Chasing Dreamers in the Subway

6:30 AM Elizabeth Seckman 27 Comments

Thanks Janie Junebug for  sharing a video of Alanis Morset busking on the New York City subway. Because of that share, I went down the YouTube rabbit hole and watched all the incognito busks by celebrity singers.
My friends and I in the train station
Until today, I didn't know ad hoc subway singing was called busking. I always called them subway troubadours. As a fellow struggling artist looking to gain an audience, I always feel a certain kinship with them. They are dreamers, bringing their talent directly to the people, much like indie writers in the book world.
When we cross paths, I try to toss some money in whatever form of hat they're passing. During a visit to the city with some friends, I was totally out of dollars after getting hit hard by panhandlers on the street. So, when we encountered some singers in the subway doing a smashing rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" I had nothing left but the change in my purse and credit cards.
Not wanting to be THAT person who walks by an artist peddling their wares without so much as taking a business card, I dumped the change from my purse into the hat (they had a for-real hat). As they moved on, I realized, I'd just tossed my wedding rings into the kitty. Fully panicked, I had to chase after them, interrupting their song to get my rings back.
My friends- those dear sweet women who always have my back- laughed their asses off. They said it looked like I was begging from the beggars digging through the money they'd collected. Good news is I got my rings back.

Bad news is I've now outed myself to my husband whose biggest worry when I travel cities with my friends is that my interaction with street artists and homeless people will end up with me getting mugged. But he should know, they were very kind people who paused their spontaneous show to help his idiot wife dig through the dollars and cents to get her valuables back.

Too bad U2 in disguise wasn't the band I needed to chase down that day. My friends wouldn't have laughed then. They'd been too jealous.


Being gals from the 80's, U2's Joshua Tree made our cinder block dorm walls something to stare at.


Book Update:
I'd hoped to have Second Chances, renamed About Us, a Second Chance Story ready to share by Christmas. Well, that isn't going to happen. It's not for lack of trying. It's because I don't want to hit publish until I feel like it's a story ready to take up a reader's time. It will be a free eBook and even though no one could say it's a waste of money, time can be just as valuable.

27 comments:

  1. Your rings were with your change? Playing single that day?
    I didn't know it was busking either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. No, I don't sleep in them and they were still in my change purse from the night before.

      Delete
    2. My exact thoughts also Alex. I’ll let you know why when I interigate the perpetrator.

      Delete
    3. There's no perp when it's an honest mistake. LOL

      Delete
  2. I too was absolutely clueless that subway singing had a name. Busking seems way more fun than planking, owling, and now picnic tabling... lol

    ReplyDelete
  3. lmao why were they off your finger? Are you trying to play the NY market? Geez, begging the beggars, way to go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You and Alex! Geez, don't you guys know most men don't care if you're wearing rings or not? I think the obligation to remove rings is a guy thing.
      I take mine off at night, stuck them in my purse so I didn't lose them in the hotel, and forgot they were in there.

      Delete
  4. LOL! I can see me doing that. Although I always wear them in public and just take them off at home.

    And yes, I would love to see U2 busking in a subway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were running late theta morning and I totally forgot to put them back on. All the men (ahem) seem to see nefarious purposes for going ringless. LOL

      Delete
  5. I only put my rings on when I leave the house. Hate getting them mucked up with daily chores, chemicals, etc. Picturing that journey was fun, a skit for Dick Van Dyke! Only in that one Laura would run into U2. :) Yeah, I still watch the old black and white episodes.

    Have a lovely Christmas and wonderful New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It could have been a skit, for sure. I wasn't born a graceful human being, so imagine an awkward fool on the subway.

      Delete
  6. I'm the same, take my rings off at home, particularly when cooking.

    You are going to be offering your book for free, it is much too good a book for that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My fingers swell when I sleep, so I rarely wear them to bed.

      I'm glad you think it's that good. It was written to be given away- a sort of promo book. I'll sell the paperback version.

      Delete
  7. Man, I would've been in full panic mode had that happen to my rings! After reading the comments, I feel like the odd girl out, since I pretty much never take them off. I just had to pause to test that I could actually remove it from my finger. (I can.)

    I didn't know the singing was called busking. I wonder where that term originated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always have my wedding band on, but it doesn't have diamonds. I lost a diamond once scrubbing walls and have never worked in them since. Then when I was pregnant, my fingers would swell and I had one turn my finger blue. I quit wearing them at night after that.

      I have no idea where the term came from.

      Delete
  8. No idea. I could do a google check on the etymology.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment over on my blog! A thought came to me when you talked about busking ... how would it be like to set up a makeshift stand to sell your books by dressing up like one of our characters while reading out loud? Good idea, right? xD

    ♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is a great idea, especially if you're outgoing. I'd have stage fright. I could never be a performer. I admire people who step out of their comfort zones.

      Delete
  10. Just stopped by to say Happy Holidays:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy holidays to you, too. I hope you're feeling better!

      Delete
  11. Good to know (but not surprising) that you can't resist tossing a little bit of cash at all the panhandlers. :)

    Me? I don't have to worry about losing my rings. They never leave my finger... then again, I dunno if I can even get them OFF!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That was my problem. I had one almost need cutting off. Now, I'm a scaredy cat. I do have a simple wedding band that never comes off. (I suppose I shoulda mentioned that in the post for all the wonderers, LOL)

      Delete
  12. They were showing a clip of the crowd singing one of Mariah Carey's songs in the subway on the news. I thought of you.
    It seems like there is ALWAYS something that needs reworked or changed when the story is 'finished'. Let me know when it's time to get the word out, etc.
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...