My name is Jefferson Rose. I am the Magnificent Lefty. Roanoke’s only full-time, professional street performer.
Or at least that’s how I’ve been introducing myself whenever I pass my hat on Market Street for the past four years. Some of you know I’ve been looking forward to changing the “only” out for “first” for a long time. So I want to start this conversation out by thanking each and all of you for expressing interest.
Briefly about this program: I’ve been touring the United States and Canada with my magic stunt show and balloon sculptures for many years on and off since I was in my mid teens. But I finally took the plunge and went full-time four years ago. It’s been the most exhilarating thing, and while the vast majority of buskers don’t work full-time, any time you do shaping the skill set has phenomenal effects on your confidence and skills that I’m excited to share with you.
In the past four years, I’ve worked in 60+ different cities, some big, some small, some I’m not going to name because in the busking culture “secret pitches” are currency. It’s actually quite fun to trade information with fellow buskers on places to work that few else know about.
That said, why in the world would I want to share a secret pitch like Roanoke? I’ve got it all to myself. I don’t have to wait in a queue or draw a key or anything. That’s true. Being able to roll up on the spot and work whenever I want is pretty neat. But it’s lonely. It’s less fun. And if I’ve got a gig on a weekend or go on tour, the pitch lays dormant. That’s really terrible. Because it’s a great place for anyone to perform! I’ve had internationally touring busker friends from as far away as Sydney, Australia talk about how much fun they’ve had when they’ve worked here. And the local audience is one of the most embracing and supportive I’ve found anywhere. So I want to turn the pitch I’ve spent years building over to all of us to make bigger, better and more lively together.
I’m spending time today going through all of your registration forms individually. Making notes about your enthusiasm to join, your chosen art form, your experience level busking, trying to get to know each of you as well as I can before we all convene on July 19th (this coming Friday, wow!)
The diversity of art forms, individual backgrounds, everything is even more than I hoped for, and I had hoped for quite a bit!
So welcome to your time, with me, on the beautiful bricks of Market Street, Roanoke and thank you again for joining in my effort to get rid of this silly idea that “there’s nothing to do” in Roanoke. Together, we’re going to provide accessible, affordable, inclusive entertainment to as many people as we can. It’s going to be a ton of fun.
June 23 Busk Roanoke Recap
FAQ
— ❓What is busking?
The term has become more or less synonyms with performing as a street musician or troubadour over time. But the word originally derives from Middle English as a variation of Basking in the Sun because that’s where we work. Any performing art done in a public space for tip money is busking.
—❓What if I don’t have any busking experience at all?
There’s no better time to try it. You’re joining us at a very exciting time in the Busk Roanoke program! We’re getting ready for the fall travel season, and you can be ready with us.
—❓How will performing spaces/times be organized?
Great question! And the long-term answer is I don’t know yet. Every pitch works differently. Some are first come, first serve on a sign-up poster, and you wait in a queue. Some you draw keys stamped with numbers from a bucket. Some you call in to a monthly Zoom call and go in rotation claiming available slots you like, a bit like teams in an NBA Draft selects new players.
— ❓What happens in bad weather?
It’s been hot lately, very hot. Normally I’d have escaped this heat and gone to Boston or Montreal. Thankfully, it seems the weather is going to break, and be cooler by the weekend. Busk Roanoke is a rain or shine event. An overcast day can actually be better for buskers than a sunny one. If the sky is gloomy, then YOU have the opportunity to be the bright splash of color and fun against a dreary gray. And that often gets reflected in the tip jar!
— ❓Where can I get more info for myself and to share with family and friends?
Please join the ” Busk Roanoke! ” event page on Facebook for all the latest news. There will shortly be added a group page called Roanoke Core Audience. That group will be a virtual community board for buskers and regular supporters of the program where you’ll be able to announce your appearance times and coordinate any busking information after the first kick-off weekend.