[Perform-Talk] The Exciting World of Busking and Other Performances!

Mon Feb 20 13:23:05 UTC 2023

Dear Chella and All,

	I would love to hear a little of your trumpet skills. Technology would allow us to work on projects no matter where one is in the world. Do you have any rcording software and gear we might use to collaborate if the need arises? I am starting to market the recording studio I built. After my next busking cart message, I think I might write a messag about how I built my recording booth!

Peace!
Marion

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-Talk <perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of CHELA Robles via Perform-Talk
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2023 9:41 PM
To: Performing Arts Division list <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: CHELA Robles <cdrobles693 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] The Exciting World of Busking and Other Performances!

I have an Enya travel acoustic guitar it is carbon fiber and looks like a Less Paul one. It is all black too. I started to learn a little bit during the holiday season last year. I have a Yamaha P105 keyboard and a Bach trumpet. I used to have a Yamaha trumpet and I have two carol brass pocket trumpet one bigger than the other and the other is a mini pocket trumpet.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 19, 2023, at 6:30 PM, Daryl Swinson via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Marion,
> Congratulations on your busking success! :) I only just started 
> playing guitar a year ago. Busking would be something cool to work 
> towards. Please continue with this conversation topic!
> 
> Also, what kind of Martin acoustic do you play? What other guitars do 
> you have? Could you share a website with your music? Are you on 
> youtube?
> I'm still taking weekly guitar lessons, and will be getting back to 
> some singing lessons in March. I purchased an Orangewood guitar, the 
> least expensive solid-top model in mahogany as a starter guitar a year 
> ago. I'm looking at Taylors right now, the 517E and 614CE. But right 
> now those are aspirational purchases, once I feel like I've improved 
> enough to be worthy of such an instrument. *LOL*
> 
> 
>> On 2/19/23, Marion & Martin via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Dear All,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>                My life has taken an unexpected turn and, in doing so, 
>> I have committed myself to doing more with my music. I have been 
>> performing professionally since I was 16 years old and most of that 
>> time has been as a solo entertainer. My stage name is what you see in 
>> my display name - Marion & Martin. (I play a Martin acoustic guitar.) 
>> I use a phrase a reporter who interviewed me once used to describe my 
>> music: Acoustic rock with a beach flair!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>                I recently began busking in Tampa, Florida. For those 
>> who don't know what busking is, it is street performing.
>> 
>> When I say "recently", I mean like on January 28! Tampa has an annual 
>> celebration of a mythical pirate invasion which draws more than 
>> 300,000 people. It is a nod to this celebration as to why our 
>> football team is called Buccaneers! In one hour of performing, I made 
>> $91! My next busking experience was last Thursday! Tampa has an 
>> entertainment district much like the French Quarter of New Orleans called Ybor (pronounced "E-bore")City.
>> Ybor has more than 80 bars in about a 10 square block area and you 
>> can find any style of music and lifestyle there. I didn't do quite as 
>> well then, coming home with $31.50! I learned a few lessons from this 
>> experience and want to share them with anyone who is busking or who 
>> is interested in busking, too.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>                Unsure of how I would be received or, more accurately, 
>> if I was going to be told by law enforcement to move on, I kept it very simple.
>> All I took was my guitar and a tip jar. My first advice is to have an 
>> actual tip jar. Lots of buskers use their instrument cases but one 
>> good breeze could distribute your tips along the sidewalk. I bought a 
>> clear plastic food container at Dollar Tree. Use a clear, uncolored 
>> container so people can see the money in it. Put a rock or some other 
>> heavy object in the bottom to keep the jar from blowing away, too! 
>> You can also put some flour or sand in a zip lock baggie to make it 
>> bottom-heavy! I feed my tip jar with $10 - two singles folded 
>> together, three singles folded together, and one $5.00 bill.
>> I face the $5.00 bill open and facing outward so it can be seen. 
>> Again, this is a subtle subliminal message to your audience of the 
>> type of tip to give.
>> When I perform in bars, I always have my business cards near my tip 
>> jar and make a few announcements about tipping the wait staff and the 
>> musician. One of the funny ways I use to solicit tips is to say, "You 
>> may not know this about me but I collect pictures of dead presidents, 
>> like Washington, Lincoln, and Jackson. One of my favorite presidents is Benjamin franklin!"
>> (I have gotten several $100 tips in the past! I also say, "As you 
>> give a tip, take a card!" One thing I have learned from my years of 
>> performing is to put my cards near my tip jar. I have cut a hole in 
>> the top of the plastic jar and have attached a business card holder 
>> to it with Velcro. Their hands are inches from my business cards as 
>> they give me tips and they are more likely to take one. The vice 
>> versa is true, as well! If they want a business card, they are close 
>> to the tip jar and are more likely to drop some money in as they grab 
>> a card!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>                My business cards are also ways to give tips! On the 
>> back of my business cards it says, "Please consider supporting my 
>> music by sending a tip via Zelle to the phone number on this card." 
>> Many people do not carry cash and the electronic format is a great 
>> way to facilitate their tipping.
>> In addition, tips sent by Zelle are more generous than the ones given 
>> in person. Another little trick I use is to Braille my stage name on 
>> the cards.
>> This minor detail gives my cards a life of their own, as people will 
>> share your card with others because of the uniqueness of Braille. One 
>> final word on business cards: Underneath the above invitation to tip 
>> via Zelle is an invitation to subscribe to my mailing list so they 
>> can find out where I will be performing. Many venues want to know if 
>> we have a following and telling them I have almost 200 people on my 
>> mailing list is an incentive to hire me!
>> My NFB chapter friends often come out to my gigs, as do some of my 
>> church friends!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> This has been a very long message and, if you are still reading this, 
>> I appreciate your attention! My original idea was to share how I 
>> built a busking cart but I will do that later this week! If you have 
>> any questions or have some comments you would like to share about 
>> your performances, please do so! We are here to support each other in 
>> all our endeavors! I look forward to hearing from some of you!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Fraternally yours,
>> 
>> Marion Gwizdala
>> 
>> Marion & Martin
>> 
>> SwampFox1833 at verizon.net <mailto:SwampFox1833 at verizon.net>
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
>       Regards,
> 
>       Daryl Swinson, M.S., M.A.
> 
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