinese erhu player started playing…
Read MoreGive Me Beer and Nobody Will Get Hurt
At the Music Under New York busking spot at the Union Square subway station kora player Salieu Suso was playing. He spotted me as I came out of the elevator and yelled: “Saw Lady! How are you?” Salieu got his official Music Under NY cloth banner (newbie buskers get a small plastic banner for their…
Read MoreTrain Panhandler Retired to Florida
Nobody was playing at the Music Under NY busking spot at 14th street when I got there. As I was setting up my busking gear a European sounding lady asked me: “sorry, can you tell me the time, please?” Immediately after that two Japanese ladies asked me how to get to the ‘L’ train. I’m…
Read MoreHalloween is Tomorrow, But The Witches Are Already Here
A guy helped me bring my busking gear up the stairs at the subway station. Guy: “Oh, you’re the Saw Lady!” Saw Lady: “That’s right. I’m on my way to 14th street where I’ll be playing dressed as a witch. Halloween is tomorrow, but the witches are already here 🙂 ” Guy: “What?! It’s Halloween…
Read More