Auyon and I just got back from a great Friday night busk in Northampton (“busking” is performing on the street for tips, which is my steadiest source of both income and joy), and once again we had our share of strange encounters and meaningful moments. I’ve been thinking for a while that it would be good to chronicle our busking adventures somewhere, and so this is officially the first entry of my busk journal. Once there are a few more entries I’ll worry about exactly what form their compilation will take.

Recently, I’ve probably been busking an average of twice per week, often with some configuration of other band members, and each time meeting with unusual success. In Boston, a few weekends ago, I had my must lucrative night ever, making upwards of $40/hour (thank you Newbury Street) and giving out my entire reserve of business cards. A week ago, in Northampton, Harris and Auyon and I were signing autographs for a crowd of German exchange students within maybe two minutes of playing, and we made enough to consider — strongly consider — going out for sushi. The prior weekend, Auyon and I had dedicated a song in broken Spanish, over the phone, to a man’s ex-girlfriend living in Miami, and somebody we didn’t see threw us a crumpled five dollar bill from a window somewhere in the apartmentmosphere. (more…)