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How do you get back at 'buskers' who assault your ears on the subway?

post #1 of 24
8/30/08 at 12:45am
Thread Starter 
In my city, the subway system gives out licences for 'buskers' to 'perform'. 99% of the time, 'buskers' is the polite way of saying 'no talent losers, akin to panhandlers, who will assault your ears and create noise pollution which you have no choice but to be subjected to while on the subway which you paid good money to enter, in order to solicit money from you."

This is really starting to tick me off quite a bit. Today just as I was walking by, one of the 'buskers' started screaming his 'song' into my ear which literally hurt my ear quite a bit...I wanted to punch him in his big mouth.

I've been putting up with this crap for years since the 'buskers' are legally allowed to be there and in fact there is a 'buskerfest' held in my city every year to 'recruit' them for this terrible 'service'.

I see 'buskers' such as this as worse than panhandlers. They are just as unsightly, but panhandlers are less instrusive and don't generally assault your ears like 99% of 'buskers' do.

I think from now on I'm gonna start flipping the bird to annoying buskers who assault my ears without permission. Not as good as punching them in their big mouths, but at least it's something.

For those who have been in similar situations,

How do you get back at 'buskers' who assault your ears on the subway?
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post #2 of 24
8/30/08 at 1:13am
wow, I actually like subway musicians. I always make sure to give them a couple bucks. You just sound like a prick.
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post #3 of 24
8/30/08 at 1:14am
If buskers are any good I try to make a point of giving them a buck or two.
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post #4 of 24
8/30/08 at 1:19am
I gave one $5 the other day.
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post #5 of 24
8/30/08 at 2:34am
Thread Starter 
I'd give them money if they went away and promised to never ever 'busk' again for the rest of their lives upon pain of imprisonment if they lie.

They should be giving me money for assaulting my ears without permission.
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post #6 of 24
8/30/08 at 2:37am
OK, fess up - you were one of the bozos who walked by Joshua Bell on the DC Metro, weren't you?
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post #7 of 24
8/30/08 at 2:37am
Why is this not in the dumb thread section?
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post #8 of 24
8/31/08 at 1:37am
I wouldn't mind buskers if they all sounded like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUO6kYLb6As
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post #9 of 24
8/31/08 at 2:34am
As someone who has busked i can tell you it is a difficult but decidedly romantic way to make some money. Its a shame that you encountered poor performers, but I think even less-then-stellar buskers can add to the vibrancy and character of metropolitan areas. Experts in the field are true artists, not just with the performance but with the crowd control and skilled manipulation of the flow of people. (I do personally prefer a sort of "paid busking," where the city will engage your street performance skills so you can focus on performing and not worry so much about hustling. However these gigs are rare and the hustle can be a big part of the fun)
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post #10 of 24
8/31/08 at 8:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Magician View Post
As someone who has busked i can tell you it is a difficult but decidedly romantic way to make some money. Its a shame that you encountered poor performers, but I think even less-then-stellar buskers can add to the vibrancy and character of metropolitan areas.

Experts in the field are true artists, not just with the performance but with the crowd control and skilled manipulation of the flow of people.

(I do personally prefer a sort of "paid busking," where the city will engage your street performance skills so you can focus on performing and not worry so much about hustling. However these gigs are rare and the hustle can be a big part of the fun)

Props to ya. I have experienced some amazin performers - in Boston, there's a guy who uses an acoustic/electric and a loop pedal to play classical pieces in canon with himself, a concert-level cellist who also does classic rock standards, a breakdancer who busts headspins and backflips on moving trains, and a violin/viola/cello trio who play lovely chamber music. There are some mediocre and one or two awful people, but they just provide conversation.

People want to dumb down cities and make 'em into Disneyland, and that makes me sad...
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post #11 of 24
8/31/08 at 9:16am
The last time I was in NYC and took the subway some kids came on and started dancing. Then they went around and asked for money. I knew I wasn't going to give them any so I tried to be "fair" and not look at their performance. I couldn't help but see a bit of it unless I closed my eyes and they were decent from what little I saw but the reason I didn't give them money is kind of the principle of the thing. I don't like being held as a captive audience. If I'm walking down the street, I can choose to stop and look at a street performer and will give them money then for their entertainment. In the above case, my only option was to get off the train; which I obviously wasn't going to do. It's like me going to a parking lot and washing some person's car and then telling them they have to give me $10.
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post #12 of 24
8/31/08 at 11:26am
I remember when i was in the army me and a group of guys paid one $50 to do a pt test( pushups, sit ups, and run around the block). He did remarkably he should have been an Infantryman.
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post #13 of 24
8/31/08 at 5:42pm
As someone who has relied on the kindness of strangers, just wear headphones or read a paper. If it is annoying to you, move.
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post #14 of 24
8/31/08 at 6:50pm
We don't have any buskers at the subway here in Oslo, so I guess I'm in luck. But we do have loads off people from Eastern-Europe who plays the accordion badly, everywhere else. Even on the University Campus. Never seen anyone give them money. Only thing they do is creating resentment for foreigners and increase the vote for the far right party :/
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post #15 of 24
8/31/08 at 6:57pm
I don't like that word--buskers.
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