Proud to move them and get dismissed

All will be quick. It will surely take more to read it, than the 5 minutes that it really lasted.

Josette comes. Put your micro on and when you hear your number, go to the room. Open the door, step in the middle of the circle. Sing your songs and when you’re done, turn around and go to the exit on the right. Don’t come back to the entrance as the previous girl has just done. Don’t be impressed, the set is impressive and the jury also is. Don’t worry, all will be the best that can be ok ?

Of course it will.

Number 0323. Come in.

I walk the 5 meters to the door, with the camera following me.

Hello guys ! I say.

I am the one who says hi, André M. says. This guys is like the toughest of the jury. A jazz pianist and author-compositor. So far I have never heard any of his works but I think he is the only guy I will care about. But man he is so proud … anyway I step in the middle of the circle. Full smile. Seeing the 4 guys there, already bored at the beginning of the day.

Philippe M., a journalist of another time, specialized in rock and oldies. He can say where wherever a any rock star had a line of coke and never takes his sunglasses off.

André M. Already described. Skilled and proud. The alpha wolf.

L., a sexy girl from the 80’s; THE illustration of confusion between music and business.

Marco P., a funk famous singer, new in the jury. Dreadlocks and deep voice.

What’s your name?

Julien.

Where from … what are you going to sing ?

Lyon. La Vie en Rose. Don't worry be happy.

And after the basic info here I go …

"Des yeux qui font baisser les miens; un rire qui se perd sur sa bouche …."

Smiles. Emotion. I think I’m doing well. My goal is : move them. Love them. Make them feel something. You may not fit in the hole but make them feel. They felt. André stops me and asks me for the second song.

"Here is a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note, don’t worry, be happy ….".

And they seemed to follow the indications ; they seemed not to worry and they seemed happy. Here they are, smiling, laughing, moved again.

Alpha wolf stops me again. He got it.

Then I think “I made it, my songs are oldies so Philippe will like it. I sang gospel blues style so Marco may have liked it. And André and L. smiled so much that obvious I made it with both of them. More that L. always love when a guy can sing a little bit.”

Ok, well not :)

Marco : "You are not supposed to change the lyrics, even when you want to sing La Vie en Rose for a woman. And I don’t think you are the Nouvelle Star. But thank you, you made me feel happy. No." Ok well to be true I say this guy is famous but … I never heard his music and I asked to all my friends and neither did they. So well maybe his style is different from mine so ok.

L. : “Your songs are oldies, your style is old, I felt like in a cabaret in the 20’s. And neither do I think that you are the Nouvelle Star. No.” Surprise. The few times I watched the show, L. would say yes to every guy. Anyway.

Philippe : “I agree with the other guys, you know we embody the future in this show. You sing songs from the past. And you always smile, we don’t know if it is fake or not. So sorry but as we want to be the future, for me it is … No.” Very surprising for a guy who has built his fame on the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Queen and Gainsbourg. He may not like when music is too vintage. So now what will the proudest guy say ….

André M. :"It’s a pity. For me of course it is a yes. You moved us, you have a great vocal technique. You arrive here as a prince, you seem so secure and proud. Even when you stand in front of us and speak, I wish I could be like this. But if the other guys are not ok, so sorry but we have to say goodbye.” Wow. Only surprises. I am glad. Very glad THE proud guy told me things like that. More that he is the jazz musician. Am so proud.

Now time to turn around and take the exit on the right side. Ok, let’s go.

So once again cameras, interview. Honesty, mission accomplished (I moved them !) and expectations met (I don’t meet the requirements). Now I ‘m happy, I have all the afternoon free and I can go to party for my nephew’s 15^th birthday. And tomorrow I will go to work and play in the metro.

Awesome experience guys; thanks for the emotions and for the interesting points of view. “Good luck for next year”, a guy’s mum tells me. “There will not be next year. I learnt what I had to learn.” And am happy very happy. And I don' t worry. And I see la vie en rose.

Was not a piece of cake ; but now let's have one with my nephew :)

What is your real value ?

Hello guys, you know here we are on TV. So follow the orders. We will first make a fake “call” so that we will say your name and you will all have to applause as if you were going to go to the real jury’s room. But it’s fake, don’t get moved. And play the game. We don’t want no question, the first one who starts to break balls will be dismissed. You know it is a show, there are some rules to respect so that the show can work.

And also. Be on time. We have a very strict schedule so please abide by the rules and the agenda. Don’t go to pee without permission. You can go to smoke but if you are outside while we call you, you will be automatically disqualified. Today is a big work day. So have this in your mind.

OK so let’s summarize the day : 2 interviews with the TV crew – in the end no questions about private life. Am glad. Many questions about why you are better than the other ones. Well as a good Libra guy, (“since you don’t want to take somebody else’s place you will never get rich”, thos astrology site says ...) I answered that I did not know if I would win. God only knows – if you believe in God. But who knows ? (if you don’t believe …). So well 2 interviews. Funny. I saw that being in front of the camera is not such a big deal. Funny and enjoyable. The training I had one year ago at work “Excellence in presentation skills ” has been useful. Interesting practice to introduce yourself in front of a camera. New for me.

Coming back to this post's title, the question about value … 90% of the guys today are 18 years old at most. They are so stressed. Rehearsing, repeating every word, sweating, stepping all around. The most peaceful ones (or more stressed ?) will kill the pain playing a song on the guitar. And I, thinking about when I play in the metro. Talking about it. Going with the kid’s parents to ask them what they think. Are they proud? Are they stressed? What do they feel? And what do their babies feel? I have no stress. And young guys come to me to ask me how I do not to be stressed while the TV guy told me I was going to pass in 5 minutes …

Value.

Why are you so quite?

I am not scared, it is a show. I don’t worry about winning or not.

But, the girl would say, neither am I here to win. I am here to know my value. I want to work in music and I don’t know if I am good or bad. I know my friends and family always tell me that I am very good but I don’t know if I am. I want to know about my value.

Good question, kiddie. What is your value ? And do you really think your value will be defined here? Girlie, here only you will be told about your commercial value. How easily you can be sold. Not about the emotional value neither about your musical skills. If you win, cool for you. If you don’t, it will just mean that you are not so easily merchandisable. That’s it. Don’t worry.

Look, I have to go now, it’s my turn …

Waiting for the bullet

Today second day. Waking up proudly at 6.15. Proud first of course because I am one of the 40 best singers my hometown. Or better said – I am one of the 40 people that have been considered as the most sellable in the Nouvelle Star process. Very different. Anyway, am very proud of it. Proud also because I can count with the fingers of a three-fingered hand the times I have waken up this early on a Sunday. And of course proud to put on for the 4th consecutive day, my Rolling Stones t-shirt. Sweaty and sticky but it has dried overnight :)

So ok, belly’s full, teeth are clean , body’s covered for that pre-winter’s morning. I am sure to kick ass today. I am sure i twill be a good day. I am just a bit frustrated to spend the whole day in the casting process, cos’ today’s my nephew’s birthday party. 15 years. An age full of complexes for me. Was such a nerds ; I was the ugly virgin duck. Coin coin. To illustrate the difference of self-esteem this little guy has with his uncle … my sister just told me the last conversation they had could be summarized this way

Hey Mum, could you buy me a box of condoms ?

Gonna getcha, you little son of a ….

Son of a sister of mine :) Well. Sexuality. Adolescence, complexes, nephew, birthday, whole day. Casting. I am ready.

Today appointment at 8 AM they said. Don’t need to queue for the 7 hours like yesterday. Which is pretty cool because yesterday I just could feel my stomach pushing on my lungs and my kidney and everything that could serve to make place to all the … stress that were filling my stomach. So well today the only thing is to arrive at 8 AM.

7.30. My sister should already be here; she said she would pick me up that time. 7.35.36.37. …. Come on sister I am stressed when I have an appointment and we have to cross the city in 23 minutes … 22 …. One car arrives … it’s not you … please come come …. 21 …. 20 … oh that car is going very fast. Cannot be you, sister. Cannot. The car runs just too fast and you couldn’t brake that strong to stop in front of me. Oh man you could. You surely took 3 G's in your back when stopping that bullet-car. Ok let’s go inside mum, no time to loose. Shoot that bullet again, sis’ ! Let’s head to the Hilton hotel, I am impatient to kick ass!

Now back at the hotel. Right time, today’s the big day. Here is the little guy I met yesterday, he is with his family who came to cheer him up. My two timeless fans are here too. But it feels different. This little guy is 18 years old. I have just turned 28. I work. I am not gambling my life here. I play in the metro. I don’t need more audience. I am ok. No stress.

Ready to enter. Today, the little queue. Indeed, today’s the second step for me but still the first step for 1000 people who has just arrived and who is already queuing. So let’s enter now. Convocation, driving licence, please get in. And we, 40 people, step in the waiting room. With the parents, with the friends. With guitars for some of us; with mother’s sandwiches for the other ones. And with a good experience to live for almost all of us.

Now we are all here and the TV team comes in …

The interview part II: with the journalists

After the questionnaire, the preparation interview with the journalists. Mainly the same questions that in the paper, but some interesting questions.

Example: What would you do to win the game?

Nothing, really, I will just sing tomorrow.

Will you be intimidated tomorrow?

Honestly?

Yes of course.

Well honestly, today I was not really stressed. I don’t really want to win the game. Just to live that experience. Maybe to overcome some prejudices I have on the world of famous people and television. But I am not really interested in winning the game. This is all part of a business ; the word casting is you need somebody to fit in the "cast hole". With no clear requirements. So why to be intimidated? I have my life, I am happy of it. I like to play in the metro when I can ; I love to have my audience, my Parisian metro worried audience, who is in need of happiness, feelings and love. This means something to me. I was actually more worried for the Parisian metro audition than for today’s one, you know …

They seemed quite unsatisfied with my answer. They kept asking.

Ok but … you say you are sensitive … why are you sensitive?

Well I feel it is the same question as asking me why I am white …

No no, you seem to control everything; that you don’t let yourself go, and then you say you are sensitive and emotional; we don’t understand why.

Well, it is the sum of all I lived, from my education with my mum and ...

Oh, what do your parents do for a living?

My mum take care of kids and my dad I don't know.

Oh you had problems with your dad ? You seem you are troubled when you talk about him.

I don’t want to talk about my private life. We can talk about music, about my experience of metro busker, why not ?

Mmmm last year’s winner already played in the metro, so this will not sell ; forget it. Tell us about your dad …

Oh come on …

Ok if you don’t want to answer, but tomorrow in front of the cameras, it is possible that I ask you questions about your dad.

No big deal about that, but maybe I willl not answer your questions ….

But you know, the audience has to like you.

And you think they cannot like me for the love I give when I sing?

Well it is easier if we know you well ...

I know, you want to do a portrait for the biographies during the program right ?

Yes, of course !

Oh, you know what ? This is the part of the program where I go to cook or to the toilets … you know when I watch your show, I just listen to the guys singing and I really don’t care about what there life is. This is not music. So let’s talk about music, about love ….

After 30 minutes I figured out I had a very interesting discussion … with myself. No real interaction with the journalists who wanted a stereotype. A requirement. A young guy fulfilling their half-secret (and half-obvious) requirements.

Be tomorrow at 8 am, same place. With exactly the same cloth, so that we can have consistency in the interviews.

Man but I' already sweaty and sticky ....

No matters. See you tomorrow.

Now they release me, time to announce the good news to my first-day fans: mum and sister. And to tell them the absurd this world is :)

The interview part I: with the paper

The interview. I think the funniest and more interesting part of today’s adventure. First, the questionnaire. After the success, now the fun. Sit there, young guy. With the oher guys that were elected to be soon famous. Or not; the jury will decide tomorrow, but don’t worry. If you are already here, it means that you are good enough to carry on. They would say no, only if you are really bad.

If I am bad ... I don't think that the jury will really know whether I am good or bad but anyway. Alright. But is it the same for a 18-year old girl to hear that ? What if she fails tomorrow ?

Anyway young guy, here are the few pages you have to fill so that we can interview you. First now, offline; then tomorrow, with the cameras. See you in 30 minutes.

Well, let’s have a look at the questions. Name. Given name. And all that stuff: where do you live, where do you sleep tonight. Who with. How did you come here. Who with. How did you start to sing. Who with. What did make you decide to be “a singer”. And all this kind of questions that surely are very suitable for the target of the TV program, but that can appear very light when you are almost 30 years old. Anyway, let’s play the game. But with a little bit of humour.

Where do you sing more often?

In Parisian subway; Bastille station.

Have you already passed an audition?

Yes; to play in Parisian subway; Bastille station mainly.

What is the most exciting thing you have done lately?

Lately, to play in Parisian subway; Bastille station.

Which member of the jury do you fear most ?

I don’ watch TV that often. What are there names? I thought that Sinclair would be here and I would not really FEAR him but would get intimidated. However, people told me that he was not part of the program anymore so I really think that no one of the jury’s member will scare me.

(I hope they won’t get offended, but really what I fear the most is my potential reaction in front of people that I have already seen on TV. I, above all, hope that I will not forget the lyrics. Sometimes it happens to me in the metro and the thing is that there is no problem there …. But tomorrow it will have a big consequence! So that is what I fear but there is no room enough on this sheet to explain my thoughts on the subject.)

What have you done to prepare the casting?

Nothing.

What are you ready to do; to win the game and to impress the jury?

Well … nothing, I will just sing as well as I can.

What are your main qualities?

Sensitive; empathic.

Let's skip the rest of the the questions. Anyway I don't remember them all :)

If you are really curious to know what the exact questions, I recommend you to go and test this kind of castings. It's a nice stress and a lot of fun.

Chocolate does work

Oh I have a big doubt. Will they let me in with the driving license? Oh come on, here in France you can consider it as a proof of your identity … sometimes. Sometimes not. I just hope that here it will be the first option because it would be too stupid to stop here after 5 hours fifteen of waiting.

Ok here is my paper, my participant number and my driving license …. Yes ! I am in , now will start the big show … the big … sh … maaaaaaan ! A stairway. With hundreds of people sitting. Wanting to pee. To pooh. Pee pooh pooh pee do ! No way. Only this stairway but sure they will let us in soon.

1 hour and 15 minutes more …

Then everything is very quick. Stress arrives. I can finally release a part of it, flush and wash my hands. Take a deep breath and spread cold water on my face.

18 chairs. This is what I have to wait to enter one of the 4 casting rooms. Goes very quick. In a couple of minutes I am waiting at the door. The hostess has some candies and chocolates. She tells me the 2 judges are nice girls who love candies. Don’t say it twice. Let me grab 2 chocolates and try to corrupt them with that.

Door opens. I throw my bad joke “Hi ladies, may I try to corrupt you with those chocolates?” They almost laugh. Reading the form I give them (this kind of very clever forms where you get asked very clever questions like what is your name and hobbies, how many brothers and sisters …. So obvious you try to put very clever answers J). The lady on the left says oh you try to be the clever guy, well just tell us what songs you will sing us.

La Vie en Rose.

Don’t Worry Be Happy.

There you go young man!

Two songs. I saw them staring and liking that. Or just observing and being indifferent. I don’t know the facial expressions of professional casters. Well apparently they just loved it. Cool. Voice, emotions, I love it she says. Is it really your first casting? You seem you don’t care about the result, this is what makes you give. See you tomorrow. Just do exactly the same, guy, don’ try to be someone else.

Thanks for the advise, anyway I would not try to be someone else. I just can’t. Thank you for letting me move you. Thanks a lot. Open the door. Let the following guy in. People seeing the BRAVO paper in my hands and applauding. Cool feeling. Am in the 40 ones. Am very glad. Let’s move on. Now with the journalists ….

Sitting on the dock of the Nouvelle Star’s casting

Ok. In the mail they said to sleep well and to rehearse well two songs. Ok, true, I slept yesterday at 3.30 am. But is it my fault if there is such a time shift in California and that I did not have spoken to this friend for so long? Ok, ok ...

Anyway, wake up wake up! 9am. Let’s rehearse a bit. First, let’s choose what we are going to sing. La Vie en Rose should be great. And let’s try Radiohead’s Creep. Illustrates a lot my state of mind. I should be able to perform it well if I can manage to learn the lyrics. Let’s go, let’s do a bunch of push ups and hear that song in a loop.

I’m a creeeeeeeeeeep …; fsh fsh ….. I’m a weeeeeeirdo …; push …. Fsh fsh … what the hell am I …. Fsh fsh …. Jeeeeeeee …. Ppuuuuuushhhhhh ! 2 push ups are enough I guess. Let’s change of mode and just hear that song in a loop. 30 minutes.

Rehearse now. In the bedroom and in the shower. Then some cereals and we can leave. The appointment is at 2 pm so I think that arriving at 10 it should be ok.

Oh. But how can I arrive at 10 if it is already 11 am? Another situation where I would like to call Doc Brown but he’s never here when we need him J So let’s go.

11.45. Arrival at the meeting point. Hilton Hotel. Nice queue. Nice and big. Maaaaaan way larger that the one for the Eiffel Tower on a Sunday afternoon! Anyway let’s queue.

Oh funny, that guy there seems to want to attract the cameras. It seems that just stepping and making a little bit of noise, the camera is attracted as a magnet. Funny.

5 pm. Yes 5 pm and finally we are at the entrance. After 5 hours fifteen of talking and laughing with my mum. And laughing with my sister.

And laughing with my mum again when, wanting a nice picture with the casting’s poster,

I just threw it down to the floor … at least I thought my mum would have taken great pictures but this is the only one she could shoot.

Still some progress to make in the photo field; but my nice mum went to grab a coffee for me 3 hours ago. I want to sleep, caffeine has gone …. Through I don’t know where, cos’ in 5 hours and fifteen I have not gone to the bathroom . And the worst is to come …

I am impatient to discover.

Ready to enter …

The great audition today !

Back from Asia and Australia, I had to do the audition again. To be allowed to play in lovely Paris metro from October to March.

This time, nothing like the first time's fright. Today I was very cool when I stepped into A. and S.'s office. I let their initials so that they can stay anonymate (however when I told them about this blog, they wanted me to talk about them so maybe we can see you soon on tis blog, dear A. and S.).

It reminded me the first time I arrived there; was so shy and it represented so much for me. I will surely blog it next time when I go to see A. and S. to tell about the audition.

So just a picture to show my happiness !!!

In Beaubourg's jungle, family and (new) friends

Welcome. mamí, welcome. And thanks for being here with your little son.

Al ratito arrives big brother,

who'll shoot the picture.

Thanks for walking with me,

along rue de Rivoli,

way down to center-city,

place Beaubourg you and me.

Where all the performers are. I hope there will be some room left for me. For us. Some room, well.

19h30 ... there should be.room enough since the sun is setting and people is leaving ... or not? Mmm mamí, qué pasa aquí? Pues 200 hundreds boys and girls, forming a subtle battle of people in the jungle circle. Why jungle ? Performers jungle well. Many of them. Here and there, up and down, shouting and yelling and passionating people.

Loving people ? Maybe. For sure ... There is lacking some precious white human statue I was enjoying to see, some months ago ... but still many many of them are here.

Where can I set my stage ... near the magician but not than near .... a little bit further ... but if go to far, I will cover the sound of these 2 acoustic cythar players so let's move a bit. A pity, this place was perfect since it was in front of where the people walk ... anyway let's go in this place near the fence. I can see all the esplanade de Beaubourg like this. And I will bother nobody. No fear but mutual respect in this public shared stage.

Let's plug. Tune. And start. Mamí, ven acá, cerca de ton fils. Ahí. Ici.

And let's start with the tuuuu, tuuuu du tuuuuduuu tuuuu du du du du du duuuuuu - (Don't worry). Tu du du du du du duuuuu. (Be happy).

Here we are. One song's over. Let's carry on for the 4 people that are listening. Counting my mamí :) Béeeeesameeeeeee, beaaame muuuuuuuuuchooooo ... oh it seems that the songs in Spanish here are more appreciated than in the metro ... now the double of people are listening. Song's over. Applauses. Smiles. Coins! Voice .... yelling voice .... from below, telling me "Hey, the songs, please can you stop, hey ! Just 20 minutes and you can carry on, thank you!". I turn around. Tightrope walker. 200 people staring at him. 8 ... now .... 6 looking at me. 202 at him. I have to stop.

Or to move. Mamí, help me to move, s'il te plaît. Move the stand ... carry on .... wait for him to end ... carrying on the show ... brother comes. Shoots pictures. One family. 2 girls kissing listening from end to end. And Mexico arriving in the end of the end ....

What happened today :

• Hey my brother has been taking pictures for a couple of weeks and he already shot my best pictures ever!!! Thank you bro! You're talented :)
• My mum as the perfect assistant and the fan number one :)
• What a lovely couple these 2 girls staring and listening for a complete hour.
• Definitely I should tune the songbook according to where I play ... here in a such a touristic place, people who gave money is spanish speaking people, who likes spanish songs! Very different from the metro.
• Given the number of smiles of beautiful girls (and handsome gays)I can get in one hour I think the guitar is definitely the most attractive part of my body :)
• This french family that would stay for 30 minutes.
• Pictures ... why don't guys come and take pictures with me, too?
• What a nice chat I had with the mother and daughter from ... Viva México cabrones!!! Thanks for being so generous and accessible. Maybe we meet in Guadalajara one day !
• Would have been perfect if the white statue had been there performing at my side :) But she was not that day and probably will never see her again ...

PS: the metro girl with the phone number was a total mytho ... she was supposed to send me the contact of a radio to send a demo and she now sends me 5 messages/day to know where I live and with whom ... anyone interested? :p

If you read this post from Facebook, don't forget to go on the original post.

A bunch of euros and a phone number

Estado de fluidité, says a friend of mine. She's not from here. Well, better said, she's from here, she's from there, and also a little of bit de acá y un poco de allá. And she mixes idiomas. Puerto rican style but with still some French added. It's nice. Well so estado de fluidité, what is it about? Fluidity state, when everything flows like the river. Well, it depends on what river but I am thinking of the peaceful smooth little river in the swiss mountains ... hearing the cow bells, smelling the cows sh... :) The cows' shadow. Lets's say it like this, shadow: something from us, we cannot live without, and it's like our dark side :) Too much lunch-time philosophy.

Anyway, I am starting to feel this estado de fluidité and it feels nice. It feels nice not to be nervous anymore. To be able to concentrate on feeling, on people, on reactions ... on singing and that's it, I appreciate it. The same way we appreciate the adrenalin of the first timer, body and hands shaking for the first "shows", well the same way, the confidence settling is lovely. This starting point of a routine, is the best at the moment. Let's take care of not letting it flow all down the routine river.

Cool points :

• Definitely cool to say to a friend : "Meet in the biggest metro station of Paris" not having to say anything more. "Just follow the sound" :) Manolo and Julia thanks for coming !!!
• Nice to be in front of the 200m moving walkways of Châtelet's station. You see your audience coming from far away and you hear the applauses going back to the station's depths.
  
• This guy coming one way telling me "You sing badly" ... me like WTF ? And then he coming back saying the same but with a big smile ... we laughing. Irony.
• This other guy -a classy West Indies guy in suit- telling me "Through people like you, Paris keeps its soul." Thanks !
  
• People dancing ... I love you !
• People coming trying to sing at my place ... this is not a karaoke !!!
• I know I have success with gay guys but this one was so in love with me hahaha funny.
  
• Always nice to have some people taking pictures with the artist : I am really thinking of the project I have in mind ... to be continued.
• A girl telling me "Would you take my phone number ?" Yes but who are you ? "Just write it down, I may have a good contact from #### tomorrow for you ..." to be continued ??? Let's hope so.

If you read this post from Facebook, don't forget to go on the original post.

Waiting for my guests

Tight timing. They arrive at 19h30 Gare du Nord ... from my prevision they should arrive between 19h45 and 20h15 at Bastille station. All depends on their level of how-do-I-manage-myself-in-an-unknown-city-ness.
It's 19h when I arrive home, just the time to take my shoes and jeans off -such a hot day today, these pants seem to be stuck ... I had never dreamt about having a second skin of denim but at least I know how it feels. So, take my shoes and jeans off, have a tea -actually two teas cos' I had some Baygon falling in my first cup of tea when I shot this fly ... I shot the fly-yyyyffff (and I also shot the cup-of-teaaaa). Iiii shot the sheriff ...

Soooo (maybe one day I end this sentence ...) shoes, jeans, tea, jeans, shoes (on again). Guitar, amp, checked, battery, charged, bag, closed. Here, we, go! Let's rock the Bastille station.

19h40, they can arrive at any moment. 19h50 I start. 19h49, someone would already have thrown a coin ... always the solidarity first.

One song, two songs ... yes ... people is dancing there ... i can see them, here are my guests! Cool way to welcome my 4 couch surfers from Mexico isn't it ? But girls ... too bad : I didn't see no peso there in my case!!! And I played a song in Spanish! My dear Seb and the 2 couch srufers from CZ were more generous! Thank you all for coming!!!

Cool things today:

• Of course seeing my guests arrive !
• And of coooooooourse having my friend Sebdrummer come and see me :)
• And claroooooo having this woman, this man, this girl, this Japanese toursists group ... this lovely people stop and listen. Not many people stopping at the same time, but in the end it's not needed at all.

If you read this post from Facebook, don't forget to go on the original post.

Reverse saturday

What does a typical saturday night look like? Well, here are the usual suspects of a saturday night fever!

• You go out ...
• ... with your friends.
  
• You may optionnaly go and see some live music.
• You spend your money more than in any day of the week.
• You eat unhealthy food.
  
• You drink unhealthy liquids.

So why reverse ? Reverse Saturday, back to the Friday ? Is it that I feel like Marty McFly or something? Neeeeeeeeeeee ! Here is the solution of the equation :

• I didn't go out, I went in. Inside Châtelet metro station.
• I was alone. I had some friends that had to come and see me but never showed up.
• I was the one playing live music.
• I didn't spend money: I earnt quite a sweet amount of cash :) Enough to spend in a bar but ...
• ... since my friends never showed up I stayed at home and no junk food : everything was closed so I cooked rice, salmon and veggies ...
  
• ... but I must admit the unhealthy liquid point is the exception that confirms the rule. Yes I am drinking Coke tonight! And no Diet nor Zero: Real men's Coke!

Enjoyable time, alone with myself and with some I-dont-know-how-may-hundreds-of-people during the 3 hours I've been there.

Cool reactions :

• This group or 4 latin girls that would come, dance, sing around me and even take a lot of pictures hugging me while I was singing ... a pity they didn't let their phone for the after party :)
• This chinese family that would film and take many pictures of the Jealous Guy :)
• Seeing familiar faces ... Châtelet is like the center of the world on saturday night ! I had already seen this musician, drunk in the Pont des Arts playing some Jimi H. stuff ...
• 2 guys thay were betting that they could give me five ... stage, even improvised, is intimidating and people would feel nice just hugging you ... while you are just one of them :) Sweet.
  
• Applauses ... people dancing .... smiles .... thumbs up ...
  

Lessons learnt :

• People would give money at the beginning of the set, even before the music starts. When they see the basket is emplty, they give. Once they see that there is quite a lot of coins in the basket, they would just stare at it -like a "He doesn't need more!" glance. So lesson if you want more: make a pit stop and take the money after one hour, to regenerate :)
• On Saturday night ... 10 pm to 1 am : people are drunk and you have to take much care when they feel like singing with you or even when they start a fight with the boyfriend because they want to sing in the mike and that the boyfriend wouldn't let do ... happened twice tonight ...
  
• Even if there are some dangerous drunk people, having people dancing with your songs after 2 glasses of wine is VERY enjoyable :)
• Singing without microphone, lyric-style, is pretty cool and appreciated. Next time, I should try without the amp and just bringing the acoustic guitar with the natural reverb.
  
• Definitely the more known are the songs, the better: Don't Worry Be Happy, Imagine, Jealous Guy, Bésame Mucho. I could loop with these 4 songs ...
  

Now I have to have my plutonium can and call Doc Brown :)

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Place des Vosges with the guy next door

On Monday my friend from UK was here so I would better meet him than go busking. I didn't go.
On Tuesday I forgot to check the material so when about to start the show I had to unplug and go. I didn't show.
On Wednesday I was, amp and axe in my gig bag, when my best friend -can a friend be best of worst ... let's say she is one of the people I consider as part of my closest frienship circle but man ... easier to say she's my best friend isn't it? Well she called me to announce me some great news! She would have been accepted for a master in business and finance so ... so my friend let's go to party (to the insane hamburgers round the corner)!!! So I went no busk.
Today ... noiseless cable in hand, I was about to rock Bastille's station before I meet my friends to go to the open air cinema in Place des Vosges and .... I remembered my couch surfer was an awesome musician ! So ... let's go busking you and I friend!




Sitting on Place des Vosges, waaasting tiiiime :)

Funny guy,
Funny people,
Funny their way to stare shily,
Funny how women are more sensible,
Funny guy, let's jam again tomorrow !

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100% yield

Signs signs signs ... once again! But this time in a way they won :) They were too many :

• Came back late at home.


• Desperately wanted to watch this n x 100EUR TV I bought 1 year ago and that I had not turned on for 2 whole months.


• Received my n x 1,000 EUR income tax letter.


• Still problems with the E string ...

And even like this I wanted to go, to play with the amp I had just bought, the Fender Can. 15W, battery powered. Actually you will get more details on there.

Buuuut maaaaaaaaan why don't you check the whole gig before going to play ? Why do you think that all the microphones plugs are the same and that the XLR will adapt BY ITSELF to this tiny little plug ???

Today's results :

• Now I know I have to check everything as for a concert, even if I am "only" busking. A stage is a stage.
• I confirmed that there is no big deal in cancelling a subway-concert :) Next time will be tomorrow. Busking stays busking.
• Fender Can is much cheaper than the Roland Cube Street and much easier to carry ... I look forward to testing it and to make the comparison in one of the next entries.
• I'll have to play many times in this over-crowded Châtelet station (metro station, RER one is not allowed) to be able to pay this royal income tax!!! The 0 EUR income from today's gig is desastrous :)
• Bad mathematics and an unconditional optimism demonstrate me about the fact I had a perfect yield, look : (0 minutes of plpaying ) x (100% yield) = 0 EUR !!!

See you for the next post !

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Nation ambition

Today ... let's use the silent guitar for the first time !!! And let's meet my dearest friends Alinka and David inside Nation's metro station. Nation is big as the nation at least.

But ... f**king desert on a sunday evening! Bad sign ... do you believe in signs? What about this string that just breaks right before starting? What about this ground noise from the cable? What about ... this feeling of not being in the right place?

To the hell all these pseudo-signs ! Let's change the string and here we are. We'll surely have to tune it between each song, but we are not in a concert hall. Here we give love, not virtuosity. Not yet, at least.

So let's start. But this time let's stand up and use the strap that has been offered with this beautiful silent guitar. Let's warm voice. Let's hit strings, and why not let's move hips while doing all that. Let's give !

And here we are, now it starts looking like a show. Now I am starting to look at people, to feel what I sing and to make people feel it.

Today's reactions :

• A desert place !!!
• Some of the few people that came, would stay and listen for a while :)
• I felt pressure from the guy that would sit, and listen for 30 minutes !!! Great !!!
• I broke this f**king string again, gosh! Thanks power chords :)
• What about this show-off guy that would be almost ashamed of throwing a coin ... and would run right after throwing it.
• What more valuable than this beautiful black young lady giving 1 euro while I was singing Couleur Café ... a hymn to black women's beauty and sex appeal !
  
• Once again, my dearest friends had put half of the income :) Thank you so much for coming Alinka and David !!!

Am loving it !!! Standing and singing closing the eyes ... starting to forget the fretboard and the chords sheet ... I love it.

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New gear : Aria Sinsonido AS-100C/SPL Sat 08/09/2009

Coolest traveler guitar !!! Bought it today !!!
http://www.ariausa.com/guitars/as100cspl.html

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Back in front of an important audience ! Thu, 06/08/2009

I am an obsessed guy. Once I start something I like, I do it more and more.
And more, and more ... and more ...
And more.
And more.

Until I am fed up, as you may be while reading :)
So today, after my debut yesterday, I decided to go back to Bastille, but changing place for my little stage. The aim : to settle where I wanted to go at the first time.

Today it seems to be free ... before sitting, I send a message to my friends and to my bro. I switch the cell phone off.

I plug. I sit. I play.

My dear Alejandra comes and listens. Sits and stares. Smiles and applauses. Thank you my dearest fan :)

Then my brother and his girlf ... ups, his wife since one month ago :) Come and listen. Stand and watch. Laugh and applause. And throw a coin every 5 minutes : I guess you put half of today's income. Thank you :)

Funny reactions :

• A girl putting a coin while I was still plugging everything saying "I am the first".
  
• Those 3 african girls ... who would sing perfect gospel-style along while I was singing Don't Worry, Be Happy. Dancing, singing, almost praying the lord. Awesome.
• These 2 caribbean guys that would stay and thank me when I was singing Jealous Guy.
• A tattoed guy, hard core heavy metal trash death style ... smiling and throwing a coin.
• Some girls smiling ... always enjoyable :)
• Some guys smiling ... always enjoyable :)

Today a little bit more than the double of euros than yestedray and I think from there, 50% from my brother.
This is not that much money for 1h30 ... I think I have to learn the songs by heart. To stand up when I play. To buy a ligther guitar so that I can go to other stations and touch more people.

For the moment ... awesome experience ... my world wonderfully cheerful ... I am learning a lot and I love it !

First day : Wed 05/08/2009

Welcome to my busking blog !

After getting my Musicien du métro license in April, I finally decided to move my little pretty ... to go to the metro station and start busking.

Yesterday I put my batteries to load for the whole night. Having worked from home, I took advantage of the lunch break to go to the nearest metro station, Bastille. Just before, I bought my foldable chair at Monoprix for 10.90 euros.

After having seen that the place where I planned to sit, was already occupied by another busker, I went throught the whole station and settled down in front of the Bonne Journée.

My hands shaked at the very first moments, I plugged all that had to be plugged. Sat all that had to be sat. Played all that had to be played.

I am discovering how wasy it is : why was I that afraid of people's reaction ? The biggest risk is that people would not care and pass their way ... but definitely much to win !

Result :

• 1h30 playing
  
• 7 euros
• 1 coffee offered by the Bonne Journée guy
• 13 smiles
• 3 applauses
• 1 video taken by a couple of tourists
  
• And an eclosion from my egg that was so hard to break !

Some cool reactions from the people today :

• On the very first moment, this woman that would sing along with me "La Vie en Rose".
  
• This old man that would listen, pass his way, go up stairs to take the metro ... then come back and throw a coin in my guitar box.
• This old woman that had problems to walk and that would last one whole song to arrive to me.
  
• All the kids love music and would dance even on the saddest song.

I am still looking much at my tabs and this is bad for the show !!!