By ERIC BARTON
Phillip Bradley was looking for work back in January when he came across a Craigslist ad for a documentary film. The movie company filming the picture was looking for musicians willing to move to New York City and perform in subways. The idea was to see how good musicians from elsewhere would fare performing underground in the big city. Bradley figured he was a natural.
The 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Raymore didn't hear anything for months, until he got a call from Connecticut-based Cool Hand Pictures. The studio picked him as one of three musicians for the film. So a week ago, Bradley flew out to New York to begin his gig as a subway musician.
Things haven't gone well so far, Bradley tells me by phone.
"It's rough," he says. "It's a lot of work, and there's a whole lot more to it than I thought."
Bradley says he figured his days of playing in the Phillip Bradley Band, performing at the Point and the Brick, prepared him for life in the subways. But he says he's finding that most subway riders don't stick around long enough to drop a tip in his guitar case.
"Lots of people are just rushing to their train, and they have no time to stop to listen," he says.
His best take so far has been $20 — for a day's work. Mostly he ends up with about $5 for his time in the hot, dirty subway.
He did better on the day he played in Battery Park, with its view of the Statue of Liberty and ample supply of tourists. A woman from Tokyo posed with him for a photo, and a couple of dudes from Germany dropped a hefty tip in his case.
The film crew is staying through November. But Bradley isn't sure how long he can last. He's staying with a friend, but with only a few hundred in the bank, he says he's paying for expenses on credit. "I'm finding that it seems more like begging," he says. "I'm going to try to keep going, but I'm not sure how long I can last like this."
Showing 1-3 of 3
NICE DOC, ON BUSKING, PLAYING THE TUBE IN LONDON IS JUST AS HARD,BEFORE LICENSING YOU PLAYED PEOPLE ON THE TRAIN, I GESS THAT'S GONE NOW, THERE ARE DESIGNATED PITCHES NOW WHICH YOU BOOK BEFORE PLAYING,YOU DO AN AUDITION TO GET THE LICENSE BUT YOU CAN EARN AT LEAST 30 UP A DAY STILL YOU HAVE TO REALY LOVE MUSIC TO LIVE THIS LIFE "ITS NOT FOR THE FAINT HARTED" THIER ARE OTHER WAYS, GET A TRUCK LIVE IN IT AND PERMENTLY TOUR THATS THE BEST WAY FRESH AUDANCES,FRESH AIR, FRESH PLACES,AND WIDER PROMOTION,I DONT KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE PLAYING IN TOWNS OF AMERICA BUT HERE IN THE UK ITS DOABULE ITS ITS STILL POSSIBLE THE GET 50/100 A DAY SO MAY BE ITS THE SAME TRAVLIN AROUND THE STATES.
WELL GOOD LUCK TO ALL YOU BUSKERS,KEEP ROCKING IN THE FREE WORLD THE ASENDANCE.COM
ROTFLMAO!
Not sure this guy was a busker to begin with...kinda like throwing him to the wolves
Maybe he should take some advice from veteran NYC subway musicians, like the 'Saw Lady' (http://www.sawlady.com/blog ) or Key.
like
dislike
