Anita plays the BART station

[Anita]

Hi All--
In February, I was sitting around the house with no work, and a serious money crunch. So I decided I'd use the time to investigate playing down at the Bay Area Rapid Transit stations, and maybe I'd even make a little money at it.

I have never cared for this type of "gig," playing unsolicited in public. I was totally unaware of the rules for this type of thing, too. It was going to be a learning experience. So I, dressed in male garb, took an acoustic guitar down to the busy downtown station in Berkeley.

I spent a few hours there, and the next day I did some time at an Oakland station, in a high-end shopping district. It seemed like it was easy for people to ignore me. I was learning on the job, though, and I saw more what was called for. Some stations I could play inside, some only outside. Some didn't want me at all. I saw that I had to be more of a novelty, and I had to be louder. So the third session was going to be Anita, playing an electric guitar.

This was a new experience for me. I don't mind being out in the streets as a gal, but I'm moving around there. This was going to be standing in one place, putting myself on exhibit. I got my little 9-volt practice amp fired up. I dressed with a knee-length skirt, and heels. I had on the long black-haired wig, since it was showtime.

About 2 pm, I stepped out on a plaza directly in front of the two main escalators. Whew! I was all alone out there, but it was the prime spot. I'd seen an old-time sax player there the day before. If he came again, I'd negotiate with him--for now, I had the space.

I knew from my own years in riding transit that the best street musicians are the ones you can hear for blocks. By the time you actually see them, you've made up your mind whether you like them or not. This was really a stretch for me, to sing and play as loudly as I could, and then have people see that it was...not what they expected to see.

Immediately I had five black teenagers off to one side, making remarks. But it was easy to ignore them; they were some distance away, and I started playing. Once I had done a song, I was good to go. I lost the nervousness, and just started getting into it. Some people smiled; most didn't. I started getting contributions, little by little. I even got money from people who were buried under their ipods, since I was providing sight drama as well as musical drama.

I noticed that parents with children did not smile and point me out, as they would have probably done for someone in a clown suit, for instance. They tended to ignore me as well as they could. I did not like putting them in that position, but this "gig" I was doing was not just for fun.

I got a few compliments, one on my mode of dress. The other compliments were more vague, and I was playing and did not want to stop and ask for clarification. The five teens did eventually move across my 'stage' and confront me. They were hostile and playful at the same time, trying to see what I'd do. I kept up the banter, but I wasn't really on top of it the way I would have liked to be. They were already on the move, and didn't linger too long. I had no other problems the rest of the day.

As a money-maker, this didn't really cut it. Lots of change, and few bills.
I'm sure that if I went out there again, I'd get better and better at pulling in the cash. But I got a little work the next week, and by the end of March I was rolling again, getting calls from customers. So I haven't been back.

It still bothers me about the parents--I can't say I know for sure that they were upset, but I probably would be in their place. They're being confronted with one of those "what's that, Mommy?" situations, and they don't know quite how to explain it. It was an unexpected part of my little adventure. to think about that.

I also want to say that I do not feel this way when I am out in the supermarket or the bank. There, I think it's fine that children and parents see a TG person going about her business, like any normal person. It's the fact that I was forcing the act on them that bothers me about this situation.

[Alexandra]

my hats off to you for even thinking of doing this experiment!

[Terri(SO)]

Anita,
Good for you!
I don't know what's wrong with the parents either. I would have thought that in Berkeley you might not have had so many reactions like that. I wish it weren't so. As a parent myself, I would like to think I would have been able to give more respect and ask my kids to do the same (especially if the music was good).
T.

[Absaroka]

Hi Anita

I am impressed with the courage it took just to play like that. Doing en femme adds another dimension as well.

I've always wondered how much money anyone could actuallymake doing this.

Andrea

[DonnaT]

Maybe if the skirt was a bit shorter you might have got more change? That certainly took some gumpshun, I must say. Well done

[Sinjoy(SO)]

Anita,

You've got guts!!! I'm sitting here grinning, you did it, and on your terms!

Don't worry what the parents and others said, it could have been a wonderful teaching moment, and at least you wern't leading someone around on a leash, parents have a much harder time trying to explain THAT to their little ones!!

I'm glad things picked up work wise, but if not, at least we know you will never starve!

Sinjoy(so)

[Anita]

Thanks for the encouragement!
I went on to edit the above post:

"I also want to say that I do not feel this way [about parents and children seeing me] when I am out in the supermarket or the bank. There, I think it's fine that children and parents see a TG person going about her business, like any normal person. It's the fact that I was forcing the act on them that bothers me about this situation. '