Welcome to Brian's Labyrinth Journal
TO FIND YOU: Lyrics - Judith Franklin, Music - Brian Pearce.
Performed by BRIM: B.Pearce/M.Smith
I spent a long time searching in the Summer of my youth
looking for reality and longing for the truth
Wasting endless energy
I often ran aground
against the sandbanks of mistakes
and obstacles I'd found
But of everything I know today
One thing I know is true
I had to lose myself
to find you
Still can't quite believe the way my fortune has turned good
I've been so very bad myself
I don't see why it should
If this is love
I hope that love will unpack its bags and stay
and nothing unforeseen will come
to frighten it away
Back then, the path was stony
but now I think it through
I had to lose myself
to find you.
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LABYRINTH
BUSKER
JOURNAL-
Brian
Robert
Pearce
Welcome to
www.buskersongs.com
Jim Druid interviews Brian:
WHAT YEAR DID YOU START BUSKING?
First tried anonymously with a mate down in Brixham, Devon (while on holiday) as a fun try-out.It was in the eighties.We earnt £6... enough to buy a meal each in a
cheap restaurant. There was a serious busker named Pete (ex-army and from the North East) staying at the same place as us. He could earn £30 in that time it took
us to £6. It left us a shade embarrassed and in awe of Pete, who also held down a regular gig with his duo partner at a local pub. His set was fantastic and
inspirational. He was a strong influence on my following musical direction. But I didn't start serious busking until 1994.
WHY DID YOU START SERIOUS BUSKING?
For details, see The Green Busker . I had lost everything except my belief in my musical creativity. I believed my duo with my friend was potentially special. I was totally ill-equipped to take on the task of serious busker, but I learnt because I had to. I had an idea that, sooner or
later, someone would hear one of my songs and offer to make it commercially successful. It was a mistaken idea.
WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST PITCH?
My first pitch as a serious busker was with Mike in Bruges... see The Green Busker 2.
HOW MUCH DID YOU MAKE?
Close to zero.
HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?
Close to zero.
WHAT'S THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU THROUGH BUSKING?
I got a life. I saw life. I discovered that you have to need people to truly experience life.
WHAT'S THE WORST?
There is no worst. There is only another experience.
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION OF THE PUNTERS?
There is such things as the hysterical mood of the moment (or day). My sort of busking relied heavily on soul connection. So I could often see the soul behind the
person. I think the biggest joy is the excitement on the faces of children who take to your show. The saddest is the pinch-faced, soul shriven people who glare
suspiciously at you as they pass by, or the children who sorrowfully restrain their excitement as they face the conflict between this and their anti-busker parents.
WHAT, DO YOU FEEL, IS THEIR OPINION OF YOU?
That is the curious thing about buskers. We tend to think punters spend eons of time forming an opinion of us. Most will see and hear us and think, "Yes," or "No," -
and that is an end to it. Unless they regularly pass you by they will have little extension on that original thought. But there are some who will experience a moment that
will empower them to remember you with fondness for the rest of their lives. In this way, a busker can make a significant difference to other people's lives, even
though they are oblivious to the occasion's significance themselves.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PITCH, ANYWHERE, EVER? AND WHY?
The Cathedral pitch at Antwerp, late night on a Friday or Saturday. On the right days and mood it can be exhilerating. My guitar playing speed would accelerate and
my fingers would work overtime to maintain sharpness. My voice could stretch itself as much as able.Groups of people would respond in extremely positive,
buoyant ways - and sometimes they would collectively sing with me. I would often end a pitch buzzing with energy. Once the money side seems to have sorted itself
I would feel as free as a bird to play and sing what I want. This could also apply to mellow evenings (like Sunday), when couples are promenading after romantic
meals in restaurants. I am well suited to melancholic, romantic pitches. I can change my mood according to my perception of audience taste.
WORST EXPERIENCE WITH THE COPS?
During the anti-busking purge in Antwerp...see Things we must do 9. I desperately needed money, but I was stopped at the Meir, Cathedral, Hoogstraat and the
subway during a month long period. It made for a tricky period.
BEST EXPERIENCE WITH THE COPS?
I was busking the Cathedral late night (during the anti-busking purge mentioned above). A police van pulled up. Instantly, I stopped playing and began to put my
guitar away (expecting the usual). But the cop said, "No! We want you to play us a song!" So I played them a song. They thanked me... and drove off.
BEST BUSKER YOU EVER SAW OR MET?
Stormy Norman.
WORST BUSKER?
A poor wino beggar, who had been encouraged to play a guitar and 'busk'. He sat against a wall, mumbling something while playing a guitar missing a couple of
strings. It was in the afternoon in Antwerp. Vera Llyn was due to sing in the Grote Markt that evening as a celebration of the liberation of Antwerp 50 years on (or
something). Jake, another beggar, was purportedly 'bottling' for the act, but instead he equally sat against the wall and thoroughly amused me by saying, "Come on,
folks! Vera doesn't start until nine. So why not come and listen to this crap.!" Oblivious to it all, the wino droned on.
IF YOU LOST EVERYTHING TOMORROW, WHERE WOULD YOU HEAD FOR? AND WHY?
Antwerp, because it is my adopted home town. I have friends there who would pro-actively aid me. It is the only place in the world where I could patrol my haunts
and meet many friends incidentally. Second choice would be Bern, because patience can built wonderful experience there.
IF YOU WON $40,000,000 TOMORROW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Explore my creativity in full and help the creative talent of all those I know (or come across) who need money to get the tools to realise their talent. I would be
attracted to the idea of seeking special people by posing as a relatively penniless busker. When I discover a 'worthy' I would arrange, anonymously, their funding
through an 'organisation' or 'business' I have set up. That way I can continue the busker pose. In between, of course, I would experience the rich life a bit. I would
also buy properties where artistic communes can flourish.
IF THE UN APPOINTED YOU COMMISSIONER FOR BUSKING, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST LAW YOU'D ENACT?
I wouldn't enact any laws.
WHAT BUSKING ACHIEVEMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? AND WHY?
That 70% (approx) of the songs I perform while busking are self-penned is one thing - and the building of the Tightrope Play project with Ken Post is the other
thing, because it was a play about buskers and their freedom to be buskers. But the most towering achievements within the soul must stand above all else. There is
also the writing of my journal.. I'm proud of the people I met who grew special to me. I'm proud of Antwerp and Bern, where I could feel I was 'home'.
YOUR THOUGHTS ON BEGGARS?
Don't like them, personally. I've been penniless in around twenty different cities and towns in Europe, but I never even considered resorting to begging. My only
thoughts were on how to busk my way out of trouble. Of course, people who care for you would offer aid, but that is entirely different from sitting pathetically on a
street saying, "I have got nothing to offer. I can't help myself. So just give me money". People who may genuinely need the aid begging would bring are brushed aside
by yuppies with blankets round their shoulders, who sit close by ATMs, or gypsies who 'pass the baby' etc... Yes, I've seen them all...and where beggars proliferate,
buskers suffer... because their pitches are often taken by this ilk, or their proximity destroys ambience and the take of the busker. Buskers generally have a limited
ammount of energy to perform at their best. An hour or two at a time. A beggar can sit there all day... and they usually earn more through this. Busking and begging
are two entirely different things.
USE OF BACKING TRACKS/KARIOKE, IN BUSKING?
Hate it.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD BUSKER?
Someone who can create an ambience that fits with the mood of the souls around him.
LABYRINTH BUSKER JOURNAL - BRIAN ROBERT PEARCE
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