Buskers at the Market

Buskers are a regular sight and sound at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. They are part of the character of the market and provide entertainment and atmosphere anytime the market is open. On any given day, you can hear bluegrass, folk music, classical violin, and even traditional Chinese stringed instruments intermingled with the hustle and bustle of tourists passing through, vendors advertising their goods, and the noise of traffic at 1st and Pine.

What people may not know is that all of the buskers must get permission from the market to perform at one of several designated locations. These are not just random street performers dropping in with their instruments whenever they like. They register with the market and sign up for a time and date at a specific spot. Arguably the best location is under the market sign in front of the fish throwing stand at the end of Pine. Nearly all of the market traffic flows through this area and everyone is guaranteed to see and hear musicians performing on this spot.

As one might imagine, busking is not a lucrative endeavor. All of the performers depend entirely on the generosity of anyone passing by to leave a tip or purchase their CDs. Some buskers have more polished presentations with make-shift point-of-purchase displays showing off business cards, CDs for sale, and flyers for their next show. Others simply leave their guitar cases open with a few dollar bills dropped in as starters.

I’ve been visiting Pike Place Market for over 10 years now, and I’ve come to recognize many of the regular buskers. These guys work hard and are committed to performing several times a week for a relatively small amount of money. They are out there rain or shine, all year long, showing off their passion for their music and doing it with smiles on their faces. When I photograph them, I always drop a couple of bucks in their tip jars. It’s the least I can do.