It's All Connected

What Becomes Of The 94 Dollar Tip

"Don't F*** Me!!"

When we last left Daniel, he had just gotten a 94 dollar tip from a guy who came across as his "Cousin Vinnie," who described the tip as an investment which he was making in Daniels music, and made it clear to him that, although he was a very nice guy; nobody f*** him over without "repercussions."
Understanding the mans concerns, Daniel continued to play, after the man walked off.
Part of him was thinking that it would not look good to Vinnie, if he were to pack up right away and leave the spot (can't wait to hit that crack pipe...) and another part was actually in the mood to play more music.
Axiom In Action
Daniel had been making a concerted effort to improve his playing technique over the past month or so; which involved his going back to the basics of practicing scales and arpeggios...in keeping with his Buskers Axiom #1:

"Seek ye first to sound good; and all other things will be added unto you."

He played with an ease which sprung from the knowledge that he now had a nice hat; was looking forward to getting amplified; and had enough money in his pocket to alleviate his concern over weather or not the tourists were going to throw him anything.
As a result, he switched to some music which he hadn't done in a while; and wound up stuffing some more bills to the ones in his pocket.
A Stripper Shows Herself
Before going to the Bourbon Street spot, Daniel was walking down Royal Street and was mildly surprised to see that the Christina and Brian Duo was not on the corner of Saint Louis Street.
Seeing that the business was still open, there wouldn't be anyone playing right in the doorway, but it wouldn't be unusual to see someone off to the side a bit; playing there and waiting to move into the doorway later.
He sat down and took the spot; hat on head and pretty much flat broke (this was a prelude to the 94 dollar tip).

"Play Some Dylan!!"

A young lady approach and, kneeling down next to Daniel, said: "Play something awesome! Play some Bob Dylan!"
She showed Daniel what she was carrying in a paper bag.
"I got these as a gift from work..."
And then ministered to Daniels perplexion, which must have showed on his face, by enlightening him with the addition of "They're dildos."
Daniel thought that they looked pretty space aged.
"...Babe, You're Bound To Fall..."
Daniel played "Like A Rolling Stone," by Bob Dylan, and the young ladys face lit up and she sang along.
After every other verse or so, Daniel felt compelled to stop and to explain the meaning to the girl.
In the back of his mind, he was forming an opinion that the girl might be living the part of the girl in the song who ...Once upon a time, looked so fine, threw the bums a dime (hey, that's Daniel in this instance!) in her prime...
The girl seemed eager to learn the undercurrents of meaning in the song.
It was Daniels way of being "fatherly" (since he was easily twice the girls age) and cautioning her through the song and its moral about what can happen to a girl that looks fine and is in her prime; but then falls.
She was soon on her way, after stuffing a wad of singles into Daniels backpack; (Daniel thought he counted 8 of them, but wasn't sure; having mixed them with other bills which were forthcoming) but not before ruminating out loud that she had always thought "Napolean in rags" (from the song) was a heroin dealer.
"No, he's actually a pimp, dear (hence the off color "language" that he used)."
Daniel thanked her; and recieved the answer "I strip for a living," to his inquiry as to exactly where on Bourbon Street she worked that gave employees dildos as gifts.
Baby Sitting
Then, enriched by what was probably 8 dollars, Daniel continued to play; and was hopeful that he was playing well at the time when up rode Christina Friis on a bicycle.
There was a look of innocent curiosity on her face, as if she wanted to ask a question but wanted to phrase it delicately. ....Umm, are you taking this spot for the night...If so, it's OK....
There was no vibe which Daniel could feel, which would make him think she was about to say something like: "What's the big idea; you know we like to play here; and it's a Friday night; and you yourself said you don't like to play Royal Street because you're not loud enough; I thought we were friends!" like similar exchanges that Daniel had heard exchanged between other famous street performers, whom will not be mentioned here.
This led Daniel to an interesting observation about about people in general, and Christina in particular.

"There are people who act very nicely towards others; despite the malicious thoughts that they are keeping at bay; and there are other people who act very nicely towards others; because of the nice thoughts that they have... "  -Daniel

Daniel concluded that Christina is the later, as is Brian to an extent; and that would probably the best way to explain the charisma which she and their group exudes...and what comes through in their music (and; because of the theme of this blog; it must be noted -in their tip basket, too).
It seemed like she might have been wanting the spot but was trying to find the right way to ask ("How long are you gonna be here?"?).
Daniels dual purpose in sitting there was to see if he could make any money there (with the addition of the hat) and to hold the spot for them, should they just be running late.
So, before Christina opened her mouth, he said: "I'm holding the spot," meaning, for them; but a little ambiguous.
I slight look of concern creased her brow. "You're holding it for somebody?"
"For you guys, if you showed up; I figured you might be running late; I was surprised not to see you here on a Friday night..."
She rode off to retrieve Brian; and they were soon setting their stage up; while Daniel continued to play; and in doing so; demonstrated to them how a guy playing unplugged on Royal Street struggles to make a dime (unless he catches a stripper at the right moment).
The duo threw Daniel 3 dollars after he finished one of his songs; Daniel thinks it may have been one of his originals; but he can't remember now....he thought that it was a nice way of saying "One from each of us; plus two halves that we glued together into a third..." Daniels mind often works that way.
Then, before he left, Brian handed him two more 5 dollar bills, saying "Thanks for spot holding."
Thus, after going from rags to 21 dollars, Daniel made his way towards his rendezvous with the 94 dollar tip; by way of Rouses Market, where he treated himself to a 24 oz. Strawberry Lime-A-Rita.*
*This is the same beverage which had had spent 45 days in the East Baton Rouge Prison for just admitting to the police that he had indeed drunk. He figured that the drink owed him...
Post Tip Stress Syndrome
It was with pockets stuffed with about $135 that Daniel finally left the Bourbon Street spot, 45 minutes past curfew time; and meandered towards Rouses Market, where he ran into Tanya and Dorise, who were packing up for the night.
"This guy came and gave me a big tip, but he warned me that if he walked up on me and I still had the same equipment, he was going to hit me in the face. And, 'it won't be pretty' he said." I said to Dorise.
Tanya was nearby, rolling up a cable, and at the words "hit me in the face," she looked up, and asked "What happened?"
Daniel repeated what he had told Dorise.
"I need to get like amplified or something..." he added.
"How much did he give you," asked Tanya.
"It was actually 94 bucks."
"So, basically a hundred dollar tip..." she mused, with no trace of amazement in her voice ...we get them all the time...
"Yeah."
Daniel outlined his options for disbursing the tip, not limited to:
"A little 'cube' amp."
"Do you need a ride to the store to get it? On a day when I'm not working?" asked Tanya.
"Well, of course, then I would need a pickup for the guitar and a cable to plug it into the amp; and then I still wouldn't have my vocals amplified," lamented Daniel, but then had another thought.
"I could get the amp and a cheap microphone to go with it and both play and sing into the mic."
But then he thought better of that: "But it would be a really cheap microphone; given the money I would have left over...and I don't want to sound like a robot"
"I have a microphone that you could use," said the ever helpful, resourceful, effecient and diminutive Chinese violinist...
And so it was that Daniel went back across the river; planning to rise early and go to the music store for a cube amp....
A Wild Goose Chase
Sunday morning Daniel was up with the birds.
He started upon a route which would take him down Royal Street, where he hoped to run into Paul from Doreens Jazz Band. He would ask Pauls advice about how best to invest the tip money and avoid "complications" with Uncle Vinnie.
Unfortuantely, they were not to be seen along that street, as far as Rouses Market.
"They're playing Jazzfest," he was informed by the The Brooding Black Man Who Plays A Fender Acoustic Guitar, and who was holding the spot for Tanya and Dorise.
He then informed Daniel that The Guitar Center had for sale a combination of an acoustic guitar and a case as well as a small amplifier; all for 79 dollars.
But then, he gave Daniel erroneos directions for how to get to that particular store.
Daniel spent most of the day taking the street car to the end of its line and then trying to find where the "E3" (which is the bus that the brooding man told him to catch) stopped.
There was no "E3"
Another person at the bus stop gave him further erroneous directions and he was soon well out of New Orleans and into the city of Metarie, where there was no Guitar Center.
After paying more bus fare, he was dropped off near the Quarter and walked into town where he again encountered Tanya and Dorise playing by Rouses Market...
"I went on a wild goose chase," he said to Dorise.
"I wouldn't worry about that guy," she said, already anticipating Daniels foreboding about Cousin Vinnie.
The Arrival Of A Rival?

There is a young man who sometimes plays a weird percussion instrument with Tanya and Dorise.
The instrument looks like a wooden box, but can produce percussion sounds.
He was playing this thing along with the duo, and Daniel sat down to listen; and to drink Lime-A-Rita; resolving to either try to go back to The Guitar Center the next day; or to maybe try Webbs Bywater Music in the opposite direction.
Maybe it was a blessing in disguise to be mis-led, he thought. Maybe the combination of the guitar and case and amp for such a low price would have given me frustratingly cheap renditions of each.
He decided that he would talk to Paul at Webbs Bywater; a person whom he had heard described as a nice guy who bends over backwards to help the street musicians (i.e. has inexpensive stuff); and try to put the 94 dollar tip to the best use.
Little did he know that he would be helped with his decision through the agency of Tanya and the aforementioned young man who plays the weird percussion instrument.
By the time T&D ended their night, Daniel had finished his second 24 oz. Lime-A-Rita and was barely keeping his eyes open.
The Guy That Plays The Cajon Drum
It was at this point that the young percussionist turned to him and said: "I've never heard you play before, do you want to jam?"
And it was in this state of intoxication that Daniel said "Sure," and wrestled the Jasmine Guitar out of its ragged case and tried to jam along with the percussionist and his wooden box.
He began to play the rif for "The Music Never Stopped," by The Grateful Dead, and was instantly missing notes or missing strings entirely before attempting a solo over the changes, which produced more sloppy sounds.
He was aware that Tanya (violin virtuoso) was in and out of earshot as she volleyed between the van and the equipment which was strewn about the two jammers, and that she hadn't really ever heard him play; and the stabbing feeling of embarrassment was enough to permeate the Lime-A-Rita haze; and he decided to just stop; as a means of damage control; cut your losses and run, type of thing...
"I'm sorry, that last Lime-A-Rita really wiped me out, I can't even play..." said Daniel as he stopped abruptly and began to put his guitar back into the raggedy case. "I wasn't expecting to play tonight." I've got a big excursion planned for early morning...
A Curious Thing
Then, the young man did a curious thing.
He walked over and intercepted Tanya on her way to grab more equipment and playfully kissed her on the cheek and maybe murmered something to her.


... figured the mere thought of motherhood repulsed her...

 Daniel felt some slight pangs of jeolousy which hadn't been visited upon him since he was 19 years old and lost a girl whom he was sweet upon to a rival who blatantly employed similar tactics...
I guess sometimes you aren't aware of your true feelings until a playful kiss exposes them....I thought that she might have no desire for a relationship; or that she was a lesbian; or that her family forbade her to marry anyone except a Chinese doctor; or that music has entirely supplanted her sex drive, or....
But, was it a tactic?
Had the percussionist seen that Daniel could barely keep his eyes open and seized the opportunity to try to make him look (sound) bad?
The Second Blessing
Daniel lay under the bushes that night; with the embers of the jealous feeling still glowing in his stomach; but was able to comfort himself by thinking of certain realities.
He saw Dorises face hovering before him saying; "Don't worry about that. He's just a good friend of ours and we probably wouldn't hang out with him if he was like that. He hadn't seen her in months.
You were just too drunk to play; it happens. You'll get 'em next time...and, as far as Tanya goes; you're not going to impress her even if you play Bachs Brandenburg Concertos with your feet; sbe likes you for your humor anyways; and do you know how many guys have come along and tried to amaze her with whatever they play...it just aint' happening; relax...she is more likely to resent a guy who would play a game like that; even if that were the case..."
The Reason It Happened
He calmed down and fell asleep; telling himself as he drifted off that "there is a reason everything happens" and he would just have to wait for the next opportunity to say "Hey, let's finish that jam we started, now that I'm sober..." and it was as that image congealed in his mind (like a jello shot) that he had a revelation as to how to invest the 94 dollar tip.
He wouldn't try to amplify the Jasmine, which is on its last legs, even though more volume would equal more money. On an artistic level that wouldn't do.

"I Forgot About That One..."

He needed to play better and to sound better; and that would involve getting a new guitar...
He walked (to punish himself for drinking too much and embarassing himself in front of Tanya; even though that had led to the revelation that a new guitar was the way to go) all the way to Webbs Bywater Music store on Monday morning, where Paul, who was suffering "I'm sick as a dog, dude, I think I'm going to close and go home in a few minutes" initially said "All my used stuff is $299 and up."
"What about that Yamaha," asked Daniel, spotting one. "Is that the one that is $299?"
"Oh, I forgot about that," returned Paul. "That one, I could let go for $75. It had a cracked neck, but I fixed it and it is as good as new; in fact...."
And so, after a bit of haggling; Daniel left the store with a Yamaha F310 guitar (just like the one that his mother bought for him in 2006 to kick off his busking career after everything else slumped) and a new case for it, $80 lighter in the pocket. 
Stopping on Royal Street, he was congratulated on his purchase by Dorise, who said that she liked the neck.
It's All Connected
Daniel couldn't help connecting the cosmic dots between the gift he sent to his mother which arrived on her birthday; and then the phone call to her; when he heard about the troubles that the family was having, including a heart attack suffered by his brother; and then decided NOT to ask her for money; and then the received gift of the hat; and then the man (who looked a lot like his brother) who gave the 94 dollar tip and then the accidents which led him to the music store a few minutes before the guy was going to close; where the same kind of guitar which my mother once bought for me happened to be waiting; and the fact that Dorise liked the neck on it; and that one of the things that attracts me to Chinese girls is their necks.....It is all connected; somehow; thought Daniel...

The NOLA Scowl

A Wake Up Call
People have told me that I always look so angry in the photos that they see of me (Alex in California)..
They have also said that I need to put on some weight (the Lidgleys of London), or "We need to get you a hat," (Tanya Huang) in reference to my hair "style."
I don't own a mirror.
I use my Dave Matthews Band CD as one, to make sure that I don't have barbeque sauce all over my face before I go to the ferry terminal.
Nobody in New Orleans would tell me if I had barbeque sauce or baked beans, for that matter, all over my face, as I walked the Quarter.
They would think that it was either my hustle: "Excuse me, sir, but you've got something on your face"
"Oh, thank you and, by the way, you wouldn't have a couple bucks you could spare, would you?"
Or they would think that it was my way of self expression, or "flying my freak flag," as the gays where I play on Bourbon Street would say.
Looking at the photo above, which was taken last night makes me wonder.
I remember not feeling angry at all when it was taken. I rather felt glad that my phone was working and I would soon be able to load photos onto this blog right from the street, like above...
Do I have to smile just to not look like I'm frowning; and then smile extra hard to crack a grin?
Now I have to appologize to all the denizens of the city who walk around with what I have called "the NOLA scowl" on their faces.
Maybe they are all just like me....

It is apparent to me that I need to start eating better; get some kind of hair style or a hat, and learn how to smile through the pain and laugh in the rain.
Straight To Bourbon
Yesterday, I left the library after the afternoons rains had stopped.
I was broke, but decided to busk totally sober, rather than to scavenge drinks off of Bourbon Street beforehand.
I still walked down that street though, and ran into a man who introduced himself as "Country," said that he had seen me before at the Rebuild Center, and who offered me some of what he was drinking.

I got to my spot to find that laying on the ground nearby was the remnants of a "Hand Grenade," which is the co-holder of the title of "strongest drink in the world" with the "Jester," of which the same claim is made.
Due to the design of the hand grenade container, it can be laying down and still retain about half of its contents, as was the case with this one, which was still cold.
So, in keeping with my habit of only drinking things with deadly sounding names (Hurricanes, Cobras, Colt 45's, Magnums, Earthquakes, etc) I was able to finish it before playing. If it were a Jester, I guess I would have just left it.
Still, I had a lot of trouble getting motivated.
I was so hungry that I felt light headed.
I had 7 cents.
I struggled through "Golden Slumbers," by The Beatles which produced a tip.
Then I struggled with "Comfortably Numb," by Pink Floyd, which produced a lady with a black Styrofoam container which she said was food from a fine restaurant and which she offered to me with the assurance that "We don't have germs, I promise..."
I already had the cold which I posted about yesterday, and it was making it harder to sing.
Then, as the one hour which I had to play before the curfew was winding down and I was playing "Franklins Tower," by The Grateful Dead and soloing extensively, I got my third and final tip as time expired.
Eat Your Heart Out
I went and got a Hurricane Lager at the Unique Boutique and then sat down to eat what turned out to be very good baked catfish with sweet potatos and green beans, but no germs, across the street from where CBD (which is Christina Friis and Brian Hudson) were playing.
On the way there, I had passed Stoker, who was sitting on his motorcycle and playing his amplified electric blues in the key of D.

In between Stoker and CBD the sounds of the two blended into a cacophony which couldn't have been good for either one of the performers.
Like the old Reeses Peanut Butter Cup commercial; He was getting Howling Wolf in their Adele, and they were getting Adele in his Howling Wolf.
I wanted to mention that to Stoker and suggest that he move down another half block, but I couldn't think of a way to say it without possibly angering him and provoking him to say "Why don't you tell THEM to move down a half block!" ...because they're right on the corner but you're just in an arbitrary spot...
Eating Out Of Their Hands
So, I finished my food from a fine restaurant and then went across the street to talk to Brian and Christina.
While I had been eating, they had played certain songs which people seemed to eat up themselves.
A song by Leonard Cohen called "Hallelujah," I think, and the Adele songs seemed to be like tourist magnets.

Brian With A Silver Man

I saw more than one couple walk past, and then the lady stop and grab the guys arm, turning her head back as if she suddenly recognized the song. The guy would make a motion to continue walking, but the lady would stand pat, or even move closer to the Adele, seeming to say: "Wait, this is that song that I love.." and, finally the guy having no choice but to return to her side, hold her closely and then fetch a bill from his wallet for the tip basket.
I was really impressed with the power of "the right song at the right time done the right way" (to quote Chris the recorder player from Saint Augustine, Florida) in action.
There is a charisma about Christina Friis, who is from Denmark, combined with Brian, who is from Austin, Texas, which is hard to quantify.

Christina With (to be fair) A Silver Man

Tip Jar Envy
Of course, I had tip jar envy, which I had to shake off telling myself "They've got it together, so of course they will be successfull; otherwise, why should I be trying so hard to get it together myself..."
Plus, I had forgotten that Christina had promised (on Facebook) to buy me a beer if I were to show up, and thankfully they had made enough in tips to be able to follow through on that, and I soon was on my way back to Unique Boutique and past Stoker, who said that he was starving...
I then told him that he was probably in a bad spot, that the sound of Christinas voice fading out and being replaced by his blues was just too drastic a contrast, like going from a gorgeous spring day into a dungeon (I didn't say "dungeon" but he saw my point and decided to move down a block) Poor Stoker, starving; and with all the equipment that I would need to become a "player" on Royal Street myself....

Going Under

The past few days; there have been thunderstorms.
The Mississippi River is rising and has already made it impossible to go under the bridge by the terminal to get out of the rain.
It is threatening to encroach upon my sleeping spot under the dock; or to make it impossible to get under there.
Tanya and Dorise came out to make a rare Monday appearance "Because it's Jazzfest," said the former.

"I Wrote That Song!"

It wasn't a busy Monday, and I only played until I made my first couple dollars and then knocked off, not wanting to get run off by the cops on such a slow night.
Those run-offs are like strikes on a batter; not worth accruing unless the amount of money made makes up for it.
Whine Not
Right now, my feet are wet; all my laundry is either wet or dirty.
I might have no place to escape the rain.
My food card is out of money.
I have come down with a cold.
I forgot to go to The Rebuild Center this afternoon to try to get new eye glasses through them; and will have to wait another week.
The Unity people have yet to contact me with any news about any housing that they might be able to arrange for me.
And, I'm broke.
But, I am not too unhappy, outside of the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach which I wake up with pretty frequently; with the words "I'm going to die someday," or something equally depressing, echoing in my head.
I spent time Sunday afternoon, huddled under a little overhang on Royal Street where Tanya and Dorise were performing.
They were in good spirits, maybe because the bass player from The Dave Matthews Band (above) came up to them and said "I wrote that song," after they had done a song called "#41" by his band. He posed for a picture with them.
There was a rather large black man, who seemed to be friends with Dorise hanging around, and soon we were all singing doo wop type songs, with Dorise encouraging me to take the lead part while she played and Tanya joined in, on violin.
The harmonies sounded good.
All the tourists seemed to be waiting out the rain storm, but they were still utilizing the time.
Dorise was playing songs which she wanted Tanya to learn, and was happy to have me singing the melody, so as to acquaint Tanyas ear to them; or to get her to recognize if she had heard them before.
Tanya, for her part, sang a few bars of songs which SHE wanted to learn, in between our songs.
It was kind of cute to hear how tentatively she sang; when she is so commanding on the violin.
It was fun and, even though it didn't put any money in my pocket; it was a valuable experience and it seems like I am one step closer to hooking up with any one of the talented musicians who come around Tanya and Dorise (to sit at the feet of those masters) and, who knows, I might have an up and coming young female* vocalist to work with in the near future.
*they just make better tips than the males, what can I say?
Ocarina Introduced

I broke out the ocarina, which I still have from when Alex in California sent it, on a whim and played it.
I think T&D were impressed with my playing of it (I find it easy) especially when I nailed the whistled part of Dock Of The Bay, by Otis Redding.
Happy Birthday, Mom; Please Send Money...
Tanya is going to mail off one of their latest CDs to my mom in Massachusetts; and it may just arrive in time for her birthday on the 3rd of May, how cool is that?
She has the envelopes already pre-stamped and ready to go at her house, of course she does; that is one professional outfit, there.
Ironically, I am thinking of calling my mom to ask for some money, as her gift is on its way. I will tell her that I am treading water and in danger of going under.
This is not just a figure of speach, as I might find myself sleeping 10 feet away from the Mississippi River tonight, should it storm again...

Music News, Reviews and Recipes

This is a re-working
of a previous post and doesn't even catch me up all the high jinks of the past weekend...
I look forward to putting a new screen on my laptop, so I can go back to spending 5 hours daily on it; instead of the 2 hours that I get here at the library...

Saturday through Monday was pretty much spent either hanging out or jamming with the likes of Tanya and Dorise, Brian Hudson and Christina Friis, and a few other un-noteworthies...
The Jazz Fest is in town.

Billy Joel is going to pretty much be the "big shot."
88% of the population has a Billy Joel song that they like....
Funny enough, I myself have Billy Joel songs that I like; but that is not what I think about when I think about his music.
I think about the fact that he is one of the few artists who has songs that I hate.
I can tell if a song is "terrible" like the band was just learning it and they had to stop in the middle because something went terribly wrong...
Those songs I don't hate.
The Reason I Hate The Billy Joel Songs That I Hate
The reason is that those songs all, with the exception of one, come from what I will call Billys "Christy Brinkley" era.
He is giving guys dating tips.
"Tell Her About It," guys (tell her all your crazy dreams; give her every reason to accept that you're for real) -that's how you keep a supermodel purring...
Thanks, Bill; the next time I am involved with the likes of Christy, I'll remember to tell her all about it...
Unless it's a tender moment. In that case, I'll leave a tender moment alone.
He knows how supermodels think; he is doing us a public service...I guess he got tired of the "How do you do it?" question about his then wife; and decided to answer it once and for all; with his lame lyrics...

Don't go to extremes, either, guys...
And I'll leave you with another caution from the guy who is set to go onstage in about 2 hours, here in New Orleans at the Jazz Fest.
Sometimes the time just isn't right to tell the girl a comical line; just to keep the moment light...
No wise-cracks at the moment of penetration right, Bill?
Anyways...I have digressed; but I hate those songs.
Hummus Among Us
I got up this morning and I layed there for a little while and contemplated the goat cheese which I had eaten the previous night.
I had chosen it based upon its color; probably seeing it as being similar in hue to feta cheese, which I enjoy (in moderation) immensely.
So I wound up subconciously grabbing a lump of goat cheese as the main course of what was to become a splended meal, through the providence of the people who were and have  been giving away free samples of hummus.
There's Hummus Among Us
These people don't care that they already gave you 2 just 10 minutes ago; I think they are just trying to give away all of their hummus samples and then just "chill."
I came past them; near the ferry terminal across the street from Harrahs Casino which is where they frequent; and I said "I've been living on hummus for 3 days and I feel great!" and I gesticulated like one who has had a religious awakening, or something.
And, they still said "Well, here's two more hummus samples," and delivered!
To make a long story short; I stumbled upon, through this particular serendipity, one of the greatest recipes to ever come out of NOLA!
It is what I will call my "Goat Cheese And Hummus Excursion".
The Recipe

Worlds Largest Batch Of Hummus, Jerusalem

The recipe is pretty simple: Peel the Seran Wrap off of the goat cheese and, using a plastic knife, scoop up some goat cheese and then scoop up some hummus, which will stick to the goat cheese because the goat cheese is thicker. Then, just eat it*
*salt and pepper and sesame oil and hot sauce optional; ginger might be good....
So, Now, I prepare to go out in the street and play music.
Last Night
Last night was pretty much a ridiculous farce. I wound up getting 20 bucks from a guy who was sympathetic to me being run off by the cops at 8:08 p.m.
I totally had forgotten time (to me, it was just "Old Times," if you get my drift) and was playing at the accursed hour, instead of having waited for that accursed hour and the horse cops to pass through, clearing the streets of all performers before permanently disappearing into the night.
I had been talking to Barnaby, who was in great spirits due to his new job and who was in posession of great spirits in the form of Beefeaters gin; and who was pretty liberal in offering me some as he sat on one of his three steps and chatted to a woman who was sitting on one of the other three.
The woman said she had recognized me and that she had thought at the time that my music was good enough so that I shouldn't have need the "the sign" which I had.
Interesting things about signs: a rare amount of people are offended by them.
What's My Sign?
For the most part though, I would say that my sign which says:

Free Music 40% - 60% Off
Tonight Only
All Songs Must Go"

has been a sign which has made me money.
The one that said:

"Street Musician Stimulus Package (with an arrow pointing to the case)"

did pretty well, taking into account the number of people who said "I like that sign" when dropping money in the case.
I think my music is generic enough at times (a lot of them actually) where people  (they just step out of a bar where a guy is doing a pretty good Dylan song; and they walk past me on the sidewalk doing the same; and the sign catches their eye more than the music;
And with this in mind and my computer time dwindling: This is my latest sign:

"I don't know anything at all about jazz but I can fake it"

People have actually put 20 dollar bills on top of the sign which sat on the sidewalk, instead of in the guitar case; which to me, clearly states "I like your sign." (better than my music, even ?!?)

The Worst Easter Ever

"...Because It's Easter..."
Easter morning, I woke up to the news from  Howard that "Everything is closed, except the restaurants..."

Happy for some...

He asked me if I was going into town and then chuckled.
The implication was that there was nothing to do; with everything being closed...
"Well, maybe it will be good for busking; with the Easter Spirit present, and everything," I replied.
I went into town and ran into Daniel, the trumpet player.
I told him  how miserable my Saturday had been; moneywise.
Daniel said that he had done well ($150) playing his trumpet on Canal Street.
That kind of set the ball in motion for a day when everybody else would be prosperous except myself; for a variety of reasons...
I had a couple dollars and change, and went to the Unique Boutique where a random street person offered to pay for my beer, saying that he had had "a good morning."
The pan-handlers seemed ecstatic; and the ones that I overheard were appending "...'cause it's Easter" to their "Can you help me out"s.
They all seemed to have had "a good morning."
I came upon Tanya and Dorise; who don't always play on Sunday; but who were at their usual spot; filling their baskets and smiling at everyone.
I continued to the Bourbon Street (Barnaby) spot and began to play.
Soon, small groups of people started gathering around me.
I thought that they might have stopped to listen to me; and I played as well as I could for about a half  hour; before realising that street was filling up in anticipation of  some kind of  Easter parade.
"Terrific," I thought.
The Worst Tippers Ever
My experience with parade goers is they all seem  to be there in anticipation of  catching free stuff, thrown from  the floats; and will even jostle each other over it. The person who leaps the highest, or is quickest to bend down and scoop something off the ground is the one who gets the stuffed animal or plastic toy.
They are some of the worst tippers.
Typical New Orleans

Never Came

It was time for me to take a break after playing pretty hard for almost an hour; for nothing.
I half expected any one of  25 or so people, who were then around me to hand me a few bucks, even if  only for the version of  Ziggy Stardust, by David Bowie which I thought was my highlight.
I put all my stuff in my pack; wrapped up the guitar; shouldered everything and walked off, without getting so much as a nod or a smile; or any eye contact at all; and certainly not a dollar; and no "Happy Easter." Typical New Orleans...
Then, I walked back past Tanya and Dorise.
I told them that I hadn't made anything; having to speak up over tourists saying things like "Here's a hundred; I'm  taking all 4 CDs"
"You need your sign," said Tanya, handing me back the "Mariah Carey Tribute" sign, which I had given her the previous night.
"You need to work on the songs and get it together," she added; apparently thinking that I could actually make something of myself  as a Mariah Carey impersonator.
I told her that such an undertaking was a bit ambitious for me, but then added: "Of  course, I could drop all the songs down about 5 keys..."
"There you go," said Tanya.
What I need to "work on and get together" is a sound system - then the Mariah songs will take care of  themselves...

"Get It Together, Daniel..."

I walked around the Quarter finding drinks which people had set atop the trash cans; drinking them; and then becoming moody and agitated, watching all the Easter bums being handed large bills, because it was Easter and then went to Canal Street, where I played some more and didn't make anything.
People seemed to have "given away enough money to the street people"  and were scooting past me,  as if  glad that I was busy playing music and not in their face; begging them  in the name of  the risen Savior for money.
Brian Hudson and Christina Friis
Then, I scrounged some more, until I was pretty drunk and then came upon Brian and Christina.
Brian and Christina were on Royal Street with a microphone and amplifier each.
Brian was able to play his subtle "Travis picking" style with a feathery touch and his amp was booming the sound out for a couple of  blocks.
Christina was singing in a lilting; almost Celtic sounding voice; and they were turning such gems as "Amazing Grace," and "Wonderful Tonight," by Eric Clapton into quick cash.
They seemed to be well on the way to (another) 300? dollar night.
I suppose it is street musician etiquette to never give another busker even a dollar for a beer; even if  he comes by and answers the "how did you do?" question by saying "I didn't make crap..."
Tanya and Dorise have never given me anything; even the times that I watched their stuff while they ran for lunch; but, I have never asked them for anything, either.
I wasn't expecting them  to  at the time,  but rather felt kind of  flattered that they would entrust their stuff to me,  and was thinking more about that aspect...
Still,  here I was on a day when I hadn't made anything; and an Easter Sunday at that; and I couldn't help walking away thinking "Enjoy your holiday and the thousand bucks in your baskets" kind of  facetiously.
Then,  Brian and Christina, whom  I just recently met; were very friendly.

"But, How Was Your Performance, Daniel?"

They remembered my name,  at least.
But, then I mentioned that Christinas speaker was a bit muffled, unless you were standing right in front of it,  and could use a boost in the 3.5 kilohertz range. But, they made no move to adjust it and gave no answer such as "If  we boost the high end, the microphone will feed back."
It made me feel like they were thinking "We're making a lot of  money here; where does he get off  criticising our sound..."
I walked off,  while they were busy answering the "So where are you from?" question to a tourist who was also telling Brian that he had a finger-picking style like the tourist had never heard before.....It's Travis picking....
I got about 50 feet away when Brian said "Bye, Daniel!" which reminded me that some of my manners had worn off in the French Quarter over the past 2 years.
I had been rude to just walk off  without saying goodbye and wishing them  luck.
"I'll be back around; I'm  just......" ..going to get hammered on a bunch of  free Daqueris...
I wasn't in the mood to play; and figured getting drunk would either help put me in the mood; or not.
I eventually came back by Brian and Christina.
They did a very good version of  What A Wonderful World (I had never heard it Travis picked before, myself) during which a lot of  money went into their tip jar.
At the end of  the song, which Christina sang, she let out a sigh, and with a big smile added "It CERTAINLY is!!"
Of  course it's a "wonderful world" for Christina and for Tanya and for Dorise.
I was thinking that it pretty much was a shitty world, at that point.
But, before I sound like I am whining; this isn't the end of  the (wonderful) world.
What I am  doing is learning very well what works and what the formula for sucess is.
When I told Brian that I hadn't made anything, he asked: "How do you think your performace was?"
"I thought I was playing well," I said; but then added: "Do you want to try playing this guitar unplugged and see if  you can make a dollar?
Brian agreed that, "Yeah, you really need an amp."
A Tip For Luck, And We're On Our Way...
Before catching the ferry; I sat by the casino and was able to make 2 dollars; and I really appreaciated that.
It felt like the old days when, after looking up after playing a song that I thought came out well; there was actually money in the case...amazing...
I still caught the ferry, rather than stay out; becuase it was a Sunday; and the "Easter" thing just wasn't panning out....
It was my worst day since Christmas and just as bad as Thanksgiving.
Some religious types say that Satan runs rampant and rules the French Quarter.

"There's a reason they call it Sin City; think about it" -Porsha, the paramedic from Mobile, Al

And it is strange how many people turn into jerks on Christian holidays.....myself included...
Laptop Busted
Then, this morning, I plugged in the Samsung laptop to discover that the top quarter of the screen was greyed out.
This means that I can do almost nothing with it (I'm  on  library computer now) because all the menus and options and buttons to control programs are at the tup of  the screen, under the greyed out area.
It is now a 4 pound mp3 player and not much else.
I looked up screens on E-Bay and found a few in about the 60 to 70 dollar range
The irony of the fact that a lttile battery powered amp is in this same price range was not lost upon me; and once again I must make a choice.
The amp will pay for itself and a laptop screen in due time....
Paul (Doreens Jazz Band) has one that he is selling but told me that I didn't want it because it sounded "tinny."