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Spotlight on the arts: Busking
Published
12 years agoon
By John Zirkle Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
In spring of 2007, Joshua Bell, considered by many to be one of the greatest violinists in the world, stood at the entrance of a metro station in D.C. and played for 45 minutes to passersby on their way to work. The performance was part of an experiment thought up by Gene Weingarten at the Washington Post to see how Americans respond to great artistry in unexpected venues.
A few weeks earlier, Bell played to sold-out crowds in Boston with a minimum ticket price of $100. After his performance in the metro station, Bell accumulated a whopping $32.17 in the case of his $3.5 million dollar Stradivarius violin, and out of the thousands of people that passed by that day, only a handful stopped to listen.
As it turns out, thousands of performers around the world make a living by doing exactly this. It’s called busking. There are countless ways to busk; all you need is a performance medium and a public space to perform. A percussionist can pay the rent by beating on empty buckets outside of Cubs games in Chicago. Mimes collect euros by posing as living statues on the central walking avenues in Europe, and snake charmers try to fill their baskets with rupees on the Ghats of India.
When I was living in Croatia last year, I befriended a busker who played guitar on a street corner for a couple hours each day near the main square in Zagreb. As I got to know him, I realized we were very similar in our approaches to art and performance. The only difference was that I was accustomed to performing on a stage with a paying audience, while Kris, the guitarist, sat on the ground and played for preoccupied pedestrians.
This comparison begs the question: What role does venue play in a performance? What happens when a Satanist metal band rocks out at an elementary Christian school assembly? What about a solo classical flautist playing a Bach Concerto at an L.A. Nightclub on a Friday night? Surely context matters.
There is something liberating about busking. It’s one thing to walk out on stage to an adoring audience, but it’s entirely different to put yourself out there on the street in front of a crowd who may not want to hear what you have to say, even if you are in fact the world’s greatest violinist.
Spotlight on the Arts is a reflection on the world of performing arts in both historic and contemporary contexts. To find examples of busking, keep an ear out next time you’re walking around a public place. To read the full Washington Post story on Joshua Bell, go to washingtonpost.com and search “Pearls Before Breakfast.”
The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center is scheduled to be completed by December of this year, and will feature many acts that challenge the way we see and think about performance.
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
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February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
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Verge Theater
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
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March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
29mar3:00 pm4:00 pmGood Friday Mass: St. Joseph Catholic Mission3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event City:Big Sky
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Friday of the Passion of the Lord St. Joseph Catholic Mission
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Friday of the Passion of the Lord
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
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(Friday) 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm