Author: louisehartcom

busking, music, street life

Rain stops play!

louisehartcom

An interesting day in town today busking. There were lots of buskers out which is weird as Saturday and Sunday there was hardly anyone. Anyway, the buskers at Russell and Bromley and The Face were having a ‘who has the loudest amp’ competition…. look if one turns up to 11 so does everyone else and it’s just a big ear-splitting mush. Just Stop!

Anyway, I set up after my husband and decided to give it a go. Kept to my usual volume but the quiet, gentle songs I usually start with were no good on a day like today, so straight in with the upbeat stuff, the low songs were transposed up a tone (hurrah for the capo!) and the Christmas songs (I only have 3) came out for an airing. I had 3 year olds dancing with old men, people singing along quietly to themselves as they passed by, people crossing the street to listen, kids waving at me from passing buses, ladies complimenting my skirt (gets more attention that me somedays!) and lots of serendipitous connections between strangers.

That’s what busking is about, that’s why I love it. And then it rained, and did it rain but I was in the middle of ‘I will survive’ and it seemed rude to stop mid song. By the end I had the taste of hairspray and stinging eyes but no Alice Cooper eye – Hurrah for waterproof make up. So I packed up and came home, still smiling from ear to ear. I love what I do!

Life, music

New Romantics

louisehartcom

If you’ve ever heard me play, you’ll know I’m a fan of 80’s music. So, imagine my delight when shopping for food the other day when I found this! It’s on constantly in my car. My daughter might well phone child line at some point; I’m thinking of it more like payback for the endless Peppa Pig episodes and anyway it’s part of her education…..

I’ll be honest, I prefer the early stuff. To Cut A Long Story Short and Glow are particular favourites. I won’t be doing versions of them on the street … just singing along on my way to the street!

busking, street life

Busking is being criminalised.

louisehartcom

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea use a PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) to prohibit busking in much of their borough. In doing so they have criminalised busking with fines of up to £1000. They’re seeking to extend the areas it covers. Once a PSPO is in place you have just 6 weeks to launch an appeal and it gets renewed every 3 years without any further consultation.

Their initial consultation for the PSPO was based on 413 responses to an online survey – that’s less than 0.2% of the population of the Borough. They made no attempt to consult with the wider public e.g. the people who listen to and enjoy the performers, nor the performers themselves.

If you like listening to street music, please make your thoughts known.

https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/environment/environmental-health/noise-and-nuisance/busking-consultations?fbclid=IwAR0K61OOTHGgKZCWn7d6whMq02v9E_BKgUKGFb_6D7Vg8CR4nONFpe3Q1rM

learning, Life, music

Nearly there….

louisehartcom

I’ve been quiet of late… partly because I’m pretty rubbish at this social media lark and partly because I’ve gone back to school!

Yes! I’m completing the final year of the degree I started many moons ago and didn’t get to finish on account of life getting in the way!

Every cloud has a silver lining and with university courses going online this year, I’m able to give it a go. I’m giving it my best shot, I’m hoping it’s enough.

I’d be lying if I said I was enjoying it. I’m enjoying parts of it and hating parts of it in equal measure! Feeling pretty proud of my accomplishments though, whatever the outcome.

There have been tears…. lots of tears. But also lots of learning and you know me…. I love learning. So go me! I think I might have just finished the conclusion of my dissertation….. yey for me 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😥😥😇😳😱😱.

Now all I have to do is go through it ….. again…. and check the referencing. If I ever do this shit again, I’m honestly going to be more on top of my referencing and not leave it to the end….. *nose growing longer as I type*

Wish me luck!!