"You're better than Knopfler!" Rare praise from audience gets me through the busking day 9/10/19
339,987
Published 2021-01-11
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1) Street playing is not all fun and games and dancing kids. Doing this for 7 years. I regularly face not only verbal abuse, but physical assault as I work a few blocks from downtown eastside Vancouver. I'm surrounded by addicts, drunks, and people who should be in mental homes.
2) I'm unemployed. All live music including busking, is banned. I lost all work last year and received ZERO compensation. I had a very bad year in 2020 and only recently came out of a depression.
3) I make ZERO from youtube no matter how many views I get. I was demonetized by Google years ago as part of their culling of small accounts. Class action lawsuit was initiated. I don't run ads. And more importantly, even if I did, most of my videos are instantly copyrighted and auto monetized by record labels because they are COVERS. If you see an ad, it's the record label collecting. If you liked the performance, please think about supporting me on patreon/paypal tip/bandcamp.
4) I'm a musician that writes his own music for 20 years. Check out my bandcamp page to see what I can really do with a guitar. 500 albums of original instrumentals.
5) It's a lot of unpaid work to post these videos all the time so please try to help me keep the channel going. Many thanks to those that have supported me! It means a lot!
6) I get asked this 100 times a day so here's the answer: I play on the street and not in a band because all the clubs closed years ago. I used to lead many bands from 2006 to 2018. That's all gone. It's also a lot more hassle, and less money, to run a band than play by myself.
7) I get asked this 100 times a day. "Why don't you try a better spot?" THIS is the best spot. How do I know? I've tried all of them. This spot is even better than Granville Island which is all tourists. Vancouver does not have many spots to play. Maybe 3-4 downtown. I have to go where traffic is heaviest or you make no money. Playing on beaches and parks or near homes, condos, apt buildings, is forbidden. This is the main transit hub of trains/seabus and also walkway for the convention centre as well as heavily touristed gastown.
All Comments (21)
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I can listen to this all day long. Seriously.
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I’m amazed you don’t have 50-100 people standing and listening. This is fantastic
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This video is like a short documentary of how much modern society lost appreciation of good live music.
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Man he Got the Lead, Rythym AND Vocals in AND was ablé to improvisé over the top of it all, and I've been listening to this song sincé 1978, ¡¡¡¡¡¡ Wow
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I am 70 yrs old and I've now watched all of your videos at least once, subscribed, and am mesmerized by your unbelievable talent!! All my favorites from back in the day. In most of them, only a couple of people actually stop to listen or drop some coins. Most are oblivious to the entertainment you are providing them. How anyone can walk right by unfazed is mind-boggling. Thinking of moving to Vancouver so I can set up a lawn chair and listen (and tip) all day!! MAXIMUM RESPECT TO YOU, SIR!!!
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How can people just walk by like this masterpiece is given to them for free.
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Dude at 1:38 was like something touched my soul, he had to stop in disbelief! Great job
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Fact: No one can be better than Mark Knopfler. But you, you absolutely are awesome
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The skilled required to play at this elite level is astounding. You've honed your talents and gifts, so admirable.
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Beautiful,such talent,people just don't understand how much goes into playing a guitar that well👏👏👏👏
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Us musicians know most people would not recognize great musical performance from a blender in operation ... Luckily, there are those few old souls that occasionally make our life a little better by acknowledging our existence and our honed talents. Masterful command and playing, maestro.
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Our society is turning into robots. Hard to believe so many people don't stop and smell the roses. That is the best guitar I've ever heard. Rock on brother!!!
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Just beautiful - love the finger picking!
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All those people walking past is a disgrace. Wouldn't happen in England that. You are a genius by the way.
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Reminds me a little of a story that Chet Atkins used to tell. He was on cruise ship sitting on the deck playing his guitar. A man came along and listened to him for awhile and then stated,, 'You're pretty good, but you're no Chet Atkins".
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You re very very musically...😯. I love Mark Knopfler and you are perfect!!!! Thank for your music , for your guitar and for your force!!!!
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ive seen and heard many great guitarists in the last 60 yrs but he is up there with my all time fav....Roy Buchanan
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Damn it's like he knows all the chords
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Beautiful playing , my brother ...from a fellow musician /piano player ...65 years in this earth ...seeing you play out there and most people walking by oblivious and unappreciative reminds me so much of the Joni Mitchell song “Playin’ real good for free”. —keep up the great work -Kudos !
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I sure do miss the talented musicians of the 60’s and 70’s. You remind me that there is creative talent here today. Well done.
