Day 16: How's this for space?

I went out on Thursday to play, because it was a beautiful day out. However, so many other musicians had the same idea, that I was forced to play sitting on top of a 6-foot wall near Bertucci's. In addition, my microphone wasn't working, until I got mad and punched it, at which point it started feeding back in the worst way. Once I got that under control, it wasn't too bad. I didn't make much money, but I had a lot of fun playing songs I hadn't played in a while.

Day 15: Creepy guys with candy

It's been a bit of a hectic week, so I kept forgetting to post about last week's playing. I went on Monday to play. I ended up playing in front of Au Bon Pain for a couple of hours. It was pretty hot out, but not painfully so. There wasn't much interesting that happened, except that, first, a creepy-looking guy gave me a lollipop (no way I'm even unwrapping that...) and then, a group of kids who were at some video-production camp spent about 15 minutes filming me with about a half dozen cameras. Some homeless guy was standing next to me, dancing, for a while, which amused the kids with cameras to no end (I had a hard time not laughing out loud).

I made about $25, which seems to be about as high as I can make at that time of day.

Day 14: Ear-shattering bagpipes

Today, I went out after work. I got there just as a guy with a bagpipe was packing up in the Pit, so I set up in front of Au Bon Pain. About 10 minutes later, Bagpipe-Man came back WITH ANOTHER GUY WHO PLAYED BAGPIPES and proceeded to drown my performance out entirely. My last song in that location was about ten miles off key because I couldn't hear ANYTHING. It was like they plugged their bagpipes into Marshall amps and turned them up to 11.

I moved to Winthrop Park, where I quietly played for another 2 hours. I didn't make much, but I had some interesting conversations with people who sat nearby to listen.

Day 13: A performance in hell

On Tuesday, after starting my new job, I went to Harvard Square to perform. Unfortunately, it was well over 90 degrees, and apparently reached 105 in some parts of Boston. I played anyways, and made about $15, but it was extremely uncomfortable.

One man brought me a cup of ice water from Au Bon Pain shortly after I started, which was incredibly nice. A few other people stopped to inquire whether I had lost my mind, playing out in such heat. I assured them that I was, in fact, perfectly sane.

So basically, I never want to play in such heat, ever again.

Day 12: The worst day

Today's attempt at busking cannot be described as anything but a complete and total disaster. After rushing to grab a prime spot, I had two sets of batteries die in under 15 minutes, leaving me with no other option than to go home. I made just one dollar, from a drunk guy who insisted on singing terribly, and very loudly, into my microphone. Also, the painter set up across from me kept yelling that I should play Sinatra, instead of "that crappy screaming stuff."
From here, the only direction is up.

Day 11: Forgotten parts and Rick Rolling

Today, I went out at about 11:45 to catch the lunch rush, which was a good idea, as I made about $35 in just over two hours. However, in my rush to leave, I forgot my demo CDs that I was planning to hand out, as well as my capo, which is essential to playing certain songs. I rearranged some of those to work without the capo, which worked on some (for example, "The Only Exception," by Paramore, which fit much better into my vocal range with my on-the-spot alterations), and less so on others (Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," which stuttered and didn't work at all).

Today, I used my platform as a busker to execute something of a prank on unsuspecting passers-by. Rick Astley's song, "Never Gonna Give You Up," has become an internet phenomenon, by way of something called "Rick Rolling." Urban Dictionary defines Rick Rolling as the following:

"A method in which a prankster makes a fake link to the music video of Rick Astley's Never going to give you up. To be rick rolled is to be the victim, rick rolling is the act of being the predator. The prank is considered funny because of the horrible dancing in this music video. Sometimes the bar tender is seen to be funnier. Over one million people have been rick rolled and counting."

I engaged in a variation of the prank, in which I sang the song (while dancing just a little). Most people seemed not to notice, but a kid my age and his girlfriend both fell off their seats at Au Bon Pain when I began singing the first verse.