The Ethics of Busking

Busking was recently the subject of an entry in "The Ethicist" column in the New York Times Magazine.

Someone wrote in to say that an acquaintance, who was financially quite comfortable, also played violin and would frequently play in a public space with a tip jar in front of him to collect tips from passers-by. He questioned the ethics of this.

Chuck Klosterman, the ethicist, replied that the questioner was having a problem with this because of his view of what the violinist was doing. He was seeing the violinist as collecting tips from people who may be far less wealthy that he is, whereas the violinist see his actions as a performance of possible value to the passers-by.

He concludes: "He's creating art for public consumption; he is, by the strictest definition of the term, a professional musician. While not charging for his work, he's still saying, 'I believe my music has value - and if you agree, pay me whatever amount you think is justified.' "

That less wealthy people choose to give him money is irrelevant.

Citation: KLOSTERMAN, CHUCK. New York Times Magazine, 10/21/2012, p19

Night Kitchen - Primordial, Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Saturday, October 13, 2012
Performing my song "Small Animals," renamed "Primordial Mammals" for this performance. Still trying to figure out what kind of animal this is. There are a lot of theories.

With Rob Woodley and Liam Potter at the Night Kitchen - Primordial

Rob Woodley sings "Ain't Got Nothin' to Sing the Blues About Blues" at the Night Kitchen at the Whittle Theatre in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. I accompany on harp and Liam Potter lays down a great solo.

Elgie's Kitchen at Spread Bagelry

Elgie's Kitchen entertains the throngs outside of the Spread Bagelry. It was a very warm Philadelphia morning with humidity rising, trash trucks grinding, buses roaring by, and lots of very nice people. Why do we do this? We just love playing together.
Check out "The Spread" at: www.spreadbagelry.com/

I was busking yesterday in Suburban Station. I've had non-currency items tossed in my tip hat in the past: a banana, a piece of fried chicken  (in a box fortunately), and, of course, religious tracts. But when a woman approached shaking a small blue plastic box (to show that there was money inside?) I was curious. I discovered its contents later: $1.14 in change (including 64 pennies), two unmatched earrings, and a white pill. The pill, I've discovered by searching on the Web, is a pain killer drug. And some people think it is weird to be playing for tips in an underground train station.

New "Director's Cut" version of the Silver City Blues video by Peter Knuppel.

Silver City Blues

This will be a great concert!

Elgie's Kitchen Plays Walk a Crooked Mile Bookstore

April 27, 2012.

   Some may have thought it was early for an outdoor concert but the preceding weeks had temperatures up in the 80 degree level.

   Thank you Climate Change which, depending on your point of view, is caused by burning fossil fuels, or simply, not the result of anything humanoids are doing.

   Elgie's Kitchen has songs about all of this. The songs have titles like "New Revolution," "Tribute," and "The Memory Goes First." But none of these directly address Climate Change. We are just jammin' and having fun at 50 degrees with a stiff wind. At least it wasn't raining.

Photo by Greg who walks many a crooked mile to make this bookstore an essential part of the Mount Airy Community. Check out their website at: WalkaCrookedMileBooks.com  and then visit this amazing bookstore at the Mount Airy Train Station.

Dasiwa Café April 15, 2012

After solo sets, Huey West (banjo) and I jam with the show's organizer, David Richenbacher, on a couple of tunes.

"Rolita's Café" performed at a PASA House Concert

On February 18, 2012 I played a house concert hosted by the Philadelphia Area Songwriters Alliance. This video of "Rolita's Café" is from that evening. It is a long ballad, over six minutes, but I believe the ending makes it worth the ride.

"I'm Still Here" -- New Music Video

My good friend Peter came by and put together this video for my new song "I'm Still Here." It is filmed partly in Penn Center train station where I have been busking for the past couple of years.

Click here to view the video.

Elgie's Kitchen at Crossroads - March 2, 2012

Once again we joined Saint Mad for a fun evening of music at Crossroads Coffeehouse. 

Saint Mad playing to a full house.

Elgie's Kitchen at Crossroads in 2011.

Elgie's Kitchen at Dasiwa - February 19, 2012

Our second trip to this fine little sushi restaurant and coffeehouse. Check out Dasiwa's video:

I Was Occupied....

While I was busking (street performing) in the Penn Center train station today suddenly a group from Occupy Philadelphia gathered at the height of rush hour and began (in their  call-and-response style) to educate commuters on the National Defense Authorization Act.

To quote from their handout, provisions in this Act grant…"the US military the unchecked power to arrest, detain, interrogate, and even assassinate US citizens with impunity….The passage of this law is nothing less than the outright declaration of war against the American people by the military connected power elite in America."

I was glad someone was bringing this to my attention.

Occupy Philadelphia