The Busker's Buddy
June 18th 2007 21:22
I wrote about the various buskers I saw in London the other day, on my other Orble blog. (See the address below). One thing that bothers me about buskers is their vulnerability to money snatchers. There was a ‘busker’ who wasn’t, when we were on London's Southbank. This particular busker seemed very vulnerable to theft. When I say he ‘wasn’t’ I mean that it appeared to be a person, but in fact it was nothing more than a very realistic hand sticking out of a suitcase on the ground with a tape playing some muffled human noises. The player was hidden under a coat behind the case.
You’d think that we’d all say, ‘There’s no one in the case’ and pass by, but this busker is part of that group of statues that come to life, and it was entirely possible that someone was stuck inside the case and about to give some curious child the fright of their life.
Anyway, there was a busker’s hat in front of the case. Who would have protected the takings if a thief decided to pilfer them? While you could imagine one of the statues really truly coming to life in the event of a thief trying to make off with their earnings, or a
singer/guitarist giving chase, in this case (no pun intended) there was no one to protect the goods.
All this is a kind of lead up to a comment about something one site calls ‘the buskers’ buddy’. It's a coin sorter. A what, you ask? A coin sorter, a little machine that sorts coins into their denominations while the busker is working – and earning. I can’t say I’ve ever seen any busker with one of these, but it’s a cute idea imagining the coins tumbling their way into their respective places, and being wrapped into little coin wrappers, all the while allowing the busker to get on with their job. My concern would be that a potential thief would pilfer both the coins and the coin sorter (especially considering that it might be valuable than what’s inside it), but obviously someone has thought this through, and taken the risk. Hence the nickname.
You’d think that we’d all say, ‘There’s no one in the case’ and pass by, but this busker is part of that group of statues that come to life, and it was entirely possible that someone was stuck inside the case and about to give some curious child the fright of their life.
Anyway, there was a busker’s hat in front of the case. Who would have protected the takings if a thief decided to pilfer them? While you could imagine one of the statues really truly coming to life in the event of a thief trying to make off with their earnings, or a
All this is a kind of lead up to a comment about something one site calls ‘the buskers’ buddy’. It's a coin sorter. A what, you ask? A coin sorter, a little machine that sorts coins into their denominations while the busker is working – and earning. I can’t say I’ve ever seen any busker with one of these, but it’s a cute idea imagining the coins tumbling their way into their respective places, and being wrapped into little coin wrappers, all the while allowing the busker to get on with their job. My concern would be that a potential thief would pilfer both the coins and the coin sorter (especially considering that it might be valuable than what’s inside it), but obviously someone has thought this through, and taken the risk. Hence the nickname.
| 58 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Always busk with a buddy, that's the way to go.
Looking for your other busker article...
D.
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
My son used to busk when he was young, it brings back fond memories and some interesting tales. Yes, the risks are certainly there.
Really interesting post.
katyzzz
Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report
I probably gave the impression it was at my Random Notes page....sorry!
Yes, I think it would be better to busk with a buddy. One of the 'statues' was a girl dressed as a Geisha, but she had a dress on that covered the box she was standing on. I would think she'd have a job if someone snaffled her takings!