Bipolar Joe wrote: » I busk. So yes.
Captain_Generic wrote: » Boards doesn't do Paypal
spider guardian wrote: » Down through the years there has been some good buskers that went on to find fame. Rodrigo y Gabriel are one example. Pretty sure there was a crowd that played on Pat Kenny that were picked from the streets but later fell into obscurity. Oasis even used buskers to promote 'Dig Out Your Soul'. I suppose there are some buskers that add to the atmosphere in a town or city on a shopping day. At night-time they can come in useful when you pinch an instrument off them and try to impress girls in the vicinity with your flawless rendition of Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here'. But should they be paid for this? Some 'buskers' clearly have came across their instruments in a public bin and only pluck or blow into these acquired instruments in the hope some do-gooder will drop some spare change into the worn cap in front of them. The racket they make and the guilt they induce puts them slightly above chuggers. Even if this isn't the case the skinny jeans and air of smugness can be off-putting. So in short, buskers, yay or nay?
Ikky Poo2 wrote: » Absolutely. What's next - just ban art if it's not in a gallery? Ban any entrepuener if they don't work in an office? Bad buskers tend not to stay in business long when they don't get paid. Where are you getting the air of smugness from? That's a first.
Bipolar Joe wrote: » Jealous of our musical talent?
spider guardian wrote: » Calling it art is stretching it (some of the time). And as for comparing them to entrepreneurs and mentioning how the bad ones "tend not to stay in business long", are you saying that they only do it as a business venture? They should be taxed in that case. The air of smugness comes from them thinking they are all great and arty.
Greentopia wrote: » If the quality of music being played is good-yay, otherwise it's a bit of a nuisance I think.
rockmongrel wrote: » Very much yay. Imagine walking down Grafton St. with no buskers, no noise but the ****ty music coming from HMV and the clothes stores and the noise of all the people. Terrible thought, plus many if not most buskers you see (around Dublin at least) are really quite great.
rockmongrel wrote: » Terrible thought, plus many if not most buskers you see (around Dublin at least) are really quite great.
Eric Cartman wrote: » nothing more than pied pipers to the tourists, spanish urchins and culchies visiting our fair city of dublin. A waste of space that cause streets to be blocked, singing or playing instuments poorly and hoping for a few more euro to hide from the tax man. If they were to be put in stephens green park or other public parks I wouldnt mind, but they should definitley be banned from temple bar, grafton street, henry street and the surrounding pedestrianized streets.
Ikky Poo2 wrote: » Why isn't it art? And are you sure this air of smugness isn't actually in your head rather thanb theirs? As regards the entrepuener, it is self-promotional and earns a living. Technically they should be taxed, yes, but 1) how are you going to tax them, and 2) artists are exempt from paying tax anyway. Also, how many people do you know who get paid cash in hand actually declare it to the taxman?
Bipolar Joe wrote: » How is it a nuisance? We don't follow you around showing you a photo of a kid wired up to machines. We stand in one place and play.
Greentopia wrote: » I said it's a nuisance if it's not played well. I was thinking of the likes of some Romanian kids who stand there with an accordian who don't even play a proper song but just seem to randomly press buttons and this cacophany of noise comes out. Dreadful aural assault. I have a lot of time -and respect- for people who have musical ability and can play an instrument or sing well on out streets. I often stop and listen and give some money if I find them particularly good.
Bipolar Joe wrote: » I practice constantly. Trust me when I say, the ones who are clearly crap don't last long. I'm not exactly a maestro, but I can make enough to buy milk and a few bits.
Greentopia wrote: » What instrument do you play if you don't mind me asking? I'd love to be able to play the piano but never got around to learning I'm thinking of getting a ukulele as I love the sound and it seems like an easy enough instrument to get into and I have someone who could show me how to play it. Before you say it-I'm not a hipster!
spider guardian wrote: » It's not art when it's just some beggar blowing on a rusted tin whistle. Why we should we be guilt-tripped into giving them money? Let them do an honest day's work. The air of smugness is definitely not in my head, I met a few buskers at house parties and they all thought they were great and artistic. Clearly they thought that just picking up oul guitars or what not conferred the artist title upon them. As for being entrepreneurial, your definition could cover any beggar
