Backstage Banter

Hello fellow Buskers. – Back in December, I promised to show you a trick I discovered to make more money playing music on the street. That post can be found by clicking HERE. – My discovery came when I realized about half the people are too timid to get close to a stranger on the street, so they elect to pass on putting money in the tip jar that is sitting right there next to me.

As soon as I added a remote tip jar to the mix, my income increased by almost 40%. – This is not just any tip jar, however. It’s a big plastic office water bottle that is light in weight but secure because people cannot stick their hands in through the small opening once the bucks are deposited. – Go for it!

Guitar Showcase is the next stop in our continuing series!

 In this segment:

•  We get to check out an early-50s Gibson ES-175 Electric Archtop which features the original specs, including a single P90 pickup in the neck position. Later models featured a humbucking pickup.
• The next guitar was an original Epiphone Model 4 roundhole acoustic archtop. As described in the video, this is one of the oldest instruments to be featured in this event. Check out how they determine its authenticity..ONLY PROFESSIONALS!!
• Another guitar featured is a relatively new model in the vintage market, an original Kramer guitar. But what makes this guitar special is the one-off paint job done by San Francisco artist, Mark Erickson.

Ever wonder what it would be like to go on a world tour with an international blues celebrity? Now you can have the next best thing. Veteran bassist Greg Rzab has joined forces with John Mayall, and will be reporting in to us from the road! First leg of the Mayall 2009 tour schedule starts on March 20 in Cerritos, California, on to Copenhagen Sweden, Spain and Ireland, and ends July in the UK. -  During Greg’s career he has performed with many artists including, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, Otis Rush, Gov’t Mule,The Allman Brothers Band, Bob Weir, and the Black Crowes just to name a few. – Check back often to get the latest news from Greg’s perspective, as the tour visits Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and the UK.