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Didn't know this was a thing until I saw this thread. Spotted two electric violinist set up in shopping center parking lots during the pandemic and thought that was unusual, but these are unusual times. I was looking so close to see how they were powering their amp that I didn't notice if they were miming on violin. Haven't seen them since. Maybe they couldn't compete with the cheap 'n easy "God Bless" cardboard sign folks that already staked out all the best intersections.
I have not run across any fake street musicians. My daily life does not have me running across many street performers in general. Me and a buddy use to busk for beer money. We were upfront about it "playing for drinking money" was on our sign in some form or another.
One time I did see a bar band that just the keyboardist and drummer were the only ones actually playing. It was like a 5 piece or larger stage show. It did not take long for my eyes and ears to figure out none of the guitars or bass were actually playing.
One time I did see a bar band that just the keyboardist and drummer were the only ones actually playing. It was like a 5 piece or larger stage show. It did not take long for my eyes and ears to figure out none of the guitars or bass were actually playing.
I thinks he’s from Saginaw originally. The city might have run him out of town.
One of his songs, “let it all hang out…don’t let it get cold”.
It should be easy enough to tell, even pro violinists are going to have some intonation issues playing outdoors to a recording.
Surely there is some difference to sync-ing to a track of music you yourself played and recorded, as opposed to just doing it to a recording of someone else?
The very difference between the Chili Peppers and Milli Vanilli.
The greatest street performer I ever saw was a guy in San Francisco who would sit on a milk crate and "hide" behind several large leafy branches. He would sit still, and most passers-by would not even notice the "bush." Every minute or two the guy would shake the branches, or part them and stick his face out and say "boo!" to some unsuspecting pedestrian. It was pee-your-pants funny to see people jump out of their skins, and after a while a crowd would gather at a distance and watch others walk by and get startled. Art? Nah. A talent? Arguable. But completely hilarious and entertaining.
Nobody forces you to throw money in a busker's basket. If someone wants to fake it, so what? Shame on him, and shame on the suckers who can't tell the difference between "live or Memorex."
Nobody forces you to throw money in a busker's basket. If someone wants to fake it, so what? Shame on him, and shame on the suckers who can't tell the difference between "live or Memorex."
No way is that a scam. I've seen those magic statues too, and I just hope that witch that put them under the spell will come back to lift the curse.
maybe faking the accordion pays better than actually playing it, kind of like harmonica or banjo.
I have seen the electric violin in San Antonio. I wasn't close enough to hear the music. Then again I saw a guy playing bongos to a backing track in New Orleans who was definitely faking.
I’m in NE Texas and they have made their way through here several times. The last one I saw was a mom holding a sign and a boy about 8 years old wiggling a bow across a violin to a recorded track.
Um…‘fraid not.
At some levels of showmanship maybe pretending and posturing are the norm. But there’s absolutely no musicianship involved in either lip synching or air guitar.
Even a mediocre karaoke singer displays more musicianship than either of those.
I don’t recall hearing anyone anywhere who ever said that. So I’m going to have call that out for the straw man argument it is. And also for introducing the red herring “elitist” when it has nothing to do with anything.
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The way I look at it, the person is out there, and making entertaining (hopefully) sounds. I think it is better than the guy with the cardboard sign doing nothing. Yeah it is deceptive, but there's lots of deception out there.
...but I don't give either one money.
...but I don't give either one money.
Yeah, I ran into one here in upstate NY. I played violin professionally for years and was going to pass him a good wad. As I got closer I saw what was going on. I just shook my head and made sure he saw me pocket the cash before walking away.
Shameful. It takes a lot of work to get your skill level high enough to perform, and even more work to be taken seriously as an artist. Making a living doing gigs and studio work takes so much discipline, running to get the work and compete with other hungry players. It’s a mockery.
Shameful. It takes a lot of work to get your skill level high enough to perform, and even more work to be taken seriously as an artist. Making a living doing gigs and studio work takes so much discipline, running to get the work and compete with other hungry players. It’s a mockery.
I saw this in Oregon on two separate occasions in the last 6 months. Loud as hell. Weird versions of Despacito and other pop tunes.
I saw this outside of a bank near my house about two months ago. At first I thought that the guy was very talented and thought to walk over and slide him a few bucks...that's when it caught my eye...the cat was not playing...while the bow was moving, his fingers were not.
I can appreciate the Busker...the person sharing his or her talent with those walking by...giving folks a bit of joy even if only for a minute or two. However, the "fake" Busker I have no patience for. Now, technically the term "busker" is a person who performs music or other entertainment in the street or another public place for monetary donations. Ok...the person playing the fake violin music could still be classified as a performer, but here's the thing...we can tell when someone is acting out a scene from a play, movie, whatever...if the violinist came out and clearly said that they are "performing" violin versus "playing" violin, I'm down. It's the lie that doesn't sit well with me.
I can appreciate the Busker...the person sharing his or her talent with those walking by...giving folks a bit of joy even if only for a minute or two. However, the "fake" Busker I have no patience for. Now, technically the term "busker" is a person who performs music or other entertainment in the street or another public place for monetary donations. Ok...the person playing the fake violin music could still be classified as a performer, but here's the thing...we can tell when someone is acting out a scene from a play, movie, whatever...if the violinist came out and clearly said that they are "performing" violin versus "playing" violin, I'm down. It's the lie that doesn't sit well with me.
