Leontyne Price Singing on Your Lap

The train wasn’t working in the Manhattan direction. On my way to play in the NYC subway today I had to take the train going away from Manhattan, then transfer to one heading to Manhattan. Professor Eduardo Alvarado was playing on the mezzanine at the Times Square subway station. His son, Louis, was listening to…

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The Art of Freezing Gatorade

A guy helped me carry my busking gear up the stairs at the subway station. “Thank you, you’re my angel!” I said. He laughed as he said “You’re welcome”. Geo was playing guitar at the Times Square mezzanine busking spot but nobody was at the Mosaics spot. Delta Dave was on his way to playing…

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Halloween at Times Square

Juan Castillo was playing the mandolin at the Music Under New York busking spot at the Times Square subway station. He had a friend with him, helping him to sell CDs. In the store window some movie was playing on the big screen right by our spot. Juan was watching the movie while playing. It…

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Halloween 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…

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In real life or in his mind?

As I was climbing the stairs up to the subway station a young guy asked me “Do you need help?” Usually people hold the bottom end of my cart while I hold the top and together we lift it up the stairs. But this guy grabbed my cart with ONE HAND and carried it by…

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The Messenger is Alive

As I was climbing the stairs up to the subway platform I could hear the train approaching, so I rushed up the stairs with all my busking gear. I succeeded in catching the train but then had to catch my breath. Luke Ryan, the singer/songwriter/guitar player, was at the Music Under New York spot at…

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The Weirdest Thing Put in My Donations Box

There was nobody playing at the usual busking spots at the Times Square subway station when I got there. As I was setting up to play by the Mosaics, a guy named Charlie told me that he saw me on TV, and he asked if I play at cafes. His friend is opening a cafe…

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Recycling Souls

When I arrived at the Music Under New York busking spot at the 14th street subway station Salieu Suso, the kora player from Africa, was there. As he was packing up his busking gear and I was setting up mine, he told me about kora playing in Africa. I saw him taking money out of…

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Without Them I Can’t Smile

It was 99 degrees. I was sweating buckets just walking to the subway. A nice guy helped me carry my busking gear all the way up the four flights of stairs to the train platform. He told me that he is a musician, too – he plays guitar, and he knows how hard it is,…

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Have a Boring Day!

As I was climbing the stairs up to the subway station with my busking gear, a lady, also climbing the stairs, who was disabled (she was limping) offered to help me carry my gear up the stairs. She could barely walk herself, yet she saw I was struggling with my cart and offered to help!…

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