Wow, so the usual regular blogs turned into a 3 month hiatus. I really was busy.
but I guess I also decided that, as much as it's nice to write about things, it's better to just do them. I think if anyone was really interested in what I was writing, they could just ask me for an update.
Anyway, these past three months have been pretty incredible. I have :
- Performed on the London Eye on 11th September, with 8 musicians, some of which were found on the London Underground
- Performed at Union Chapel on 14th September (a beautiful venue voted # 1 live music venue in London by Time Out) with a 21 piece ensemble, including musicians from the Underground, as well as a mini-flashmob of musicians during one song
- Quit my job, to pursue this challenge full time. Now, this is probably the most life-changing decision that I've made but more later...
- Got turned down by Guinness as an official world record. Apparently, "The method of recruitment is simply not relevant to the activity itself". Whatevs.
- Had a lovely article in the Evening Standard
- Had a nice feature on BBC news (See it here)
- Had radio interviews with BBC, Break London, Swindon 105.5, Heart FM, The Ladder Factory and UCB UK.
- Had features in national magazine publications (which I can't mention because they're going to print now!)
- Got refused funding by the Arts Council. Apparently, it's high risk and relies to heavily on external contributors. (i.e, we don't believe musicians will agree to such a ridiculous proposal)
- Met with some people about the documentary that is being made
- Had talks with a great venue in London about doing the show on 12.12.12, but.....
....most importantly, I realised it was not possible to do the final event, screening the documentary of the whole challenge, and the final performance on 12th December.
This last piece of news the thing that took me the longest to admit, because I was so insistent on getting the entire challenge and the event all wrapped up by 12.12.12. However, three important factors changed things drastically.
1) Funding. When I started this, I believed that we had external contributors who were taking on all of the organisation for the venue and event on 12th Dec, leaving me to focus on the challenge of finding and creating an orchestra ready to perform on the night. I was going to do the challenge, and then deliver them my "goods" on 12th Dec. This didn't happen. No-one to blame. I just didn't realise this wasn't in place as it had been before on any challenge, and crossed wires left me being the venue finder, event organiser, booker, promoter and backer. So...I set about these tasks on top of my other ones. I found a venue (actually got one from the the list!). I started to organise the event. I started to book the show, pencilling in the date with the venue. I got the promotion ready. But...crucially, I could not find the financial backing in time. I believe to do a show, and a show with justice that could raise funds for the charities, we would need at least 3 months lead time. And I wanted to announce the venue we had at Union Chapel on 14th September. But I couldn't find anyone committed and willing enough to take a punt on a crazy idea. Saddened as I am by it, the main reason the main event won't go ahead on 12th Dec was due to lack of money. And I'd just quit my job to concentrate on this too.....
2) Logistics of the date. When I started, 12th Dec was set up because it was a catchy date. 12.12.12. It gave me something to go for. But let's face facts. It's a Wednesday in December, the Christmas season. And the challenge stated that I had to form an entire orchestra by 12th Dec then perform at a venue in London. But how can I screen a documentary of the challenge first when it will have only finished 1 hour earlier?
3) The musicians. An important point. There was the orchestra to think of. Of the hundreds of musicians I had met, I was finding myself with a 10% reply rate. People just weren't responding. This is the last I will speak of regarding the success/failure to complete this challenge (other than to say that at the time of writing I am still working on it), but I have on occasions, been left to wonder whether anyone was interested at all.
So it was with a heavy heart that I admitted defeat. I went to throw in the towel. No show, and no orchestra on 12th Dec.
I went to write the blog, telling you all how sorry I was to let you down, and that I wouldn't even be able to put on an event to show you how I had done. You know, witness the 3 people that had been kind enough to turn up! But seriously, it's a hard thing writing this. For most people involved, it's just maybe one show. But for me it's my life. I have been repeatedly told time and time again by the wonderful press officer for the challenge that failure is not a word people like reading. So I procrastinated telling you that I had failed. No-one wants to fail at life.
Then something miraculous happened......
This blog is the accompanying piece to www.121212.org.uk. My name is Shaun and I have been set the challenge of forming an orchestra by 12th Dec 2012, that will then perform on 26th January 2013 at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. This entire symphony orchestra is made up of strangers. Strangers that I have met travelling as passengers on the London Underground. These are my ramblings about stuff connected to that. Sorry it's so wordy....
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Why I don't blog much
Dear those-left-reading,
Yes, as with many things in life, this blog started with gusto and slowly went downhill. There are two reasons for this
1) I decided no-one really wanted to read about me moaning on about all the stuff working/not working
2 (and most importantly)) I just got busier. In a good way.
I'm currently averaging 2 musicians a day and it's building up momentum more and more with each passing month. I'm incredibly confident that this can work, and that I WILL
- form an orchestra from strangers met on the London Underground
- that the orchestra will be of good and diverse quality
- that they will play music (some of which will have never been heard before) scored by myself without me reading a note of music (I am now allowing assistance and collaboration with musicians I meet, but will stand by my boundaries of not letting them teach me a thing!! :)
- that the performance will be completed before 13th December at a big venue in London.
What I'm not 100% about yet is
- who will conduct this orchestra
- where the show will be
- what date it will be on
- who will come and watch it
I am speaking to conductors at the moment, but nothing finalised, and we have a venue pencilled in for 12th December and I'm pretty certain it's the one I want to use. But others are still in the running and people offering alternative options. I can't tell you where we have pencilled in until we sign everything, but here's some facts (I like facts!):
1) It's a great Victorian theatre in central London, that still has all of its art deco features
2) Charlie Chaplin once played there
3) It closed as a theatre for many years, and was also a cinema for a long while.
4) It's 3 times as big as some of the venues I looked at!
5) It's lovely and I really like the people who run it. Very decent folk!
However, we have other stuff to sort out regarding event organising, finding funding, sorting out TV opportunities, sorting press, etc. so we can't book anything until all of this is finalised. And it's taking up a lot of my time.
In fact, if I'm honest, with the exception of one or two people, I'm having to do all this alone. With no official sponsor, no funding, nothing. So, not only am I the challenger, running around for a year of my life trying to form this orchestra, I also am currently the event organiser, assistant with press, sole financial backer, liaison with TFL for filming, the appointed "employer" for insurance purposes & the nominated charity contact. And I'm trying to hold down a full time job and perform and still play music with my band!
I feel this is a tiny bit like what David Frost felt before interviewing Nixon. I need help. And not just financial (although I'd be lying if I said that wasn't the forefront of my mind a lot of the time). But I can't seem to find it. People come and go, lose interest, get bored, frustrated, concerned about risk, etc. And people stop responding to e-mails, texts, calls.
Even some of my own musicians, whilst talking enthusiastically on facebook about performing with me at these upcoming events, stop replying to things (You know, just to do one performance with my own solo band involves 20-30 e-mails/texts, an excel spreadsheet and about half a night organising?).
Everyone thinks "oh, he's got loads of people helping him. Look how it's all coming along. Well, I don't have people helping me (except for my lovely girlfriend who's an absolute godsend, and a couple of friends poking up occasionally) that's because I've sacrificed any life I have, getting only 5 hours sleep every day, to work and work and work, until this thing succeeds.
So, I had a choice - I either spend all my time whining about it on here, telling you the most inane things (what kind of sandwiches I eat, what colour hair people I meet have, etc). I could either spend time writing blogs every day to explain how woefully difficult this is (wouldn't be a "challenge" if it wasn't!!) or I get on and do it. I know I need help but I'm not complaining that I don't have it. I am the only one responsible for the decisions that I make in this life, and I've chosen to do this. I'm quite happy spending a year of my life doing this, because I believe it betters this world and is for good causes.
So, I won't be on here much. I honestly don't have the time and will be working flat out to make this whole thing succeed. Plus, you can read all about up to date action as I put it up here (www.facebook.com/121212challenge) and here (www.twitter/com/121212challenge).
And if I keep working like this, putting every moment of my life into these things, maybe, just maybe I'll inspire a couple of people I meet to commit a little time, or help out however possible.
And if not?
Well. It's still better than reading a daily blog about what kind of sandwiches I eat.
Yes, as with many things in life, this blog started with gusto and slowly went downhill. There are two reasons for this
1) I decided no-one really wanted to read about me moaning on about all the stuff working/not working
2 (and most importantly)) I just got busier. In a good way.
I'm currently averaging 2 musicians a day and it's building up momentum more and more with each passing month. I'm incredibly confident that this can work, and that I WILL
- form an orchestra from strangers met on the London Underground
- that the orchestra will be of good and diverse quality
- that they will play music (some of which will have never been heard before) scored by myself without me reading a note of music (I am now allowing assistance and collaboration with musicians I meet, but will stand by my boundaries of not letting them teach me a thing!! :)
- that the performance will be completed before 13th December at a big venue in London.
What I'm not 100% about yet is
- who will conduct this orchestra
- where the show will be
- what date it will be on
- who will come and watch it
I am speaking to conductors at the moment, but nothing finalised, and we have a venue pencilled in for 12th December and I'm pretty certain it's the one I want to use. But others are still in the running and people offering alternative options. I can't tell you where we have pencilled in until we sign everything, but here's some facts (I like facts!):
1) It's a great Victorian theatre in central London, that still has all of its art deco features
2) Charlie Chaplin once played there
3) It closed as a theatre for many years, and was also a cinema for a long while.
4) It's 3 times as big as some of the venues I looked at!
5) It's lovely and I really like the people who run it. Very decent folk!
However, we have other stuff to sort out regarding event organising, finding funding, sorting out TV opportunities, sorting press, etc. so we can't book anything until all of this is finalised. And it's taking up a lot of my time.
In fact, if I'm honest, with the exception of one or two people, I'm having to do all this alone. With no official sponsor, no funding, nothing. So, not only am I the challenger, running around for a year of my life trying to form this orchestra, I also am currently the event organiser, assistant with press, sole financial backer, liaison with TFL for filming, the appointed "employer" for insurance purposes & the nominated charity contact. And I'm trying to hold down a full time job and perform and still play music with my band!
I feel this is a tiny bit like what David Frost felt before interviewing Nixon. I need help. And not just financial (although I'd be lying if I said that wasn't the forefront of my mind a lot of the time). But I can't seem to find it. People come and go, lose interest, get bored, frustrated, concerned about risk, etc. And people stop responding to e-mails, texts, calls.
Even some of my own musicians, whilst talking enthusiastically on facebook about performing with me at these upcoming events, stop replying to things (You know, just to do one performance with my own solo band involves 20-30 e-mails/texts, an excel spreadsheet and about half a night organising?).
Everyone thinks "oh, he's got loads of people helping him. Look how it's all coming along. Well, I don't have people helping me (except for my lovely girlfriend who's an absolute godsend, and a couple of friends poking up occasionally) that's because I've sacrificed any life I have, getting only 5 hours sleep every day, to work and work and work, until this thing succeeds.
So, I had a choice - I either spend all my time whining about it on here, telling you the most inane things (what kind of sandwiches I eat, what colour hair people I meet have, etc). I could either spend time writing blogs every day to explain how woefully difficult this is (wouldn't be a "challenge" if it wasn't!!) or I get on and do it. I know I need help but I'm not complaining that I don't have it. I am the only one responsible for the decisions that I make in this life, and I've chosen to do this. I'm quite happy spending a year of my life doing this, because I believe it betters this world and is for good causes.
So, I won't be on here much. I honestly don't have the time and will be working flat out to make this whole thing succeed. Plus, you can read all about up to date action as I put it up here (www.facebook.com/121212challenge) and here (www.twitter/com/121212challenge).
And if I keep working like this, putting every moment of my life into these things, maybe, just maybe I'll inspire a couple of people I meet to commit a little time, or help out however possible.
And if not?
Well. It's still better than reading a daily blog about what kind of sandwiches I eat.
Monday, 11 June 2012
Statistics - May
Greetings once more, dear viewers.
Apologies for the delays but I have been sunning myself in the Mediterranean. Anyway, here are some more stats for Jan-May. As at 31 May 2012. This is the new stats! Broken down by section, to show you a little more. Statting to the max!! So....
So, at this point in time, I calculate that I need to meet under 500 musicians to make a full 100 piece symphony orchestra.
Just as an indication for you, in May I met an average of 2 musicians a day.....
Apologies for the delays but I have been sunning myself in the Mediterranean. Anyway, here are some more stats for Jan-May. As at 31 May 2012. This is the new stats! Broken down by section, to show you a little more. Statting to the max!! So....
- 7% of musicians I have found are carrying brass instruments.
- 19% of musicians I have found are carrying woodwind instruments
- 74% of musicians I have found are carrying string instruments
BRASS
- 13% are women
- 87% are men
- 63% express interest (yes) or possible interest (maybe)
- 20% of these interested people respond and are happy to be added to the roster.
- So, I have a 1% chance when I meet a musician that they will be a brass player who is interested and willing to be added to the roster.
WOODWIND
- 35% are women
- 65% are men
- 85% express interest (yes) or possible interest (maybe)
- 30% of these interested people are happy to be added to the roster.
- So, I have a 5% chance when I meet a musician that they will be a woodwind player who is interested and willing to be added to the roster.
STRING
- 53% are women
- 47% are men
- 80% express interest (yes) or possible interest (maybe)
- 29% of these interested people are happy to be added to the roster.
- So, I have a 17% chance when I meet a musician that they will be a string player who is interested and willing to be added to the roster.
So, at this point in time, I calculate that I need to meet under 500 musicians to make a full 100 piece symphony orchestra.
Just as an indication for you, in May I met an average of 2 musicians a day.....
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Filming and adventures on the underground
Well, we finally have the permits for filming on the tube. This means you'll soon be able to see what a fool I make of myself rather than just read about it.
I tried it out yesterday, proud of my new permit, with a two man crew. The first person I approached was carring something that wasn't musical (an occasional mistake). I said "is that a musical instrument?" he said "No. Is there a problem?"
I realised that having an official badge doesn't always work in your favours and I've lost that charm of scruffy man randomly approaching strangers.
However, two really strange things happened to yesterday.
The first, before I got the permit and in the morning at Tower Hill Station, I spotted a guy carrying a violin (turned out to be a viola, sorry!) and I knew he looked familiar. I gave the usual spiel about the challenge, and he seemed really interested. I told him my name and he said "are you any relation to Hannah Buswell?" To my knowledge I'm not, so I said no and then he gave me his name. I said "are you any relation to xxxx?" He said "yes". That's my twin brother.
I'd met his twin on 12th February, over 3 months ago, at the very same station, carrying a violin (which I correctly guessed)....
Second odd thing also involved a violist. I had a manic time at Baker Street station, meeting around 8 musicians in the space of about 5 minutes. It was insane! Running from one to the other. Not sure I'm cut out for that. Anyway, met this guy with a viola and started my speech and he went "oh, I've heard of you". Not actually that strange I guess (not many people running around trying to form an orchestra!) but it was a first for me on the London Underground.
And it made me think about things a little. I'm aware that, over the next few months, things will pick up and become a little more "proper". Film crews following me on the tube, business cards, meetings with companies about commissioning stuff, news stories about the challenge and the performance on the EDF Energy London Eye, it's all getting a lot more professional. As a result, I anticipate a larger number of people being interested. I don't blame them. Once there's a stamp of approval behind things, you always feel a little more comfortable.
But I'll miss the days when I looked like a tramp and only had a pencil and a notepad and people had to just believe in a dream.
I tried it out yesterday, proud of my new permit, with a two man crew. The first person I approached was carring something that wasn't musical (an occasional mistake). I said "is that a musical instrument?" he said "No. Is there a problem?"
I realised that having an official badge doesn't always work in your favours and I've lost that charm of scruffy man randomly approaching strangers.
However, two really strange things happened to yesterday.
The first, before I got the permit and in the morning at Tower Hill Station, I spotted a guy carrying a violin (turned out to be a viola, sorry!) and I knew he looked familiar. I gave the usual spiel about the challenge, and he seemed really interested. I told him my name and he said "are you any relation to Hannah Buswell?" To my knowledge I'm not, so I said no and then he gave me his name. I said "are you any relation to xxxx?" He said "yes". That's my twin brother.
I'd met his twin on 12th February, over 3 months ago, at the very same station, carrying a violin (which I correctly guessed)....
Second odd thing also involved a violist. I had a manic time at Baker Street station, meeting around 8 musicians in the space of about 5 minutes. It was insane! Running from one to the other. Not sure I'm cut out for that. Anyway, met this guy with a viola and started my speech and he went "oh, I've heard of you". Not actually that strange I guess (not many people running around trying to form an orchestra!) but it was a first for me on the London Underground.
And it made me think about things a little. I'm aware that, over the next few months, things will pick up and become a little more "proper". Film crews following me on the tube, business cards, meetings with companies about commissioning stuff, news stories about the challenge and the performance on the EDF Energy London Eye, it's all getting a lot more professional. As a result, I anticipate a larger number of people being interested. I don't blame them. Once there's a stamp of approval behind things, you always feel a little more comfortable.
But I'll miss the days when I looked like a tramp and only had a pencil and a notepad and people had to just believe in a dream.
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Statistics - April
Greetings and salutations!
Here are some more stats for Jan-April. As at 1 May 2012, there's some mega statting going on!! Of the musicians I have met....
So...based on this information, you could say I have a 28.5% change of finding an interested musician when I see them. But to break it down by instrument I have a....wait a minute....a...
Considering the amount I've already met, it's getting there.....
*Statistics are based on finding 100% of strangers to form an orchestra and do not take into account the musicians that perform in the band and will be principals on each instrument..
Here are some more stats for Jan-April. As at 1 May 2012, there's some mega statting going on!! Of the musicians I have met....
- 48% are women
- 52% of people therefore are men
- 0% are anything else (to the best of my ability)
- 9% of musicians I have found are carrying brass instruments
- 15% of musicians I have found are carrying woodwind instruments
- 76% of musicians I have found are carrying string instruments
- 0% of musicians I have found are carrying percussion instruments
- 22% of musicians I meet express no interest in joining an orchestra for the challenge (the "no"s)
- 59% of musicians I meet express possible interested (the "maybe"s)
- 20% of musicians I meet express a positive interest in joining an orchestra (the "yes"s)
- Therefore, I would say that I have a 79% chance of meeting an interested musician. Of this group, 69% give me their details (mainly e-mail, with some phone and facebook). The other 31% of interested people just take the website.
- Of these musicians potentially interested, 40% of respond back to me.
- Of this 40% of musicians that actually respond back, 90% of them are happy to be placed on a roster and get involved with the project. The other 10% are tentative.
So...based on this information, you could say I have a 28.5% change of finding an interested musician when I see them. But to break it down by instrument I have a....wait a minute....a...
- 2.6% chance of finding a brass player who is interested enough to respond and be placed on a roster
- 4.3% chance of finding a woodwind player who is interested enough to respond and be placed on a roster
- 21.6% chance of finding a string player who is interested enough to respond and be placed on a roster
Considering the amount I've already met, it's getting there.....
*Statistics are based on finding 100% of strangers to form an orchestra and do not take into account the musicians that perform in the band and will be principals on each instrument..
Challenge techniques
People often ask me how I find musicians. What techniques do I use? How often do I do this?
Well, I have decided to give you an insight into how I conduct this challenge. I'm going to peel away the secrets and show you just how this is done! I feel a little like Penn & Teller....
Before I start, I should say that for the first 4 month I just went up to people, told them what I was doing. And from now on, I have printed cards I give them. More professional. But less personal I think. Will be interesting to see the results and if they change....Anyway. Here are the techniques used.
Technique # 1 - Platform Meandering
The most obvious and laziest of all techniques. Meander suspiciously around a platform until you spot an instrument case. Also good for lunchtimes where you can sit with your lunch and watch the trains arrive. Many a musician is found via platform loitering,
Technique # 2 - Trainscanning
This technique requires an element of skill and good eyesight. As the train is pulling into the station, you move your head at the same pace as the train, quickly back and forth, and view each carriage to see if you can see instruments. Just moving your eyes with your head still causes a bit of a headache and is harder to do. By moving your head as well, you reduce the speed at which your eyes need to move. You do, of course, look like you're massively disapproving of the oncoming train...
Once you spot an instrument, run to the carriage and get on. If you can't make it in time, get on the nearest carriage and do some.....
Technique # 3 - Carriage Hopping
This is the fun part! Get on at the last carriage (having just done some trainscanning) and walk from one end of the carriage to the other. At the next station, just out and move to the next carriage. The more astute commuters spot you doing this, and hold onto their luggage a little tighter. So, in a bizarre way, I think I'm helping increase security on the underground.
Careful attention is paid to instrument cases under the foldup seats. Many a violin/saxophone case has been spotted there!
Once you get to the end of the train, just off, do a Platform Meander and start at the other end again.....
Technique # 4 - Carriage Strolling
Whilst done in small bursts whilst Carriage Hopping, this can only be done on the Metropolitan line (and some overground lines if allowed). You walk from one end of the train to the next, then back again. Fun to do in small bursts, but gets boring very quickly. Do a day of carriage strolling and you're longing for a bit of a carriage hop!
Technique # 5 - Station Loitering
Many novices confuse Station Loitering with Platform Meandering. It's a schoolboy error to make. If you tell an inexperienced musician hunter to Station Loiter, they'll find themselves on the platform looking around. NO! You're missing one of the most important tools in finding people on the underground. Loitering in one place, letting people pass you by. It's like that analogy with the rain and running. Except with no moisture....
Station Loitering is finding a sweet spot(s) in a station and hanging about. A good example would be the bottom of the escalators at Picadilly. The two escalators go to the Bakerloo Line and the Picadilly Line. Which means every moment you have people going to the two platforms, and coming from them. A constant 4 flows of human traffic. Find the sweet spots in the station and go from one to the other, depending on the flow.
HOWEVER! Whilst the benefits of Station Loitering are many, it's not without it's curses. If you spot a musician in one of these flows, then you have to get to them! That can be difficult, and can involve Escalator Madness, the technique most avoided. Also, if you are too close to the entrance/exit and spot a musician about to leave, then you have to do a mad dash and they're normally scared. Trust me, I know....
Technique # 6 - Escalator madness
The most loathed of all techniques. It's not really even a technique. Well, it partly is. The technique is to ensure you are always closest to the opposite moving escalator. That way, if you see a musician you can gesture to them/hand them a card.
The problem is that, to get in/out of most stations you have to use an escalator. And when you're on it, as a musician hunter, it's hard to avoid looking at the other flow of people going the opposite way. The madest of the madness comes when you step onto an escalator, and see a musician the other side stepping off. OH NO! PANIC! What do you do? Do you run back the wrong way, causing problems to the other passengers? Do you abide by the rules and run down and up the other way, in the hope they'll have not left? Do you shout out and throw some note at them, hoping they'll see it? Do you madly slide down the middle part like an action hero?
I'm not telling you what I've done (*cough* all of the above *cough*) but I can tell you it's madness. I dislike it a lot. OK, a little part of me loves it.....
And thus concludes the techniques for any wannabe musician hunter on the underground.
Well, I have decided to give you an insight into how I conduct this challenge. I'm going to peel away the secrets and show you just how this is done! I feel a little like Penn & Teller....
Before I start, I should say that for the first 4 month I just went up to people, told them what I was doing. And from now on, I have printed cards I give them. More professional. But less personal I think. Will be interesting to see the results and if they change....Anyway. Here are the techniques used.
Technique # 1 - Platform Meandering
The most obvious and laziest of all techniques. Meander suspiciously around a platform until you spot an instrument case. Also good for lunchtimes where you can sit with your lunch and watch the trains arrive. Many a musician is found via platform loitering,
Technique # 2 - Trainscanning
This technique requires an element of skill and good eyesight. As the train is pulling into the station, you move your head at the same pace as the train, quickly back and forth, and view each carriage to see if you can see instruments. Just moving your eyes with your head still causes a bit of a headache and is harder to do. By moving your head as well, you reduce the speed at which your eyes need to move. You do, of course, look like you're massively disapproving of the oncoming train...
Once you spot an instrument, run to the carriage and get on. If you can't make it in time, get on the nearest carriage and do some.....
Technique # 3 - Carriage Hopping
This is the fun part! Get on at the last carriage (having just done some trainscanning) and walk from one end of the carriage to the other. At the next station, just out and move to the next carriage. The more astute commuters spot you doing this, and hold onto their luggage a little tighter. So, in a bizarre way, I think I'm helping increase security on the underground.
Careful attention is paid to instrument cases under the foldup seats. Many a violin/saxophone case has been spotted there!
Once you get to the end of the train, just off, do a Platform Meander and start at the other end again.....
Technique # 4 - Carriage Strolling
Whilst done in small bursts whilst Carriage Hopping, this can only be done on the Metropolitan line (and some overground lines if allowed). You walk from one end of the train to the next, then back again. Fun to do in small bursts, but gets boring very quickly. Do a day of carriage strolling and you're longing for a bit of a carriage hop!
Technique # 5 - Station Loitering
Many novices confuse Station Loitering with Platform Meandering. It's a schoolboy error to make. If you tell an inexperienced musician hunter to Station Loiter, they'll find themselves on the platform looking around. NO! You're missing one of the most important tools in finding people on the underground. Loitering in one place, letting people pass you by. It's like that analogy with the rain and running. Except with no moisture....
Station Loitering is finding a sweet spot(s) in a station and hanging about. A good example would be the bottom of the escalators at Picadilly. The two escalators go to the Bakerloo Line and the Picadilly Line. Which means every moment you have people going to the two platforms, and coming from them. A constant 4 flows of human traffic. Find the sweet spots in the station and go from one to the other, depending on the flow.
HOWEVER! Whilst the benefits of Station Loitering are many, it's not without it's curses. If you spot a musician in one of these flows, then you have to get to them! That can be difficult, and can involve Escalator Madness, the technique most avoided. Also, if you are too close to the entrance/exit and spot a musician about to leave, then you have to do a mad dash and they're normally scared. Trust me, I know....
Technique # 6 - Escalator madness
The most loathed of all techniques. It's not really even a technique. Well, it partly is. The technique is to ensure you are always closest to the opposite moving escalator. That way, if you see a musician you can gesture to them/hand them a card.
The problem is that, to get in/out of most stations you have to use an escalator. And when you're on it, as a musician hunter, it's hard to avoid looking at the other flow of people going the opposite way. The madest of the madness comes when you step onto an escalator, and see a musician the other side stepping off. OH NO! PANIC! What do you do? Do you run back the wrong way, causing problems to the other passengers? Do you abide by the rules and run down and up the other way, in the hope they'll have not left? Do you shout out and throw some note at them, hoping they'll see it? Do you madly slide down the middle part like an action hero?
I'm not telling you what I've done (*cough* all of the above *cough*) but I can tell you it's madness. I dislike it a lot. OK, a little part of me loves it.....
And thus concludes the techniques for any wannabe musician hunter on the underground.
FAQs about the challenge
I have been asked by a few people how I look for musicians. And I get asked a lot of questions about what the challenge entails. The most comment misconsceptions/frequently asked questions seem to be:
You have to find an orchestra of buskers, right?
No I don't look for buskers. I find musicians carrying their instruments on the underground. But if I find a busker that's playing a classical instrument, I might drop a little note in their case (along with some money to weigh it down/bribe them) or speak to them during a break.
You've got to play with an orchestra on the trains? That's gotta be tough!
I'm not performing with people on the underground. It's pretty much impossible to do anyway. A carriage holds about 200 people. And that's just people, not instruments. Not only would it be difficult to fit, we wouldn't be able to hear or see much. If this was the challenge, I think it' would be fun, but a little pointless. The challenge is to find people to form an orchestra, and perform in a venue at a later date.
Do you have to get the musician to audition with you when you meet them? How do they know what song to play?
Finding musicians is tough enough, but finding one who had the free time (and interest!) to get their instrument out, set up somewhere with space and perform with me, would be a logistical nightmare. I'd also have to always carry my instrument with me, which I can't always do. The people just have to give me details and we'll meet/rehearse at a later date.
Do people have to sign up and agree there and then?
No. The musicians I meet just have to provide me details. There's no commitment needed in the initial meeting. Most people are busy and I don't want to take up much of their time. In general, those who have signed up to be on the roster have expressed an interest, but not committed when I first meet them.
What if you find the musicians and don't get one of the 12 venues (www.121212.org.uk/venues)
Technically the challenge has failed. But it would be a shame to go to such efforts and not perform. So a performance will go ahead, just probably after the deadline of 12th Dec.
What if you get on of the 12 venues but don't find enough musicians?
Again, the challenge has failed. But it would be a shame for everyone who has bought a ticket not to be given a good night. So I promise an event will occur!
How do you find the musicians?
There are many techniques I use (see other post about this) but I just look for instrument cases. This means that some smaller instruments are hard to find, but not impossible. Sometimes people carry a flute case, and it's quite easy to see. Once in a while I am speaking to someone about the challenge, and someone else steps forward and says they have an instrument in their bag. If you do anything long enough, you can find whatever you want.
Do you seriously think you can pull this off?
Yes. Over 2 million people travel on the London Underground every day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground). Now I obviously can't meet them all, but I can easily see thousands of people a day with little or no effort. Just travelling back to me house from the cinema mean I have the opportunity to travel on 8 different carriages, with the potential of seeing over a thousand people.
My statistics show how many people I'll need to find to get a symphony orchestra, but it also doesn't include the fact that as interest in this rises, and as people spread the word, I'll have more chance. I've not had any musicians I've met know what I'm doing, but I have met non-musicians who have heard about this. In fact, I performed in Berlin in April and one of the support act's fans asked if I was "the same Buswell from the London Underground". So word is spreading.
I'm a musician and want to get involved? How can I do this?
The best chance any musician has of getting involved is to not contact me directly (if they're interested in joining the band, e-mail me at shaun@buswellmusic.com. But if they're interested in just joining the orchestra, don't contact me directly). This way, they remain a stranger.
Then, I would recommend they follow me on twitter (www.twitter.com/121212challenge) as I'll post up sometimes in advance where I'm going to be. Especially when the film crew will be with me.
Later in the year, I'll set up two weeks (prob June and early Sept) where I'll stay in the same place for 1-2 hours (prob from 8-10) giving everyone a chance to come and meet me and sign up.
If you want to, you could always contact darren@121212.org.uk. He's the web admin and might be able to also give you a bit more of a lowdown on places I'll be.
I'm not a musician. What can I do to help?
One of the best things you can do to help me is sign up to twitter (www.twitter.com/121212challenge) and facebook ((www.facebook.com/121212challenge) and spread the word. I am really bad at promoting myself, and I'm doing this challenge pretty much single handedly.
You can also donate to the charities (www.121212.org.uk/venues) and help raise funds this way.
And lastly, when it's announced, you can buy tickets to the event on 12th December 2012!
You have to find an orchestra of buskers, right?
No I don't look for buskers. I find musicians carrying their instruments on the underground. But if I find a busker that's playing a classical instrument, I might drop a little note in their case (along with some money to weigh it down/bribe them) or speak to them during a break.
You've got to play with an orchestra on the trains? That's gotta be tough!
I'm not performing with people on the underground. It's pretty much impossible to do anyway. A carriage holds about 200 people. And that's just people, not instruments. Not only would it be difficult to fit, we wouldn't be able to hear or see much. If this was the challenge, I think it' would be fun, but a little pointless. The challenge is to find people to form an orchestra, and perform in a venue at a later date.
Do you have to get the musician to audition with you when you meet them? How do they know what song to play?
Finding musicians is tough enough, but finding one who had the free time (and interest!) to get their instrument out, set up somewhere with space and perform with me, would be a logistical nightmare. I'd also have to always carry my instrument with me, which I can't always do. The people just have to give me details and we'll meet/rehearse at a later date.
Do people have to sign up and agree there and then?
No. The musicians I meet just have to provide me details. There's no commitment needed in the initial meeting. Most people are busy and I don't want to take up much of their time. In general, those who have signed up to be on the roster have expressed an interest, but not committed when I first meet them.
What if you find the musicians and don't get one of the 12 venues (www.121212.org.uk/venues)
Technically the challenge has failed. But it would be a shame to go to such efforts and not perform. So a performance will go ahead, just probably after the deadline of 12th Dec.
What if you get on of the 12 venues but don't find enough musicians?
Again, the challenge has failed. But it would be a shame for everyone who has bought a ticket not to be given a good night. So I promise an event will occur!
How do you find the musicians?
There are many techniques I use (see other post about this) but I just look for instrument cases. This means that some smaller instruments are hard to find, but not impossible. Sometimes people carry a flute case, and it's quite easy to see. Once in a while I am speaking to someone about the challenge, and someone else steps forward and says they have an instrument in their bag. If you do anything long enough, you can find whatever you want.
Do you seriously think you can pull this off?
Yes. Over 2 million people travel on the London Underground every day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground). Now I obviously can't meet them all, but I can easily see thousands of people a day with little or no effort. Just travelling back to me house from the cinema mean I have the opportunity to travel on 8 different carriages, with the potential of seeing over a thousand people.
My statistics show how many people I'll need to find to get a symphony orchestra, but it also doesn't include the fact that as interest in this rises, and as people spread the word, I'll have more chance. I've not had any musicians I've met know what I'm doing, but I have met non-musicians who have heard about this. In fact, I performed in Berlin in April and one of the support act's fans asked if I was "the same Buswell from the London Underground". So word is spreading.
I'm a musician and want to get involved? How can I do this?
The best chance any musician has of getting involved is to not contact me directly (if they're interested in joining the band, e-mail me at shaun@buswellmusic.com. But if they're interested in just joining the orchestra, don't contact me directly). This way, they remain a stranger.
Then, I would recommend they follow me on twitter (www.twitter.com/121212challenge) as I'll post up sometimes in advance where I'm going to be. Especially when the film crew will be with me.
Later in the year, I'll set up two weeks (prob June and early Sept) where I'll stay in the same place for 1-2 hours (prob from 8-10) giving everyone a chance to come and meet me and sign up.
If you want to, you could always contact darren@121212.org.uk. He's the web admin and might be able to also give you a bit more of a lowdown on places I'll be.
I'm not a musician. What can I do to help?
One of the best things you can do to help me is sign up to twitter (www.twitter.com/121212challenge) and facebook ((www.facebook.com/121212challenge) and spread the word. I am really bad at promoting myself, and I'm doing this challenge pretty much single handedly.
You can also donate to the charities (www.121212.org.uk/venues) and help raise funds this way.
And lastly, when it's announced, you can buy tickets to the event on 12th December 2012!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)