Annie Rhiannon

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

I'm not terrible

"I'm here about the busking license," I say into the intercom on the door of York City Council.

"You'll need to fill in the form," a woman's voice crackles back. "Then just drop it in t' letter box and we'll be in touch."

"I've already done that," I explain. "And I'm waiting for my audition. But I'm leaving town this week so I'm wondering if you could just give me a temporary permit?"

There is a pause. And then what sounds suspiciously like a snort.

"You'll still need to audition, love, even for a temporary permit," explains the voice. "You could be terrible for all we know."

"I'm not terrible," I sigh, saying 'terrible' just like that in italics as if well, actually, I might be something like terrible, I suppose.

I want to play her a 16th century baroque piece right here into the intercom to prove myself, but actually I don't know any 16th century baroque pieces. And so instead I wander around town and consider just playing without a license anyway. Rock n roll! I mean, this is busking – how high can the standard possibly be?

On Coney Street a man plays reels on the fiddle while simultaneously operating a dancing puppet on strings. On Sampson Square a woman plays Hendrix guitar solos while her dog sings along in perfect key. On Stonegate a guy plays 16th century baroque music on the harp whilst standing on his head.

Yeah, I'm not terrible, just a little dull maybe.

18 comments:

Le Nord said...

York you say? I'd pay to see those guys

On Castle Lane in Belfast, there is a man who just stands behind some singing (and terrifying) puppets. He doesn't operate them, he just turns them on.

People tend to avoid that street when he's there

Chris Cope said...

I'm pretty sure you could handily defeat the "talent" in Cardiff.

Annie said...

I watched one guy's entire show, he did this Houdini thing with a straitjacket or whatever, but he was brilliant. Then at the end he asked people to put money in his hat. He said: "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but please don't come up here and dump a load of shrapnel in. Fivers and pound coins only. If you don't have any money just come and say thanks... I'm a professional street artist NOT a beggar."

Conan Drumm said...

Hold on, you have a lion, don't you? Don't tell me you left part of your act in Ghent?

Annie said...

Oh yeah, the lion. I brought it all the way to York with me against Wies's wishes(it's a family heirloom)and now it looks like I won't be needing him after all. I have to post him back to Ghent in a box with holes in it.

He doesn't sing or anything, he just sits there, that's his problem.

galwaywegian said...

Could you teach him to walk the lion?

EW said...

I have to agree with Chris.

Come to Cardiff - from what I have seen there is no standard. I passed a woman the other day who was just strumming her guitar. No notes, no chords, no fingerwork, just one hand strumming. It's not the first time I've seen her.

Annie said...

I've heard about her - I think Curly's seen her too.

Am gonna play 'Walk the Lion' for you, Galway, when you give me my lesson.

Lois said...

All buskers in Cardiff should strive to match the talent of Toy Mic Trev.

Fidel said...

Here in Farringdon we get wonderful world performed daily on a traffic cone. Marvellous.

She Likes It Loud said...

I would so pay to see the chick playing Hendrix with the dog. When I lived in NYC, I would pay people to STOP playing like when you are stuck in the subway with them. They would too.

If that hasn't happened, you're golden.

SoftIrishRain said...

There is a guy on Grafton Street who just bonks people on the head with a bug foam hammer, apearently there is no audition in Dublin

SoftIrishRain said...

Big foam hammer, not bug foam hammer. can't I edit my comment? should have used the preview button

jothemama said...

New idea Annie, you travel the world, getting guitarists to teach you one new song wherever you go, and slowly and interestingly increase your busking repertoire.

Hopefully some famous people could get involved.

Fiona said...

Dull me hoop!

EW said...

Oh, and there's a famous busker in Cardiff called Ninja who hits public bins with drum sticks. I think he was in talks about a record deal.

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