September 14, 2003 Part One Dear Internet: After a suspensful morning of intermittant showers, I arrived at our customary singin' spot to find The Councilman sitting, forlornly, whilst a diminutive Asian gentlemen bowed what we believe to be a called a "Chinese fiddle". It was inevitable, I suppose, that another performer would one day discover the great lucrativity of "The Gentlemen's Corner". That it'd happened so soon, however, weighed heavy on the heart. But, a Gentlemen perserveres, and after I'd restrained The Councilman, who'd greeted me with a most inappropriate, "I's gonna kill me a Chinaman!", we trotted a ways down the promenade to peddle our musical wares under a nice shady tree. Thankfully, twenty minutes and a mere three dollars of public donations later, we were overjoyed to see the "Chinese fiddle" being packed away and we quickly trotted back to reclaim our rightful position. But alas, though we strummed, plucked, and sang with our customary brio, a mere $18 found it's way into our basket. When one considers the $16 of drink we purchased from a roaming (and rather chatty) beersmith, this left the day's profit at just over $2. Though some might blame the poor showing on the morning's foul weather, The Councilman insisted that the "Chinaman" had sapped the area. I tend to agree. Another day, perhaps. 'Til then. -'Smilin' Andy Bean November 25, 2003 Part Two Dear Internet: A fortuitous spell of injunsummer-like weather had The Gentlemen well on our way to record earnings today, as legions of young parents and oldtimers, finding the afternoon suitable for strolling in the park, strolled through the park and past "The Gentlemen's Corner". Perhaps our playing was particularly spirited; or maybe the good peoples of New York City just feel more generous near the holidays; or maybe still our nation's recent forays into world's sandier regions, and the accompanying swell in patriotic sentiment, have made the citizenry that much more receptive to our particularly "American" style of music. In any case, the flow of dollars and good will could not be stopped. As evidence: one kind matron went as far as to give us a taste of the elusive $5 bill(!), a foreign gentlemen saw fit to flick a few Euros our way, an elderly man paused to whisper that what we play was once called "shitkickin' music," while another, after informing the nubile co-eds dancing nearby that they "couldn't dance for crap", bellowed to his wife, who was nowhere to be seen and very well may be in her grave, "Esther, sit down! We're gonna listen to some music!" The Councilman and I agree that there is no finer praise than that from the aged. Indeed, things went so well that when we'd paused for an illegal sip of rye whiskey, we found over $62 in our possession, after only 90 minutes work. Record pace, indeed. Sadly though, a park service employee soon put an end to our fun, evoking the rule of "no amplification in the park." We protested politely that while we may violate the letter of the law, as The Councilman does use a small amplifier, we in no way violate its spirit, as his amplified sound is no louder than my unamplified geetar. But alas, the park "ranger" was not an educated man and thus had little time for our sophistry. -'Smilin' A. Bean Return to Menu
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