What Motivates the Subway Performers?
A Sneak Peek into New York’s Underground Busking Scene
Down in the 14th Street Union Square subway station, music is often heard echoing throughout the corridors. Follow the sounds to find its source: an electric guitarist playing Bob Marley, a break dancing group gathering a small crowd, or a saxophonist keeping L-train commuters entertained.
New York City attracts performers from all over the world who can be found busking in busy subway stations or spacious parks. For many of them, earning tips is just one of the many perks of performing in public.
At Union Square station, Raiders of Concrete (R.O.C.) is a break-dancing group that performs there three times a week. Twenty-two-year-old Carolynn Clarke, also known by her dancing name, Jelanii, is the group’s leader. “[Busking] makes me a better performer,” she said. “I want to make this a stable job, entertain people, and keep people educated about the old and new styles [of dance] that exists. I want to promote a freestyle atmosphere where anyone can dance.”
Maya, 30, is another member of R.O.C. Originally from Japan, she moved to New York for school. “I want to become a great dancer and make money doing it,” she said. “I couldn’t speak English well when I met [the other dancers] but they let me join and get in the crew.” Maya tries to dance with the group as often as possible at Union Square. “They inspire me and I have a lot of fun,” she said. “I learn from them a lot.”
Singer and guitarist Stason Bobo, 25, met his current manager while performing on the train. He said that while getting tips is nice, he mainly busks for networking. “I meet everyone on the train,” he said. “It’s a good place to build a clientele.” While performing on the train, Bobo accepts tips but mainly encourages his audience to follow him on social media.
Although most buskers perform out of their passion for the arts, Bobo believes that many have a different agenda. “Some buskers only care about the money,” he said.
James Metalarc, an electric guitarist who has been busking for eight years, agrees. “People can tell if you’re here for the money or if you’re here to make people happy,” he said. “[Busking] is a way of taking musical performance and making it real life.”
While most buskers perform part-time for extra cash, some New Yorkers, like 22-year-old Malcolm Kemp, rely on busking for their main source of income. “I’m always wondering how I am making a living doing this,” he said. Even though the tips are important to him, that doesn’t stop him from loving his work. “Music without passion is a nightmare,” he said. “Here I can stop and talk to people. I love it.” Kemp is a saxophonist who usually plays in the Atlantic Avenue station in Brooklyn. He started busking in tenth grade as a hobby.
Back in Union Square station, Henry Young plays his saxophone for commuters waiting for the L-train. Young is a full-time musician who has 10 years of busking experience. Nowadays he performs in the station whenever he has the chance. “It’s a wonderful network in the right neighborhood and environment,” he said. “I can test out new music to see what people like.”
Young spends most of his time performing gigs at other venues but he can always rely on a job busking. “You can come when you wanna come, leave when you wanna leave, and play when you wanna play,” he said. “It’s always good coming back to the subway.”
The BUSK Stop: NYC provides a sneak peek into New York City’s vibrant busking scene. Fostering communication, collaboration, and networking.
