Business booms for buskers

VOX POP: AS HOME prices crash through the floorboards and the Live Register grows at a worrying pace, one unofficial economic…

VOX POP:AS HOME prices crash through the floorboards and the Live Register grows at a worrying pace, one unofficial economic yardstick suggests the recession isn't as bad as we think.

Discretionary spending remains strong, according to the Grafton Street Busker Index. Shoppers still have plenty of change rattling in their pockets, say street entertainers taking advantage of a rare spell of recent dry weather.

Musicians on the busy pedestrian strip say a typical wage is upwards of €30 an hour - and despite the gloomy economy, this year has been better than in the past. One classical musician says his group of five can play for four hours and earn €500 - each that is.

There is one financial hazard, though, but it's difficult to say whether it is connected to an economy in crisis - buskers are having their takings stolen. The Irish Times watched one man loiter around the upturned hat of an Argentinian tango dancer before he reached in and withdrew a handful of coins.

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Another busker, 16-year-old Rory O'Reilly, had to stop playing Justin Timberlake's Cry Me a River to demand a thief return the money he had stolen from his guitar case.

Clad in distressed denim, NC Lawlor sits on his amplifier at the top of Grafton Street, near the St Stephen's Green shopping centre, playing blues guitar with a slide.

His guitar case looks like the bottom of a wishing well. As he talks, he takes two €5 notes out of the sea of silver and gold to stash them in a compartment. He says business is down.

"I kind of notice a little difference - I've been here for six years, and there's not as many people as in other years."

Pablo is an adept tango dancer and Marlena does everything Rodriguez does, but backwards. It's easy for her, however, as she is a lifesize rag doll attached to his shoes with elastic. Rodriguez's dark suit is stained white with sweat.

"She is heavy," he says. "I can only do this for two hours".

"I make good money here: €100 for two hours. The only thing is it is dangerous dancing here. The Irish, they are crazy people sometimes."

Almost on cue, a thief robs a handful of coins. Rodriguez is busy dancing, so The Irish Times tells the robber to put the money back. The man throws something back into Rodriguez's hat - but possibly not the money he took out.

Photographs: Cyril Byrne

Wearing flashy white shoes and sunglasses, the violinist doesn't look like your typical busker. He's not, it turns out.

"We started on Grafton Street four years ago but now we mostly play private parties. What you earn depends on how good you are. If you're not good, then you might take €10 or nothing.

"When we do come here, we play for four to five hours. We can earn between €100 and €500. That's each person. But we've kind of moved beyond this now. It's not our image anymore. Can you mention that we're going to play Marlay Park on August 17th?"

At first it doesn't look good for the teenager. He has an audience of one - his sister - but he's only just starting for the day.

"There's a lot of people out - so it's tough to find a spot. A leprechaun playing a mandolin just told me to move. I got a fiver - that's the best I've ever had. I've had a few €2 coins. This guy took them, so I said, 'Hey, put them back in' and he dropped a €1 coin back in.

"What songs are popular? Justin Timberlake's My Love, Paolo Nutini's New Shoes. They're pretty upbeat - maybe people are trying to beat the recession blues

The young trad music trio have gathered quite a crowd as they belt out a few tunes.

"It's better this year than last year," says banjo player John Flynn, plucking a few strings to warm up. "We've made a bit, over €90 each over three hours. And I suppose in other years we usually get €40 to €50 each over two hours."

"Lively stuff works better than slow tunes," says Rónán O'Grady. "And old reels always work better I think."