Recently, thirst trap edits of the fish-throwing employees at Pike Place Market have been going viral on social media. Pike is not only known for hot fishmongers, though, and the market continues to be one of Seattle’s historic landmarks, busiest tourist spots and bustling economic centers. In addition to a huge number of shops, stalls, vendors and attractions, the various buskers situated around the market are integral to Pike’s identity.
Busking, or the act of performing publicly and soliciting money, can take on many forms, but is often done through playing an instrument in various walkways and common areas. At Pike Place, there is an established scene of notable performers, including the Accordion and Violin Cats, a piano man with near-constant attendance, a Hammered Dulcimer player and a variety of other instrumentalists and performers.
The market sanctions buskers and has an established system to regulate them and their performances. Buskers must apply for a license, which costs $35 a year, and are subject to a variety of rules to ensure a positive market environment. For example, to keep noise levels manageable, horns, percussion instruments and amplification are not allowed.
These licenses aren’t only restrictive, through vetting, managing and regulating the scene, Pike Place Market also establishes protections that help the buskers succeed. They have buskers operate on a schedule, which nearly eliminates competition between performers, and they can use their security systems to protect buskers from threats, like harassment or theft.
Bob Goldstick, a frequent busker, plays the Hammer Dulcimer, which is a unique instrument with roots in India and the Middle East. To him, the structured and regulated busking system is a huge positive, especially compared to busking in other venues or on the street.
“Here, you’re protected. You have security, and it’s legitimate, and you sign up for your spot. It’s replaced to play. All the buskers kind of know all the rules, and they pretty much get along,” Goldstick said.
Goldstick, a lifetime musician who spent many years playing in bars and nursing homes, among other gigs, shared that one of the highlights of busking at the market is seeing audience members particularly connect with the music he is playing, totally coincidentally.
“You don’t get that playing in another place, to see somebody just light up like that. It’s because it’s random… they don’t expect to hear the music. I call it spontaneous joy,” Goldstick said.
Busking can provide an opportunity to make some extra money for career musicians, and can also be an avenue into performance for people who aren’t satisfied with the conventional career route.
Evan, the man behind Accordion Cat, has been busking full-time since 2009. He performs both solo and with Violin Cat as a duo act. The premise is simple. He wears a cat mask and plays accordion, and his constant presence at the market has become endearing and iconic to many.
After graduating from Seattle University in 2006, Evan was unsatisfied with corporate life, and a coincidental chain of events caused him to realize that busking was a possibility for a full-time career.
“I was going through a breakup, and I was wanting to do something to fill the time… I was borrowing [my friend’s accordion] and fell in love with playing it. I brought it downtown one day and almost immediately came up with around 50 bucks. I was like, ‘okay, this seems like a nicer way to make money than working for Starbucks or T-Mobile or whatever,’” Evan said.
While busking, especially when done consistently, can make good money, performers note that there are certain factors that influence how much money might come in on a given day. Because buskers often rely on a large tourist presence for their audience, earnings can be twice as much in the summers as compared to the winters, and weekends bring in much more than weekdays. Most of all, though, the cash flow on any particular day can be totally random.
“If you start counting the money while you’re playing, it’ll make you nuts. I’ve had sets here and made five dollars, and I’ve had sets here and made $100. I’m playing the same stuff! There’s no rhyme or reason, so you just got to let it go,” Goldstick advised.
Zach Hochstein, a third-year interdisciplinary arts major, regularly plays guitar and sings at Pike Place. He shared that, while playing is fun and a great way to get better, buskers have to balance playing songs that they enjoy with popular songs that will elicit responses from the crowd, and in turn make the most money.
“[Earnings] depend on the day, very much. I know the cruise ship schedule by heart. I know when the tourists are going to be there,” Hochstein said. “You don’t have to, but it’s good to play what people want to hear. I think I’ve sung ‘Blowin’ in the Wind,’ maybe a thousand times.”
While they may sometimes seem relegated to the background of the busy market, buskers are important to Pike Place history and everyday culture, and they work hard to entertain and captivate visitors. While they might not be as viral as the hunks at the fish stalls, it is important to remember and acknowledge these talented performers. Next time you are at the market, consider slowing down, taking a listen and perhaps even tipping them—they’d love to have you!
