Finally, someone says what we all knew already

[tauzero]

8 hours ago, stewblack said:

Well, my gentle humour seems to have triggered some people.

Please remember this 'news' item was a comedic invention.

 

Really? 31st March: https://www.inkl.com/news/loud-buskers-playing-songs-on-loop-across-leicester-square-is-psychological-torture-says-judge

[Hellzero]

15 hours ago, pete.young said:

Whenever I hear a busker, I ask myself 2 questions. Could I do that? Would I want to?

 

If it's No and Yes in that order, I always give them some money.

And if it's the opposite, some slaps?

[zbd1960]

You do encounter some very good musicians busking from time-to-time. I know several that do busk, mostly to raise money for charity but I do know that they're competent players. The notable thing about the good players is that they're not usually very loud...

 

In the summer months we get a busker who appears in the town centre and he just sits there all day endlessly repeating the same things. This drives the staff in the shops mad. 

There is an issue I think with amplified busking. The usual issue applies here - whatever laws/regulations exist are woefully out-of-date and not relevant. Most councils haven't got the funds to have an environmental officer wandering around with a calibrated SPL meter.

 

A simple option to help protect the sanity of those who work adjacent to such things is to time limit playing in a location. I'm not sure how easy it is to deal with volume levels. 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

My local high street is often afflicted by buskers. Back in the days when it was one person singing with just an acoustic guitar, it was easy to ignore if it was a bit crap, but it becomes a nuisance once amplification is brought into the mix. Extra nuisance points for the ones that use backing tracks.

 

In the US there are chancers who cannot play a note and are miming to amplified backing tracks - I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to see similar here soon.

 

 

[Leonard Smalls]

1 hour ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

there are chancers who cannot play a note and are miming to amplified backing tracks

Doh!

That's our band busted...

[Dan Dare]

1 hour ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

In the US there are chancers who cannot play a note and are miming to amplified backing tracks - I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to see similar here soon.

 

They're here already. I've encountered several in London. The most recent was outside Charing Cross station. He had a skeleton electric fiddle and a powered PA cab and was "playing" popular classical stuff. I play the violin, so it was obvious the music did not match what his hands were doing.

 

It seemed to be working. A number of people were nodding appreciatively and putting money in  the hat. I was feeling particularly grumpy that day, so I hung around and started telling them he was faking. If looks could kill...

[stewblack]

7 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

Really? 31st March: https://www.inkl.com/news/loud-buskers-playing-songs-on-loop-across-leicester-square-is-psychological-torture-says-judge

Apologies. Someone else said it was April fools so I assumed that was the case.

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, Dan Dare said:

They're here already. I've encountered several in London. The most recent was outside Charing Cross station. He had a skeleton electric fiddle and a powered PA cab and was "playing" popular classical stuff. I play the violin, so it was obvious the music did not match what his hands were doing.

 

Yeh - I have seen people busking (notably also with violins) who were playing really well when there hands weren't. I guess its like those sand dog sculptures that are all fake, just a way of making money for people without those tallents. Sad really as I intrinsicly don't trust them now. There was a guy down town yesterday doing showtunes to a backing tape. He was actually very good, but I initially assumed he was just miming to the whole thing.

[Cato]

I don't think it's the quality of musicianship that's the problem, it's how far the sound is projected.

 

When I used to busk acoustically 30 odd years ago I doubt anyone could hear me above the background noise from more than 20 yards away.

 

These days if someone sets up in our local park with instruments and vocals fully amplified, there's nowhere in the whole park you can't hear them.

 

If you decide you don't want to listen to them moving to a quieter spot isn't an option, your only choice is to leave the park.

 

 

 

 

Edited Friday at 07:33 by Cato

[Dan Dare]

23 hours ago, Cato said:

If you decide you don't want to listen to them moving to a quieter spot isn't an option, you're only choice is to leave the park.

 

Or employ a pair of heavy duty cable-cutters?

[Dad3353]

On 09/04/2025 at 12:05, Cato said:

...If you decide you don't want to listen to them moving to a quieter spot isn't an option, you're only choice is to leave the park.

 

Or maybe 'busk' your own 'concert' quite close to theirs..? It won't take long for them to take the hint, with a suitable choice of instrument ...

 

[asingardenof]

3 hours ago, Dad3353 said:

 

Or maybe 'busk' your own 'concert' quite close to theirs..? It won't take long for them to take the hint, with a suitable choice of instrument ...