zora zero spotted this ongoing street-musician spat in portobello road market, london.
i’m not a londoner, but living near portobello road and complaining about the buskers seems like living near times square and complaining about the lights, no? i was cheered, therefore, to see the responses added by other more busker-friendly neighbo(u)rs at the bottom of the original note.
adds our submitter (who described herself as “‘team foreigner’ with busker sympathies”): “the paint on the railing was indeed being damaged by the original anti-busking clear-plastic-envelope-taping resident.”
related: i used to be your biggest fan
205 responses so far ↓
#1
krystolla
A cello is a pretty hefty instrument, not appropriate for carrying while running away from crazed note writers / water wielding maniacs.
Sep 18, 2008 at 7:43 am rating: +9
#2
Woman on the Verge
I especially adore the comment about the no buskers sign damaging the paint… it is just so perfectly PA. Questions this raises: What kind of music are the Buskers playing? Does the Anti-Busker movement have a theme song so the Buskers could play it? Is the cello player cute? Why in the world would you throw water on them as a deterrant when obviously it might just be seen as a lovely way of cooling them on a hot day? Where do I have to play if I want free beers?
Sep 18, 2008 at 7:45 am rating: +7
#3
Arielemc
How exactly does one hear an open window? Phrased a bit awkwardly.
Sep 18, 2008 at 7:48 am rating: +25
#4
aaa
I have to say, “busker” and “busking” are about the most retarded sounding words in the English language. Those street performing freaks should’ve gotten their metaphorical asses kicked just for that.
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:08 am rating: +6
#5
amy d
I find it amusing to pretend that Buskers is a lost cat. The “We miss you Buskers” sign is from its owners. The “Attention Buskers” sign is from residents who live in a building next to the alley where Buskers now plays and yowls all night.
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:21 am rating: +19
#6
claw71
There are several things to consider in this selection. First, the resolve of the people who are opposed to the buskers seems stronger than that of the people who support them. Look at the font and the crisp lettering. It’s so severe. There’s a lot of anger in that note. These people mean business and probably won’t hesitate to go above and beyond the threat of forced hydration if necessary.
That brings me to the second point which is the half-hearted support offered by the busker supporters. While it appears that more people are willing to back the buskers, I don’t believe that their support would extend much beyond the scrawled notes seen here. These people are unorganized and sloppy, as one would expect from fans of busking.
The third and final observation is an aside but still relevant. Buskers don’t perform for “some beers” they are out there performing for money. They try to make a living by providing entertainment. Your voluntary financial support allows them to pursue an artistic career path. Compensating them with alcohol doesn’t put food on the table, it won’t get them any time in a recording studio so they can cut a demo. Alcohol actually sends buskers on an express ride to homelessness. They hock their instruments for cash so they can buy Ripple and then they become aggressive panhandlers who eschew performance art in favor or poor personal hygiene.
You’ll notice that none of these alleged supporters is promising monetary remuneration if the buskers return. This is also typical of people who enjoy street performers. They’ll stand there and be entertained for hours only to walk away without reaching into their pockets for the spare change these poor buskers so desperately crave.
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:27 am rating: +22
#7
B Rad
Everyone was missed…. except Graham.
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:31 am rating: +23
#8
anglophile
The Buskers can’t come back. They have been sent into hiding by the Imperial Buskers Protection Program. I suspect most of them are trying to make a living now miming on the streets of Paris or washing windshields at busy intersections in New York and LA.
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:31 am rating: +6
#9
Holiday Djinn
What kills me is they claim that they cannot hear their own tv or radio when they play? Seriously?
What did you do, turn the Buskers into proper “Chamber” musicians and invite them in for a drink? They have measured decibel levels on the streets of New York and London. It can be over 100+ decibels. No way a few steet musicicians on classical unamplified instraments are going to come close to drowning out the “street noise” much less your tv/radio in your apartment.
Never pass up an opportunity to be angry or passive aggressive, eh?
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:31 am rating: +9
#10
claw71
It’s really too bad that the note didn’t threaten to call the constables. Somebody could play Yakety Sax while the bobbies, with night sticks held high, chase the cello player up and down the street. God, I love British comedy…it’s so intellectual.
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:46 am rating: +19
#11
Dave
“Yes, because Benny Hill is the zenith of British comedy, isn’t it?”, said Dave, passive-aggressively. “Yo need to go educate yo ass,” he added.
Sep 18, 2008 at 8:52 am rating: +7