New England has been experiencing record setting weather this March, inducing early onset Spring fever in college students. With the warm weather, it is increasingly tempting to spend money on spring activities. But how can students spend money they don’t have?
The answer is not far away. Busking, or street performance, is a great way to make yourself known, get to know downtown, and best of all, make money. Most assume busking is limited to playing music, however performers can show off a variety of skills. According to the City of Lowell’s Street Performer Guidelines, performing “includes, but is not limited to…acting, singing, playing musical instruments, pantomime, juggling, magic, dancing, reading, puppetry, the creation of art, and reciting.” Six busking signs are dispersed throughout downtown Lowell and are open for business from noon to 10 p.m. The locations of these stops can be found at lowell.org.
Michael Calamonici, musician and UMass Lowell student, performed at a busking stop on Merrimack Street. Within seconds of playing, a man walked by, tipping his hat and dropping 80 cents into Mike’s guitar case. It was his first time busking in Lowell and plans to do more as the temperature increases.
Of course, there are more advantages to busking than making a few bucks. Busking is great for anyone trying to polish their skills. Since people are simply walking by, the environment is great for beginning performers who might feel intimidated in front of a larger crowd. Experienced performers, on the other hand, enjoy the challenge of trying to gain a crowd of curious passers-by. Neil Kelley, also a musician and UMass Lowell student, says that, “busking gives local musicians an outlet to perform live and in front of people, which is especially good for musicians who want to get used to playing around people, and it lets pedestrians get a glimpse of the local music scene and a chance to support the musician.”
With Lowell’s rich music and art scene, busking allows both performers and listeners to experience Lowell in a new and involved way. An informal setting is created where both parties can interact, sharing the sidewalk. The listener can watch the actual process painters go through when capturing the famous Lowell factories, or musicians as they crank out the right chords to a melody in their heads. As a result, the atmosphere becomes rich with creativity, inspiration, and human interaction–just from someone at a street corner doing what they do best.
No matter your medium for creativity, you can take part in Lowell’s art scene. Make the sidewalk your stage and go busking!
