There’s one thing I never thought of during this past year of unemployment, and maybe I should have: I can play guitar. At least, I can strum one, and I know several dozen chords without thinking too hard or consulting a chart. And I can sing, if the song’s undemanding and suited to a sort of country/folk/rock style.
So I could do what this guy was going today.
This is Andrew Sullivan. Not that Andrew Sullivan, another one. And I was walking quickly past him from the Gervais Starbucks to my truck — I hadn’t had change for the meter — when I realized what he was singing: The Band’s “The Weight.”
So I turned back around, fished a buck out of my wallet and dropped it in his case.
“That’s for playing The Band,” I told him.
“Oh, I love The Band,” he said.
Me, too.
Then I went back to my truck, and drove it over to he Lincoln Street garage to get a SmartCard from Parking Services, so I won’t be in such a hurry in the future. A man should always have time to slow down and listen to a song from The Band.
One of my favorites, also. Definitely worth the dollar; two if he was any good!
Let us know haw the Smart Card works out. I’ve considered getting one myself but the meters around USC are old and cranky and I’ve hesitated to try it.
Claudia–If you use a Smart Card and the meter screws you, just take it up with Parking Services. John David is a most reasonable man. The kind of public servant we need more of….
Now, some meters around USC are USC meters, you know.
You mean you didn’t say, “Get a job and a haircut you hippy”.
Isn’t there a city law against panhandling?
That looks kinda like Gabe. (Is it?) I hope we don’t have laws that would prevent someone from making a buck playing music on the street — that’s one of the things I enjoy most in certain cities. Anyway, it’s not exactly panhandling so much as accepting tips for a service rendered, right?
He’s singing for his supper. Providing a service for pay.
He looks just the way I did at that age, and is more enterprising than I was.
And no, it’s not Gabe. It’s Andrew.
I don’t think there are any laws against playing acoustic music on the street and accepting tips. You can’t have amplified music without a permit. Panhandling is illegal if you are asking for money aggressively or persistently–having an open music case doesn’t qualify.
I suppose if you block the sidewalk…and there is a peddling ordinance–selling music?
I used to do the same thing in Waikiki when Brad was a mere sprat. You were good for about an hour before you got hassled by The Man. Today, of course, the streets are packed with hustlers.
“Buskers”…they like to be called buskers….hustlers have a far more seedy rep…
Thank you Kathryn I was looking for the word “Busker.” I learned it from the movie “Once”, about an Irish busker — awesome movie, awesome soundtrack.
oooooh–I even have the sheet music from Once–love it!–the couple have a new album out, btw.